Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Can i use wood shavings as a substrate for my bull snake at present i am using newspaper as i can get a plenty from my relations but the tank looks a bit bland so wanting to spruce it up a bit. Also any suggestions on what i can put in the tank to make the snake feel more at home. I currently have a rock corner for basking and drinking/soaking and a hide but again it looks very minimal.

Suggestions greatly appreciated.

Regards cheesemonkey

1x BULL SNAKE (Jesus)
and in 2 weeks 1x CANDY CANE CORN SNAKE.

I like your bullsnake's name, lol.

Sure. You can use shredded aspen. The best prices are had online. Look in the classifieds here. You can find it in many pet stores too.

Nice thick layer of aspen and multiple hide boxes will work nicely. Easiest hide boxes - cereal boxes. You can use pine boards (1x3's and 1x8) to make hides too. Spray a coat or two of water-based polyurethane on them (pine hides), let cure until odor is gone (about 5 days is often plenty) and they will last a very long time. They hold humidity well and can be made nice and tight to fit.
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Mark

I use Cypress mulch for all my adult snakes and newspaper or finely shredded coconut on my babies, unless I take them out and feed them in another container. The only issue I have had with Aspen (and why I am careful feeding my snakes on the Cypress bedding) is that the wood sometimes gets stuck to the food, especially if it is damp, and the snake can swallow it and get the wood caught in its intestines and cause problems. Cypress is by far the cheapest for 3$ a bag at any warehouse hardware store and is fine with snakes. The finely shredded coconut bedding also sold as Eco Earth, is fine with small snakes and lizards in that if it gets stuck on the food, it will not hurt the animal to a great extent at all. I actually have some of my baby snakes on Cypress, but I do put them in separate containers for feeding. A double benefit of this practice is that the snakes get some human exposure and this is always a good thing.

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