Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Just wondering if anyone here uses indoor/outdoor carpet(the green stuff) as a substrate. I currently use newspaper which is good but it seems like the carpet would be easier if I had two pieces per cage. When one is soiled wash it off and hang to dry, then just put the other piece in. Rotation.

Pros and cons????

Anyone??

BTW Just got a new camera a couple of weeks ago.

I used the astro turf for about a year back in the early 80's. It's convenient, sure, but a hassle to work with. And it lacks any absorption qualities. So any urine will have to evaporate and the smell can get bad. Also,... unless you wash it each time with a strong bleach solution it will retain bacteria. And lastly, solid urates (white & yellow stuff) have a habit of sticking pretty firmly in the plastic mesh and you end up spening a lot of time trying to keep it clean.

So,....

Pros; It's convenient.
It looks relatively nice. (initially)
It is comparatively inexpensive (one time purchase)

Cons; It frays over time.
It lacks absorption.
It can retain bacteria.
It traps ugly white urates.
It must be changed out with every soil.

>>Just wondering if anyone here uses indoor/outdoor carpet(the green stuff) as a substrate. I currently use newspaper which is good but it seems like the carpet would be easier if I had two pieces per cage. When one is soiled wash it off and hang to dry, then just put the other piece in. Rotation.
>>
>> Pros and cons????
>>
>>
>> Anyone??
>>
>>BTW Just got a new camera a couple of weeks ago.
>>
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Believe in yourself and your abilities and you can accomplish anything.

I totally agree with Brian. I would also like to add that it sucks at controlling humidity. With the money that has already been spent on getting that beautiful snake, it would be best to go with a different substrate.

That's a very important point and I forgot it. Thanks.

Don't you use cyprus mulch on your bigger stuff? I've heard it creates terrific humidity.

>>I totally agree with Brian. I would also like to add that it sucks at controlling humidity. With the money that has already been spent on getting that beautiful snake, it would be best to go with a different substrate.
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Believe in yourself and your abilities and you can accomplish anything.

Humidity is not really an issue. I have a snake room that I can control the humidity of the entire room.

Good points about the carpet. I didn't even think about how absorbant it would be

Looks like I'm staying with newspaper

Thank you n/p

THe astro turf can also be dangerous as as it frays, a feeding response can cause the snake to get their teeth caught in the turf and they can end up stuck and try to ingest whatever is stick with a meal or get mouth rot trying to unhook teeth from the substrate

winslow

Good looking snake. Ok to your question. I used to use carpet in my burms cage, cause I dont own a retic and you could tell when the snake went to the bath room, really stunk. The carpet made it smell so bad. Now, when she was little it was ok, but then I switched to news paper and much better and easier to clean. The carpet takes to much time, you have to clean it, news paper I can wake up and smell it and clean it and still be on time for work, in the morning. You could do the carpet but why put yourself through that.