Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Ok, so I'm still kinda undecided on substrate for my new hatchling (I've got a few weeks more)...

I've heard some people say sand is still ok, although I'm really scared about using it. That whole impaction issue frightens me.

I was thinking of using paper towels, but theres an issue with absorbancy. I'd be cleaning out everything everyday unless I used 50 ply/layers...

I was thinking maybe aspen. I use a fantastic brand for my other animals that isn't full of splinters, or dusty, and its great for digging in.

My fiancee suggested repti-bark.

Any thoughts folks?

If you just have a hatchling, paper towels work really well. The good thing about them is that you can really monitor how much the baby is pooping and peeing, because the towels show everything. They also make it easy to clean out the enclosure, which means you'll be more likely to keep it very clean.

If you're concerned that the paper towels won't be absorbent enough, put a layer or two of newspaper under them.
-----
Sohni
Northern California

0.1 Baja de L.A. Rosy Boa
0.1 Okeetee Corn Snake
1.1 Rubber Boas
1.0 Leopard Gecko
0.0.2 Hermann's Tortoises
plus my kids' herps:
0.0.1 California King Snake
1.0 Mexican Rosy Boa
0.1 Leopard Gecko

Hmmm...I didn't think of that. Thanks.

What about digging? Paper towel doesn't help him much there. Should I just use the standard (for an adult russian) timothy hay pile on one side so he can have some burrowing fun?

in aspen - this is a "good morning" shot when Teddy slept in
an indoor enclosure. He would be almost completely covered
in aspen- now I just sweep it up around him in a pile at
night! lol!

Teddy

I remember my first russian doing that...just that little "peek" out of the hay.

How old is Teddy in that pic?

I forgot how much Russians like to dig. You could put a pile of hay in the corner for him to burrow into (or aspen, too, but hay might be easier to keep in one place). Once you feel comfortable about his health and don't need to obsessively monitor his poo and pee (lol), you could switch over to aspen or something else if you wanted.
-----
Sohni
Northern California

0.1 Baja de L.A. Rosy Boa
0.1 Okeetee Corn Snake
1.1 Rubber Boas
1.0 Leopard Gecko
0.0.2 Hermann's Tortoises
plus my kids' herps:
0.0.1 California King Snake
1.0 Mexican Rosy Boa
0.1 Leopard Gecko

Yeah...obsessive is probably a good description as a new "parent".

Lol! Really I was projecting my obsessiveness onto you, and just assuming you'd be as obsessive as I am!

Don't you have rosy boas too? I'm sure I've seen you on another forum. I don't usually post on the rosy forum, but I do lurk there.
-----
Sohni
Northern California

0.1 Baja de L.A. Rosy Boa
0.1 Okeetee Corn Snake
1.1 Rubber Boas
1.0 Leopard Gecko
0.0.2 Hermann's Tortoises
plus my kids' herps:
0.0.1 California King Snake
1.0 Mexican Rosy Boa
0.1 Leopard Gecko

its been a long time since I was a rosy owner...I have 0.1 african house snake now...

...plus 1.0 albino horned frog, 0.1 american toad, 0.0.1 mali uromastyx, 0.2 rats.