| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| gingerpony |
Posted - 14/12/2008 : 20:04:47
This is what you put down in the bottom of your snake's vivarium/faunarium/RUB. Various choices are available and quite often, if the substrate meets all the reptile's requirements then it's down to personal preference. Some substrates however should definitely NOT be used - pine or cedar shavings are toxic and can lead to repiratory and skin problems - these should be avoided at ALL costs!
For hatchlings, the easiest substrate to use is sheets of kitchen roll/towel. It's cheap, readily available, easy to change when the snake defeacates or knocks it's water over, and easy to dispose of. Keeping hatchlings on kitchen roll also allows you to monitor how often your snakes defeacates and or urinates, and a quick look before you throw it in the bin will tell you if it looks normal for your snake.
As your snake moves into bigger housing as he grows you may want to change the substrate to something more aesthetically pleasing and here various options have proven popular so I'll discuss the most common ones individually.
Aspen and Hemp:
These are usually readily available and provide a soft fluffy layer of substrate which your snake can burrow in and make holes through. Care should be taken that you don't put too thick a layer in the hot end of the vivarioum as it acts as an insulator making it hard for heat from the mat to get through to where the snake will lie. An inch of substrate is sufficient at the hot end but you can make it deeper throughout the rest of the enclosure if you wish.
Beech chippings:
Again, readily available, provides a nice natural look but doesn't have the fluffy consistency of aspen so no tunnelling for your snake. It comes in three grades (chippings sizes) small, medium and large, small being suitable for juveniles and adults, medium is probably best used for adult corns due to it's size. As for aspen only a thin layer is needed over the heatmat otherwise it's insulating properties will mean your vivarium might struggle to get up to temperature.
Orchid bark:
Readily available and natural-looking, it is excellent for holding moisture and for increasing humidity. For this reason it is good for snakes that require higher humidity such as Royal pythons and Rainbow boas. For cornsnakes it is often best to dry orchid bark on a baking tray in the oven as increased humidity for corns can cause RIs (Respiratory Infections). Because orchid bark chunks are quite large it's more difficult to get a thin, even layer over the heatmat, and slightly more difficult to remove when doing a daily spot-check for defeacation/urine/urate balls.
Paper:
Very readily available, can even be delivered to your door on a daily basis! It might not look as nice as other substrates but can prove highly practical. It's cheap and easy to replace soiled sheets of paper and it absorbs any moisture making cleaning a very quick and simple task. Heat can get through a few sheets quite easily (although you must have your heatmat on a thermostat to prevent it getting too hot.) Shredded paper also provides the opportunity for your snake to burrow and make tunnels.
Artificial grass:
Not as commonly used but worth mentioning. Depending on the particular brand it can be quite co**** and *****ly. It is non-absorbant so needs to be changed and cleaned very regularly. For this reason it is advisable to have several pieces cut to size so one piece can be in the vivarium while another is being washed or dried. |
| 10 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| gmac |
Posted - 08/09/2014 : 20:37:54
quote:
Originally posted by herriotfan
quote:
Originally posted by morpheus20170
Thanks for this as I was concerned about using Orchid Bark due to the high humidity but now after reading this I am thinking of going with Beech chips,
If you wanted to use beech chips you can dry them out in the oven prior to use. Would help kill off any unwanted bugs too! 
I'm sure beech chips don't need drying ;) |
| herriotfan |
Posted - 08/09/2014 : 09:05:29
quote:
Originally posted by morpheus20170
Thanks for this as I was concerned about using Orchid Bark due to the high humidity but now after reading this I am thinking of going with Beech chips,
If you wanted to use beech chips you can dry them out in the oven prior to use. Would help kill off any unwanted bugs too! |
| Kellog |
Posted - 08/09/2014 : 07:39:49
Glad it was helpful Paul  .
Xxx
|
| morpheus20170 |
Posted - 07/09/2014 : 11:09:08
Thanks for this as I was concerned about using Orchid Bark due to the high humidity but now after reading this I am thinking of going with Beech chips, |
| jennas |
Posted - 25/10/2013 : 19:56:47
Thanks great help. |
| Kazerella |
Posted - 13/02/2009 : 17:40:05
Can I use your pics for the care sheets please GP?
I'm trying to break up the walls of text and these will be great for images for the substrate sections. 
We've also started taking pictures of heating equipment and dead mice so you can see the depths we will go to to make things more readable |
| gingerpony |
Posted - 14/12/2008 : 21:28:54
amended |
| matty18714 |
Posted - 14/12/2008 : 21:14:56
If anything is labeled as hemp its basically the same as aspen. |
| gingerpony |
Posted - 14/12/2008 : 21:12:06
that was the plan matty and thanks 
anything to add to it anyone? |
| matty18714 |
Posted - 14/12/2008 : 20:21:54
Nice Guide GP well worth sticky-ing |
