Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Would ESU Reptile Desert Blend work for a substrate for a Corn Snake? If not, why? Will it harm the Corn's health in anyway?I reluctantly bought it after not being able to find anything else and having someone I talked to say it was what they used for their Corn.

I am having a hard time finding a substrate for my new Corn. The only Aspen bedding I could find was in the rodent section of the petstore AFTER I had already bought the Desert Blend. Is that the kind everyone else uses?
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~Heather~
3 German Shepherd Dogs (Tasha, Austin, & Kaiya)
1 Iguana (Irwin)
4 Firebelly Toads (Kirby, Gus, Pico, & Tiki)
1 African Cichlid (Arnie)
3 Red-Eared Slider Hatchlings (Otis, Jasper, & Jade)
1 Southern Painted Hatchling (Milo)
Check out my website with most of my pets!

I use it for one of my sand boas - but that's because it's a burrowing species. Don't know that I would use it for a colubrid. With that substrate you definitely have to feed out of the cage, and the crushed walnut shell substrates can be pricey - especially as much as colubrids defecate. If I remember right you're in or near Indy? If I'm thinking of someone else I'm sorry. Anyway, you can get the shredded aspen or even aspen chips at a great price at the reptile shows. I know 2 vendors that I could recommend - and again, I can recommend a great breeder of corns to you.
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1.0 Ball Python "Aragorn"
1.0 Kenyan Sand Boa "Gimli"
1.0 Saharan Sand Boa "Frodo"
0.1 Rough-Scale Sand Boa "Arwen"
0.1 California Kingsnake "Gentoo"
1.0 Mexican Black Kingsnake "Indigo"
1.0 Snow Corn snake "Chile"

0.1 Australian Cattle Dog/Pointer
"Kira"

Oh yeah, a good substrate that you can even feed on is Bed-a-Beast. Easy to spot clean, looks natural and reasonably priced.
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Check Out My Albums

1.0 Ball Python "Aragorn"
1.0 Kenyan Sand Boa "Gimli"
1.0 Saharan Sand Boa "Frodo"
0.1 Rough-Scale Sand Boa "Arwen"
0.1 California Kingsnake "Gentoo"
1.0 Mexican Black Kingsnake "Indigo"
1.0 Snow Corn snake "Chile"

0.1 Australian Cattle Dog/Pointer
"Kira"

Thanks for all of your help! Here is a pic of the baby I'm trying to make comfy!

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~Heather~
3 German Shepherd Dogs (Tasha, Austin, & Kaiya)
1 Iguana (Irwin)
4 Firebelly Toads (Kirby, Gus, Pico, & Tiki)
1 Hypo Corn Snake (no name yet)
3 Red-Eared Slider Hatchlings (Otis, Jasper, & Jade)
1 Southern Painted Hatchling (Milo)
Check out my website with most of my pets!

Very pretty! Thanks for sharing.
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Check Out My Albums

1.0 Ball Python "Aragorn"
1.0 Kenyan Sand Boa "Gimli"
1.0 Saharan Sand Boa "Frodo"
0.1 Rough-Scale Sand Boa "Arwen"
0.1 California Kingsnake "Gentoo"
1.0 Mexican Black Kingsnake "Indigo"
1.0 Snow Corn snake "Chile"

0.1 Australian Cattle Dog/Pointer
"Kira"

Yep, you're right I'm the one near Indy. Actually, I live about an hour or so north west of Indy so going there for bedding would kind of be out of the way. I did go to the show Sunday and got a corn snake from Reptilian Projects. They were very nice and helpful. I can definitely see why you recommend them. Just so you don't worry, I had been considering getting a snake for awhile and had been reading everything I could about them. So it wasn't an impulse buy! I also had everything I needed: aquarium, water dish, hides, screen top, & light. All I had to buy was the substrate and heating pad. The man from Reptilian Projects (I can't remember his name for the life of me!) said that he uses Aspen shavings as a substrate. But, darn it, I couldn't find it anywhere. Like I said in the first post, the only thing I could find was Aspen shaving bedding in the rodent section of Wal-Mart. Is that okay?

I hate to waste the Desert Blend bedding that I bought, but if it causes a health problem for my snake I will not use it and get something else. I will not be feeding him in his cage since it was suggested by the man at Reptilian Projects that I feed him in a separate container anyway. He ate one pinkie today so I'm happy about that. Anyway, what is your opinion? I'll probably go ahead and email Reptilian Projects and ask him the same questions. Thanks for your reply!
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~Heather~
3 German Shepherd Dogs (Tasha, Austin, & Kaiya)
1 Iguana (Irwin)
4 Firebelly Toads (Kirby, Gus, Pico, & Tiki)
1 Hypo Corn Snake (no name yet)
3 Red-Eared Slider Hatchlings (Otis, Jasper, & Jade)
1 Southern Painted Hatchling (Milo)
Check out my website with most of my pets!

Yeah! What kind did you get? I'm just not sure about the crushed walnut shells - I think my biggest concern is using it with a hatchling, not as worried with an adult. But then since you're going to feed outside the cage I'm not sure how much of an issue it is. I will say I do like the look and smell of the crushed walnut shells. Troy (Reptilian Projects) sells aspen chips (I like the chips better than the shredded aspen). I'd be interested to know what others and Troy think. If it does turn out to be something others say not to use, you could always use paper towels or newspaper until you can find something else.

So glad the little one ate for you. Is it a male or female? I'd love to see pics if you have any to share.

Congrat's on being a new snake mommy!
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Check Out My Albums

1.0 Ball Python "Aragorn"
1.0 Kenyan Sand Boa "Gimli"
1.0 Saharan Sand Boa "Frodo"
0.1 Rough-Scale Sand Boa "Arwen"
0.1 California Kingsnake "Gentoo"
1.0 Mexican Black Kingsnake "Indigo"
1.0 Snow Corn snake "Chile"

0.1 Australian Cattle Dog/Pointer
"Kira"

See how observant I am...I just realized your signature says you got a hypo baby. They're so cute!

Was that your first reptile show? My mom wanted to go (her first) because she's kind of toying with getting some kind of reptile. Afterwards I asked her what she thought and she commented that she could see why I do business with Troy at Reptilian Projects and Jason Hess with Jason's Jungle (he was to the left of Troy. They both have a much better presentation, are more professional and based on appearances their setups were cleaner, etc. And of course they're great people. I keep in touch with them both via email and visit them at each show. I also like that they keep written records for customers.
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Check Out My Albums

1.0 Ball Python "Aragorn"
1.0 Kenyan Sand Boa "Gimli"
1.0 Saharan Sand Boa "Frodo"
0.1 Rough-Scale Sand Boa "Arwen"
0.1 California Kingsnake "Gentoo"
1.0 Mexican Black Kingsnake "Indigo"
1.0 Snow Corn snake "Chile"

0.1 Australian Cattle Dog/Pointer
"Kira"

Yep, I got a hypo. It's a boy. He is very pretty, at least I think so! I was between him and a lighter colored baby. I can't remember what it was called though. It was the going to be orange and white I believe. Not sure though. I'll let you know when I get pics posted.
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~Heather~
3 German Shepherd Dogs (Tasha, Austin, & Kaiya)
1 Iguana (Irwin)
4 Firebelly Toads (Kirby, Gus, Pico, & Tiki)
1 Hypo Corn Snake (no name yet)
3 Red-Eared Slider Hatchlings (Otis, Jasper, & Jade)
1 Southern Painted Hatchling (Milo)
Check out my website with most of my pets!

>>Nope not good for your corn.
Could cause impaction, easier to ingest then aspen.
bacteria more likely to grow in damp sand.
I would go back and get the aspen. My personal opinion.
Some use paper towels, some newspaper I prefer aspen.
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Remember, My posts are MY opinion only!
Jimmy (draybar)

At some stores, you'll see that aspen is labelled for rodents AND reptiles, but the stuff that's labelled just for rodents will do as long as it's not coarse. I doubt you'll find any aspen labelled just for reptiles. The manufacturers wouldn't sell much that way. LOL

Ah, good point! That's good that it will work, I might get some at Wal-Mart tomorrow.
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~Heather~
3 German Shepherd Dogs (Tasha, Austin, & Kaiya)
1 Iguana (Irwin)
4 Firebelly Toads (Kirby, Gus, Pico, & Tiki)
1 Hypo Corn Snake (no name yet)
3 Red-Eared Slider Hatchlings (Otis, Jasper, & Jade)
1 Southern Painted Hatchling (Milo)
Check out my website with most of my pets!

When you get your aspen make sure they dont store it in the reptile section.If any of there snakes have had mites there will be some in the bedding....Paul

I've found that a good place (for me anyways) to pick up aspen is at the local gardening store (Richie Feed and Seed up here in Ontario). It sells for only $15 Canadian for three cubic feet (1Lx1Wx3H).
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