Reptile & Amphibian Forums

So I'm reading a lot of threads pertaining to substrate, and it seems like everyone has something negative to say about this certain substrate or that certain substrate. Is there at least one substrate mostly everyone can agree upon that is safe for snakes AND looks nice?

Shredded aspen.

Looks nice, great at absorbing fluid and odors, cheap and snakes seem to like to burrow in it.

Others have their advantages, but I keep going back to the aspen...

//Todd

>>So I'm reading a lot of threads pertaining to substrate, and it seems like everyone has something negative to say about this certain substrate or that certain substrate. Is there at least one substrate mostly everyone can agree upon that is safe for snakes AND looks nice?

Use something that you will enjoy looking at and feel confortable with. There's nothing out there that is 100% safe, if a snake swallows large amounts of, it could be fine, or it could have problems. There are neg. and pos. thoughts on everything. Just be careful when feeding, that the snake doesn't injest large amount of substrate while feeding. I've had between 10- 25 snake on 2/12 kiln dried sand for the last 14 years without any problems what so ever. All my subjects are heathy and active.
Good luck, and Enjoy your reptile; Bob

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R.Bichlers Colubrids
http://www.webspawner.com/users/rbichler/index.html

I love newspaper and have been using it forever. Cheap, easy to clean, and overall, I do like the look.
If you can't do that, aspen would be my next choice. I used to use aspen for years, but felt I could keep the cages much more cleaner by using newspaper, folded to fit the cage uniformly.

There's my take.
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Genesis 1:1

Newspaper. I've gone back and forth and I have tried them all. Newspaper is by far the best choice in my opinion. No worries of impaction, it's easy to remove and replace, it's FREE, and you get visual and hands on inspection of your animals as cages are cleaned.....no missed piles of poop either. My #1 choice for the last 17 years.
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www.brandonosbornereptiles.com

Aspen has been time-tested by countless keepers as a safe and effective substrate, as has newspaper (which I also sometimes use). Newspaper has the dual disadvantage of being unattractive (to many), and difficult to spot-clean. It is, however, inexpensive!
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Brad Chambers
WWW.HCU-TX.ORG

The Avalanche has already started-it is too late for the pebbles to vote....

Hey we will nit-pick anything here.

I have some milksnakes that have benefited greatly from a slightly moist coir substrate (moistended then allowed to dry out before moistening again.) The snakes stay very well hydrated that way. Where I live humidity is often low, so a substrate that holds moisture is a good fit for snakes that like to stay under the surface. Especially great for hatchlings.
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Mark