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is using pebbles (the large ones that get put in plant pots etc) ok for the bottom of a stimsons pythons tank? thanks!

>>is using pebbles (the large ones that get put in plant pots etc) ok for the bottom of a stimsons pythons tank? thanks!

In my opinion. NO. They are likely to encourage bacterial growth, won't absorb a thing and if the snake injests one it could kill it.
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Sonya

I'm not mean. You're just a sissy.
Happy Bunny

ok. about the ingesting bit, the pebbles im planning on using are too big and heavy to be accidentally eaten. or what if i fed it outside the tank, or on a large rock? also, i was going to put newspaper underneath to absorb everthing

I wouldn't do it just because it would make spot cleaning a PITA. Would you actually wash the soiled pebbles, or just throw them out and replace them?

>>ok. about the ingesting bit, the pebbles im planning on using are too big and heavy to be accidentally eaten. or what if i fed it outside the tank, or on a large rock? also, i was going to put newspaper underneath to absorb everthing

I follow murphys law of animal keeping. If it might possibly happen it will.
What good does the pebbles do for the snake?? Nothing. He can't burrow in them. No benefit. So it is just what you would rather look at maybe?
Newspaper under the layer of rocks isn't gonna cut down on the build up of bacteria in the pebble bed. Unless you are gonna strip out the cage and disinfect everything all the time I just see this as stinking badly in a short time and growing disease.
Personally I think it is a bad idea.
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Sonya

I'm not mean. You're just a sissy.
Happy Bunny

Those rocks do nothing for your snake. It can't borrow in them, they would be extremely uncomfortable (would you want to lay on them all the time?), they are heavy, a pain to clean, and eventually will scratch or even break the tank glass.

Why would you want to use them? They don't even look that nice.

Small fine gravel could work, but I would recommend feeding in a separate container.

ok. what else could i use? i want to go for a natural look, but i also want my snake to be comfortable.

My personal favorite bedding for all dry climate snakes is aspen. It is awesom ein every respect except that it looks like you have a pet hamster, not a terrarium.

A close second best, which looks much nicer, is cypress mulch.

If that still isn't naturalistic enough for you, you can use dirt, sand, fine gravel, leaf litter, etc. But each of these do have potential drawbacks.

http://www.reptiledepot.com/foam.html
They got foam insurts that you put of the bottom of a 10 gal tank, washable and look really nice?
Other wise you could use regular plan dirt with nothing but dirt(no fertilizer, chemicals, nothing). It's gonna be the cheapest dirt too. Use that and add some fake plants and vola. It's you have a green thumb then you can try adding real plants too.
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1.0.0 Bearded Dragon (Rex- "normal" orange fire)
1.0.0 Bearded Dragon (Glutany- German Giant Mix)
0.1.0 Okeetee Corn (Okatee)
1.1.0 Spotted Python (Hotdog and Shoelace)

hhmm, that does look nice, but it wont be very absorbent would it? If i used sand and fed him outside the tank or on a rock, would that prevent the snake getting compaction?

No they are not absorbent I don't think, you'd have to as them about.
You could also try these and use plan potting soil dirt with some fake plants or whatever
http://www.blackjungle.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=BJTS&Category_Code=B

When feeding a snake, it's always good to feed them in a diffrent container so that don't have a feeding response with opening of the cage meaning food and they bit you.
Also when using a container to feed, it's always good to have NO substrate, meaning bedding, So that when the snake eats his food it doesn't eat something it shouldn't at the same time.

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1.0.0 Bearded Dragon (Rex- "normal" orange fire)
1.0.0 Bearded Dragon (Glutany- German Giant Mix)
0.1.0 Okeetee Corn (Okatee)
1.1.0 Spotted Python (Hotdog and Shoelace)

so can you put almost any substance in a tank aslong as you feed the snake out of the tank and it is absorbent enough not to leave puddles lying around? Also below is a picture a bit like the pebbles i was planning on getting except all one colour and they are flatter and longer. They are designed for fish tanks and pot plants so water just trickles through them. What if i did something like make a frame to put under the substrate with something like fly screen over the top so when the water goes through the pebbles, it goes through the fly screen and is about 3 cm away from the bottom of the pebbles?

snakes like to burrow in their substrate. pebbles and rocks are bad as it can crush their skull, or they can get stuck trying to burrow through.
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1.0.0 Bearded Dragon (Rex- "normal" orange fire)
1.0.0 Bearded Dragon (Glutany- German Giant Mix)
0.1.0 Okeetee Corn (Okatee)
1.1.0 Spotted Python (Hotdog and Shoelace)

pepples ,rocks ,sand, dirt all bad ideas the first two as most have said don't please the snake burrowinfg insticnt the last to hold way to much bacteria and you will be suprised at how fast it will build up. also the dirt whether you buy it or dig it up will have parisites that will harm your snake mites,ticks worms,etc. another good reason not to use sand is the fact that as it gets dries it will get dusty leading to a infection once the snake inhales it not to mention the granules getting in there nostils and vent. i have own snakes going on 10 years now and have either used wood shavings no pine or cedar or anything in the family or in the last 5 years i have used a recycled paper substrate that you can get in the pet section at walmart or your local pet store. it works great it absorbs 10 times its weight in liquid and its great for burrowing because it's light and there is no dust. one thing to remember when you use anything other that newspaper is to use a feed tank which is a good idea any how as with the screen you mentioned it will only allow liquid flow through if there is alot being released at once. and with a snake unless it is sick its stool should be relatively dry but good luck with making a choice

Just use aspen.

How about kitty litter? I was looking through a website and it said "Breeder’s Choice/Kitty Litter: Okay looking, very easy to clean and replace. The paper absorbs everything and should do no harm to the python if swallowed. Highly recommended." Sorry if it sounds like im trying to be cheap but its more a matter of availability. The plave were im getting my snake and all its eqipment from is a 4 hour drive and its easy enough to do once, but not once a month just to pick up substrate. we go there every couple of months as we have family there and we shop.

does anyone know of any sites that have pictures of tanks showing exapmles of what different kinds of substrate looks like?

Thanks for all your help everyone I have decided to go with pine shavings as from what ive read, its absorbent and easy to clean. It also said that if kept clean, it doesnt stink or harbour bacteria. It will also help me with that natural look im going for. Ive seen a picture of someone who has pine shavings in one of the forums, so i thought id give it a try. If it doesnt turn out well, ill switch to kitty litter.

not pine shavings! Some people claim that pine emits too much of some kind of oil that can irritate snakes respiratory systems (or something like that). How about aspen? That seems to be safe and has the look of pine. Definitely no cedar, either.
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phflame
kingsnake.com host

does anyone have a picture of what aspen looks like??

not pine, sorry, i meant wood shavings. i had "not pine, not pine' running through my head. lol, sorry.