Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Right now we have our babies in individual sterilite tubs. We wanted to separate them as soon as all of them hatched and at the time we put vermiculite into the sterilites. We have had one shed just fine. We figured vermiculite would be fine since they had no problems for the past five days on it in the incubator. It's easy for them to burrow in it, too.

Any suggestions? Is there any reason that we should absolutely not use vermiculite?

They are being held in there temporarily until they find new homes and the tanks are set up for the babies we are keeping(which will be done in the next week).

Thanks!

Vermiculite is not and appropriate substrate for snakes. There are Corn Snake books on the market - not one will suggest that you use it. Use paper (towels or newspaper). Vermiculite is impossible to clean - it will absorb the snake's waste products and keep them in the enclosure (with paper the waste products can be removed). Vermiculite also absorbs water - young snakes are prone to dehydration.

In short, vermiculite as a substrate is a terrible idea.

Tim

Third Eye

What about ecoearth(the hubbs like that they can dig, cause the babies like to burrow)? I don't mind using paper, but how do we keep the humidity up? The house is dry and even with stuff like EE or vermiculite we have the hardest time keeping humidity up.

Thanks. I really appreciate your answer. We're changing the vermiculite out right now, but we wanted to make sure about the humidity issue.

Humidity is a pain for me too cause it's usually pretty dry here in Colorado.

The best thing I've found to keep humidity up so far is simply less holes in the tubs. Not so few that they won't get the air they need but don't go crazy with the soldering iron.

Are you measuring the humidity? Corn snakes only need a moderate amount (60%). There are many ways to bump up the humidity, if needed. Putting the water dish above a UTH works well. One additional problem with EE or any particle-baed substrate is the possibility that the snake will ingest it.

Tim

>>What about ecoearth(the hubbs like that they can dig, cause the babies like to burrow)? I don't mind using paper, but how do we keep the humidity up? The house is dry and even with stuff like EE or vermiculite we have the hardest time keeping humidity up.
>>
>>Thanks. I really appreciate your answer. We're changing the vermiculite out right now, but we wanted to make sure about the humidity issue.

are you using an aquarium with a screen top?
put in a larger water bowl and cover half the screen top. This can help keep humidity up a little. but Tim is right no vermiculite as a substrate for the snakes, sucks up all the moisture.
cypris mulch, aspen shavings, paper towels, coconut husk substrate...any will work.
Increase water bowl size cover top and use a substrate other then vermiculite or perilite.
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Corn snakes and rat snakes...No one can have just one.
"Resistance is futile"
Jimmy Johnson
(Draybar)
Draybars Snakes

_____

Sani-chips (a fine, chipped aspen product) works fantastically well for all hatchling colubrids-we raise literally hundreds on it each year. It is sold under a variety of trade names, but I'm attaching a pic of a tricolor hog on it for illustration.

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Brad Chambers
WWW.HCU-TX.ORG

Breeder of:
Green Tree Pythons
Pastel, Pinstripe, FIRE, Piebald, Clown, Lavender Albino, Leucistic, and Spider Ball Pythons
Striped Colombian Boa Constrictors
Kenyan, Rufescens, and Conicus Sand Boas
Red Phase Western Hognose Snakes
Spider Western Hognose Snakes
Albino Western Hognose Snakes
Locality Trans-Pecos Mexican Hognose Snakes
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