Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am putting together the snakes tank this weekend and just wondering what the best substrate is? We have been using newspaper but I would like to try substrate of some sort in his home once to see how we like it. Also should I get it from a plant nursery or is it safer coming from the pet store. I know when we had bearded dragons we used sand from the pet store instead of form home depot to avoid parasites or chemicals.
Thanks.
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Human boys 2&7
Ball python 1 male
American pit bull terriers 3 (2male,1 fem)
Ferret 1 male
Fish ????

I reccommend sanichips for ball pythons. It's very easy to spot clean. I use aspen chips for one of my snakes that likes to tunnel though.

Aspen shavings work well, and a substrate I like since I live in a dry area is "forest bedding", or essentially coconut husk that is the same consistency as dirt but smells better, is more sterile, and delightfully easy to spotclean and keep humid.

Oh, and the sand - play sand from home depot is sterile. It's meant to be used in sand boxes, so it has to be 'sterile' and free from chemicals because small children play in it.

~jenny
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1.2.2 normal ball pythons (Cindy, Darwin, Periscope, and dah bebbies)
0.2 rescue chinese water dragons (Yoni and Linga)
1.0 rex rat (Scurvy)
1.0 gerbil (Yerbul)
0.1 mice (Cute Girl Mousy)
0.1 bunny (Spazz)
1.1 betta fishes (Vicious and Killer)
2.2 great danes (Shasta, Odysseus, Merlot, and Watson)
1.0 fat fuzzy mutt (Smokey)
1.1 cats (Thidwick and Turtle)
3.0 horses (Buddy, Sam, and Scout)
1.0 goat (Billy Jack)
0.0.1 chupacabra (it ate our chickens)

jenny.thegreenes.org

I couldn’t help but notice you said that you would like to see if using some other substrate than news print was something you liked . What about what your snake likes ? Yes it is important that you find it easy to use and to spot clean but in all fairness you don’t have to live on it do you . Think of your captive first and your self last they are totally dependent on you after all. Thank David

We have had him less than a month, and I am not sure what he likes for substrate. He has not said anything about the newsaper, and I do not know what he was on before we got him. So I was just getting some opinions as to what others used and what was safe.
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Human boys 2&7
Ball python 1 male
American pit bull terriers 3 (2male,1 fem)
Ferret 1 male
Fish ????

If you notice before you quote me I said how "WE" like it not just me. Iam not just going to throw the snake into something and not care about his benefit or health.
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Human boys 2&7
Ball python 1 male
American pit bull terriers 3 (2male,1 fem)
Ferret 1 male
Fish ????