Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'd like to know what type of substrate you use for your bloods or short-tails, and if you have had any problems with it. For example, does your snake's scales "dimple"? When they burrow, do they get peices stuck in their mouth? Is it hard to keep wet? Does your snake get peices in its mouth when it is eating etc. I'd like to have as many people as possible respond, because I am thinking about changing my substrates(newspaper). Please respond and give your opinion on what is the best or worst substrates,
Thanks!
Adam
-----
My pic gallery

I've tried it all and news paper is so much easier to clean up, and it's free.I don't know if mites are in the mulch substrate but It seems when I tried it the mites appeared, so I went back to newspaper.I do use the mulch for my baby blood, but as for humidity and dampness I mist occasionally on the glass tanks to keep it up, but I like it because it will dry out, not risking scale rot from over wetness as I've witness using the mulchs.The top is dry but the bottom where you don't see stays wet, and can get moldy as well.Dimples in my bloods scales seems to only be in my adult female black, but I don't get it, she soaks herself regulary, and I've had my humidity constantly at 80%.Later, I've tried 60% and she still had a dimples in the scales, so I've figuered this was normal possibly in blacks.I've also seen pictures where the scales seems to be the same as her so I havent' worried.Sorry for the rambling, but if dimples in the scales are not good let me know anybody. Thanks, EThan

Ethan,

Dimples in the scales are not good. Though I am a little confused as to what you meant in you last post. Also, are you using all glass aquariums?It is so much EASIER with the plastic sweater boxes. I used to use glass and my blood's eating habits were hit and miss. I was constantly spraying the cage which was making it wet and that is bad. We want humidity, not dampness. Then again, I think you once posted you made your own tops for the aquariums right? I never did, I used the screen tops. Anyways.... maybe try your black in a sweater box, dry, with a humidity box added? This may help your problem with dimples.

Honestly, stay with newspaper. I've used the cypress and it's a pain in the butt. Newspaper is by far the best way to go.

I live in an extremely arid climate (mojave desert) and ambient humidity was something I wrestled with for quite a while, even in a sweater box. I have settled on the use of a moss box. A tupperware with a hole cut in the lid with moist sphagnum moss in it. My blood goes in it when he wants to be humid, he goes in and buries himself, and when he wants to be dry, he comes out on the newspaper. No scale dimpling yet, and perfect one piece sheds.
-----
-----
"You have insulted my footwear; my sandals do not like to be laughed at." --Samauri Jack