Best bedding?

[RedSidedSPR]

What do you recomend as the best bedding for garters? I'm using aspen shavings at the moment and that's been working for me, but I'd like to try something else.(or at least know what the best one is)

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b283/chucknkelly/GarterSnake12.jpg
And no, that is not his water bowl, He's got a big one in the corner.

[Stefan-A]

Starting to lean towards paper towels, although that may just be the frustration talking. Finding a good one seems hopeless at times.

[RedSidedSPR]

Thanks. Remember I only have one snake so I dont exactly need cheap-for-alot.

[infernalis]

I really like mixing "repti bark" & coconut hair.

if you keep it a little damp it holds down the dust.

I never feed my snakes in the cage, but if you did, coconut is fine and should pass through the snake without problems, and the bark is too big for the snake to accidentally eat it.

http://www.mypetforums.com/buck/substrate.jpg

http://www.reptiles.swelluk.com/img/shop/original/zoo-med_repti-bark.jpg

http://www.thamnophis.co/husbandry/eco.jpg

both items together at even an expensive store will be under $20 and last you for a few cage changing sessions.

[RedSidedSPR]

Thanks, the bark/coconut sounds good.

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

I actually looooove repti bark


the smell is incredible! I use it for my water dragons and my liophis

[Stefan-A]

Personally, I prefer the smell to be: None.

[RedSidedSPR]

I agree with squid-man.

[amattel]

I use aspen chips for all my snakes except I am trying out the alfalfa pellets with the garters.

I like the looks of the bark. may try that when I use up this giant bag of pellets I bought at the feed store :)

I just don't like how the aspen sticks to their food (the boas, Cribo, and White lip pythons)

[infernalis]

I have lost too many snakes to impaction from substrate,in my eyes the only safe way to feed is outside the enclosure. ;)

[RedSidedSPR]

My snake, being wild caught and still getting used to me, would not eat if I moved him to another container. It would just freak him out.

[amattel]

I have lost too many snakes to impaction from substrate,in my eyes the only safe way to feed is outside the enclosure. ;)

it gets dicy with the boas... once they've caught the scent of rat in the room they are striking at everything that moves.

I need a substrate that won't impact them, or else won't stick to their food.

[infernalis]

I understand, Our BP is good about eating out of his cage.

[zooplan]

I use beech chips. You have to care about moisture because mildew would grow fast if you overfill the water bowl for example.

I´ve tried out coconut soil last year, but the snakes always tried to prevent ground contact with that.

[ConcinusMan]

Best bedding is what is affordable and available for you, addresses their needs, (slow bacteria/mold growth, absorbant, etc..) , and lastly, does well for your sense of aesthetics.


My snake, being wild caught and still getting used to me, would not eat if I moved him to another container. It would just freak him out.

I have the same problem. I must get them to take food where they sit in their enclosures. If I have to wait until it's half swallowed to move them, then that's what I usually have to do.:cool:

Small pieces of bark, even if it's fir, can be a problem and so yes, I have to make sure they don't swallow it. This is generally not a problem for me, because my snakes always climb to the top of the enclosure to take food from my fingers or tongs. A heavy misting to wet the bark keeps it from sticking to food anyway. A little loose coconut fiber swallowed is no more harmful than common dirt.