Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I currently have my SST python on newspaper and was wondering what kinds of cage substrate everyone uses. I was thinking of switching over to aspen or repti-bark(zoomed). I was wondering if those two substrates hold moisture better than newspaper, which would make it a little easier to keep the humidity up. Also, i was on zoo meds site and it only said that the repti bark came from fir tree and i wasnt sure if they would have oils that might irritate the snake. Thanx for any and all help.
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1.0 Normal Cornsnake
1.0 Sumatran Short Tail Python

NEWSPAPER: Pro- cheap, easy to replace, completely safe, can be used as a "hide"
Con- Not eye pleasing (when soiled), not very absorbent, cannot be spot cleaned.

REPTI-BARK: Pro- Eye pleasing, easy to spot clean, holds humidity well, can be burrowed into, can be utilized in shedding process.

Con- bags of repti-bark have been known to have mite eggs (bags must be sprayed with proventomite or other mite removal products before putting into tank), pain in the butt to remove from tank and completely clean once a month as recommended, difficult to reduce humidity levels if too high.

ASPEN: I have not used this but what ive seen it is not very eyepleasing when soiled, the snake can move large amounts of the bedding with it when the snake moves leaving parts of the tank with uncovered areas, it is recommended to not feed your snakes with the aspen because it is harmful if swallowed (that's according to the aspen product i looked at...other aspen bedding manufacturers may have different recommendations).

other people may have different ideas/opinions about the products listed. this is only my observation in using the listed substrate and may be different than the conclusions of other people.
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0.0.1 Colombian Redtail Boa
1.1.1 Sumatran Blood Pythons
1.0 Black Blood Python
1.0 Dumeril's Boa
0.1 Coastal Carpet Python
0.1 Jungle Carpet Python

Hey,
IMO, moisture is not only a matter of what king of substrate you're using in your snake enclosure, but also, what kind of cage you're using. A good example would be keeping a blood in a glass aquarium versus, keeping one in a rubber maid. Which one is going to keep better humidity over all? Alright, nough said. I use newspaper in all of my cages and never have a problem with sheds or dimpling on my bloods and short-tails and I use melamine cages that I construct. Gotta love that newspaper! It's cheap and it's free.
-Angel
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In life you can fall many times, but you're only a failure, if you don't try to get back up!
Evil Canevil

Hey Angel-
What is "dimpling?"
Bill

Hey,
Dimpling is a common skin or scale problem with bloods and stp's, that develops when the snakes are kept too wet, or too dry, the latter being the more probable of the two. The individual scales develop an indentation in the center of the scale, causing the snakes appearance to look dry or unhealthy. However, there is no cause for alarm as this does not, in itself, cause any health issues. The conditions in the cage or enclosure, should be corrected to prevent it or other possible health risk, such as URI's.
-Angel
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In life you can fall many times, but you're only a failure, if you don't try to get back up!
Evil Canevil

np