Reptile & Amphibian Forums

does anyone know of a (safe) black or dark gray substrate? suitable for colubrids or even a garter snake? how about any other colors? i mean we spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars for some pretty wild color morphs that would never occur in the wild, why not accent those colors with a substrate to really show off those colors we spent so much time and money on. i'm not talking about day-glow water bowls or neon branches, but subtle things to show off our snakes to their best advantage.
any thoughts?
Mike
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Jayne "The Hero of Canton", Ball Python
Edmund Slackbladder, Mexican Kingsnake
El Diablo "They haven't built a cage I can't get out of" Pueblan Milksnake
(Currently serving 25 to life in a Maryland Supermax)

Certain top soils are black, MAKE SURE there is no fertilizer in it. (forget anything with miracle gro on the bag)

I have used colored fish tank gravel, just fine. We go to the creek and look for pretty stones with sparkles

We always feed in separate enclosures, so ingesting colored sand, gravel or dirt never happens.

Think about it, snakes like beaches as much as we do.

Little waterfalls in the back of a tank look awesome too!

Get creative, just be careful.... Dirt from your yard should be sterilized by baking at 400 degrees for an hour - wipes out all parasites.

Plant grass, plants, flowers! Little dood dads from home depot and the dollar store are attractive in there too.

Stay away from pine and cedar, you can kill the snake.

Have fun.

Regards,
Wayne A. Harvey

Some of our snakes - Click here

i've been thinking about fish tank gravel or those circular wide flat glass beads you get in craft shops, those come in some very interesting colors, besides i wouldn't have to deal with my local pet shop wankers, who, when i mentioned the fact that i might replace my aspen with fish tank gravel recoiled in horror swearing that it would wear away my snakes belly scales, and my snake would be sliding around on its own intestines within a week. lol
mike
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..1 Jayne "The Hero of Canton", Ball Python
..1 Edmund Slackbladder, Mexican Kingsnake
..1 El Diablo "They haven't built a cage I can't get out of" Pueblan Milksnake
(Currently serving 25 to life in a Maryland Supermax
______________________________________________________

Me; And finally monsieur a wafer thin pinkie
El Diablo: blaggh
Me: ah sir its only 1 leetle pink one
ED: ahh, sod off! I'm full
Me: ah sir hmm? its only wafer thin?
ED: bah! i couldn't eat another thing I'm absolutely stuffed. bugger off!
Me: ah sir, sir just ...just one......?
ED: ok just one
Me just the one.
Me: voila!
Me: bon appetite!.......

OMG - somebody please tell my thousand plus outdoor snakes, Please stop crawling on the ground, they may injure themselves.

How much aspen would it take to cover my 40 acres with a safe substrate?

When I first started keeping wild caught snakes I tried to simulate their natural surroundings, so I used river sand, stones, dirt, grass, fall leaves, whatever & no problems.

Over time little things from Wal Mart started jumping into the tank, Glass sea shells, colored gravel & ceramic sculptures.

Never had any problems..... The "neon volcano" was only $2 at wally world, and the snakes love it.

Peace,
Wayne A. Harvey

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B - "I have a cunning plan sir"

E - "What's that? trim your toenails with a Scythe"

B - "I shall rub cheese on the trees, then all the wee mouses will chew it into aspen shavings"

E - "your mother works at petco, doesn't she?"

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too funny
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..1 Jayne "The Hero of Canton", Ball Python
..1 Edmund Slackbladder, Mexican Kingsnake
..1 El Diablo "They haven't built a cage I can't get out of" Pueblan Milksnake
(Currently serving 25 to life in a Maryland Supermax
______________________________________________________

Me; And finally monsieur a wafer thin pinkie
El Diablo: blaggh
Me: ah sir its only 1 leetle pink one
ED: ahh, sod off! I'm full
Me: ah sir hmm? its only wafer thin?
ED: bah! i couldn't eat another thing I'm absolutely stuffed. bugger off!
Me: ah sir, sir just ...just one......?
ED: ok just one
Me just the one.
Me: voila!
Me: bon appetite!.......