>>This is what I used when I was a kid keeping a garter snake.
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>>I've been trying this epoxy-coated pea gravel substrate with a few kings and a baby boa. The thermal mass properties are fantastic with undertank heating.
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>>One other nice property - when the air temp in the room gets up there, the gravel on the cool side of the cage is actually noticeably cooler than the air or glass. A very nice feature for a cage in my herp room.
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>>The bad part - it requires cleaning alot since the more liquid part of the stools goes right down between the gravel. Still, I like it. No dust, good heat properties, and the kings will even burrow into it.
Hi Mark,
If you use a smaller grain gravel mix with #2/12 grain sand, the moisture will only assorb about a inch into the sand, depending on the size of the snake. Makes removel easy with a plastic spoon. I also use the sand because it is a, about 5 degrees cooler substrate in the summer.
I’ve been housing, snakes for about fourteen years now on sand. I have tried different kinds of sand. The play sand has too many fines in it, could be harmful if the snake ingested to much at once. Be careful when feeding that the mice aren't damp where the sand will stick to the rodent. another problem with fine sand is the fines absorb up to much moisture, so a 1” feces spot will turn into a 3” spot, big coarse sands,(gravel)don't absorb anything, In my tanks, I use a cleaned (dust free)(FMC brand) Monterey #2/12 grade kiln dried sand about 1-2 inches deep,(its a smooth beach sand more or less). It’s kind of hard to find, I buy it at industrial supply stores, or sand and gravel supply. It’s used for sandblasting, it’s about 10-20 dollars for 90 lb. Bag. (I've also seen it in pet shops, $10.00 for a 10 lb bag. lol); Retains heat well, doesn't dry out reptiles skin like wood shavings might. I think it’s easy to clean, all I use, is a plastic spoon and paper plates, just scoop it up on to a plate and try to pick up most of moisture. I also use sand in my racks, but only about a 1/2 inch deep where I use a wet-wipes after spoon cleaning the box, put the plate in plastic recycled grocery bags, tie a knot, and drop it into the trash can, EASY. I clean my tanks completely, about twice a year, remove all sand , and clean the tanks with bleach and water. I recycle my dirty sand, by putting it into a bucket and letting it soak in bleach and water for a few days. Then I stir it up with a stick. Push a hose to the bottom of the bucket until water runs clear on the overflow. I then pour it into sandbags and let It dry out till the following year.
A lot of people have talked against sand on the forums, and I just wanted to view some of my thoughts.
I have never had a problem with any of my snakes getting sick or dying yet. Just be careful when feeding that they don't digest a bunch of ANY substrate.
Some of the general care and maintenance books view sand as, (quote; a attractive, natural-looking and easily changeable ground medium.) They only talk about certain types of wood shavings (Quote: cedar, redwood and some snake keepers have suggested pine shaving are potentially harmful to snakes) Maybe I'm missing something here but I believe most snakes live on and in dirt and sandy soils.
Bad Sheds; I work construction, and the Three worst things to dry out my hands are, working in dirt, wet concrete, and believe it or not, handling lumber like 2by4s for a day or two. The sand that I use has no fines in it, and doesn't dry out the snakes skin. I very seldom have snakes with a bad shed.
I've also had emails from snake owners of snakes with problems that went away once they switched them from aspen to sand or other non-wood product - a grayband with runny nose and 2 different rosies that were regurging. The owner truly thought these individuals were sensitive to the aspen (or the conditions it created) because of their rapid turnaround once removed from the material.
Another owner emailed me;
I have to say I totally agree with you about the sand. As well, I have had several problems with my kings on aspen or pine bedding. Especially if it has broken down into little bits - it seems to give my snakes allergies. I have now had three kings that, while on the aspen, with cage temps ranging from 70 - 81 degrees, get alot of mucus in their throat and noses. When I have switched them off of that to the turf, two days later they are fine.
Hope this helps, Bob
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R.Bichlers Colubrids
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