Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I was talking to someone last night regarding their corn snake enclosure, and he mentioned something about the hay in the bottom of the cage. Hay? I've never heard of using this as a substrate before, and didn't even know enough about it to tell him if it is appropriate/safe or not.

I assume hay would be fairly inert, unless it is sprayed with chemicals. Is most hay treated in some way? I can't imagine it having any toxic properties like cedar otherwise.

Just curious what y'all know or think about this. If hay is doing this fellow's snake harm, I want to suggest to him that he replace it.

Thanks!
Ronda

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Ronda Van Winkle
Northwest Herpetoculture

I wouldn't think that there would be any treatments to the hay that would be harmful to the snake, since it is produced for animal consumption. However, any pesticides used in the hay growth period may need to be assessed, because mammals react much different to many pesticides than do reptiles. That would be my only health concern.

Even so, as a substrate, I can't imagine hay being anywhere near as cheap, absorbent, or smell reducing as simple old aspen shavings are. Funny choice, I would think...

To each his own, though!

Good to see you posting here Rhonda!
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Darin Chappell
Hillbilly Herps
PO Box 254
Rogersville, MO 65742

We used to use hay in our dog houses.
I'm not sure how it would do in a snake enclosure but in the dog houses it seemed to retain moisture and get moldy pretty quick.
We didn't use it very long.
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Corn snakes and rat snakes..No one can have just one.
"resistance is futile"
Jimmy (draybar)

Hay has alot of dust and fine particles.Mix it with urates and you can get scale rot real quik.Aspen or newspaper.I live in the heart of farm country and they do bed everything in straw here and it's ungodly cheap.Good for mammals.

hay is not cool...as they said.....molds quick.......too much sugars.......

straw is better....but the sbake will hide under it and defecates will then actually just be dropped onto the cage floor anyways....so ....as a substrate not good....as a hide......good......

......better.....aspen......

both have dust......

paper......no dust...not pretty..(I use paper)....

and they can still get under it..(and they will)....

..........have fun

JY

green live moss.....LOL......that's new too.........
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is borrowed sperm really borrowed or just personal property?....9/10ths the law....possesion....?.....

was it paid for first?........LOL...............

... I figured hay would not be very absorbent, but I didn't realize it would mold quickly. That's no good at all. I appreciate the responses!

Ronda
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Ronda Van Winkle
Northwest Herpetoculture