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What is the best substrate for false water cobras?

I find cypress mulch works just fine...Frank

I've been using aspen shavings with no problems at all. I do not allow the snake to get any in his mouth while eating though. I always remove him to feed in another bin.

I mist every other day or so and get good results. He shed with no misting and had no problems as of yet.

Any reasons not to use aspen? I have actually planned on switching to mulch once I find a nursery that has some.

Dave

Not really. Used both successfully, though you might want to keep an eye on what you introduce to it. I have seen some snakes experience severe allergic reactions when placed in aspen. I find it a good idea to lightly mist the aspen after I set it up to cut the dust... Frank

I'd be interested in hearing more about the animal(s) that you have observed reacting to the aspen in a severe way. Did you remove the aspen and replace it in the same enclosure with satisfactory results? Or, was/were the animal(s) in question placed in an entirely different space.... how did you narrow down the cause to aspen. It was my understanding (up to this moment in time) that aspen was fairly hypo-allergenic and about bullet-proof, except for intestinal impaction due to ingestion, of course.

The reason I ask is that a keeper I know lost a snake to some sort of seizure, and on necropsy it was determined that the snake died as a result of exposure to incompletely dried latex paint... He had considered just about every other possibility except the paint and I am curious if you removed every other variable as the cause for the reaction prior to making the assumption it was the aspen.

Respectfully,

Tom Townsend

>>Not really. Used both successfully, though you might want to keep an eye on what you introduce to it. I have seen some snakes experience severe allergic reactions when placed in aspen. I find it a good idea to lightly mist the aspen after I set it up to cut the dust... Frank
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"Seek first to understand, then to be understood"

I have seen it adversly effect usually jungle/forest type vine snakes, and burrowers, rather than more arid species. but it was not uniform as same species individuals reacted differently (or not at all)...Symptoms involving throat puffing, gasping and/or seizures. the most extreme reaction was with a baby Columbian Boa (14" and very healthy) that went into imediate convulsions and died in less than a minute. it's definitly a reaction to the dust because other specimens that were introduced to pre-misted tanks did fine...Frank

PS. In all cases I am refering to the use off all glass aquaria with standard clip down lids....Frank

Hey,

I got a big bag of cypress mulch. How do I prepare it for the tank?

I washed it in a strainer and shook out most of the water. I then layed it out in a microwave safe pan and zapped it for 5 minutes. It was steaming pretty hard core by the time it was done. Three little bugs were on the edge of the glass pan and were easily squished. I'm assuming they were escaping the intense heat. I doubt anything in the middle of that could have survived.

Is this good to go in my tank now?

Dave

Have to admit you are more carefull than I am. Never have run into bugs (lucky maybe?). Sounds like it should be perfectly safe...Frank

I'm pretty paranoid when it comes to my collection. I know those were not reptile mites that I saw, but I don't like uninvited guests.

Since I was worried about cool spots in the microwave, I instead submerged all the mulch in a bowl of water. I then nuked that for 6 minutes. The water became hot enough to kill anything that was inside. One bowl had dipped in handles and a little tip ended with me severely scalding my hand, so I think it was hot enough to kill bugs.

I simply drained the water through a collander to catch any big stuff. The little stuff got eaten by the garbage disposal. It looks pretty good in the tank.

Dave

I'm pretty paranoid when it comes to my collection. I know those were not reptile mites that I saw, but I don't like uninvited guests.

Since I was worried about cool spots in the microwave, I instead submerged all the mulch in a bowl of water. I then nuked that for 6 minutes. The water became hot enough to kill anything that was inside. One bowl had dipped in handles and a little tip ended with me severely scalding my hand, so I think it was hot enough to kill bugs.

I simply drained the water through a collander to catch any big stuff. The little stuff got eaten by the garbage disposal. It looks pretty good in the tank.

Dave

Like I said....You are more careful than I am. I have never gone thru all that trouble over mulch. Sounds like you got a bag that came from a tree with guests. I have heard complaints about cypress mulch and mites, but every time they have shown up in my tanks it has been a result of the feeder animal. I still use it and aspen on a case by case basis, as well as spagnum for some of my more "humidity requiring" guests....Frank