Changing substrate?

[tress29]

I may have to take the aspen out of my tank and swap with paper towel or newspaper. I can't find my snakes! Boo Hoo! They are hiding from me.

I saw the eastern poke it's head out from under the water dish at lunch time, and the radix was exploring when I got home. Still haven't seen the coast, though someone was under the aspen at the back of the tank.

My question is this: will the little guys be too exposed with no shavings to hide in? I definitely want them to settle in, but I'd like to be able to check on them, and see that they are eating. Any thoughts?

[EasternGirl]

I wouldn't take away their substrate...you want them to feel safe and have a place to burrow and hide...that's what garters do...I know, I know...it's tough when you want to see them...but give them time and they will start to come out more. What I have been doing with Hermes is I stick my hand down in the substrate and find him and make sure he is okay a couple of times a day. I often do the same thing with my eastern girls as they will burrow a lot and stay hidden much of the time...if time goes by and I haven't seen them, I will simply dig for them in the substrate and find them just to make sure they are okay...sometimes that alone will get them to come out as garters are extremely curious...they will often come out and explore after I find them. As far as feeding goes...you may want to consider a separate feeding tank...one that you have paper towels in the bottom of instead of substrate...and that you move the snakes into to feed. Then you can monitor the feeding.

[infernalis]

And it's "cute" when little heads pop out of the shavings.

[tress29]

I have to unbury my hognose all the time, he's usually behind the water dish. The 20L is just so much bigger! And I feel bad disturbing their little tunnels! Maybe tomorrow I'll go looking for the coast.

[katach]

They love to dig. I would leave the substrate. It's only ben a couple of days. They will settle in and get more comfortable in time.

[EasternGirl]

Ha Ha...yeah..I always feel really bad when I mess up all the little tunnels that Cee Cee and Selena have made...I can always tell Cee Cee's tunnels from Selena's because Cee Cee's are big and Selena's are little tiny tunnels. I imagine that they are cursing me all the time for that! But Kat is right..it's only been a couple of days...Hermes is being the exact same way right now. He wouldn't touch his food tonight...and he refuses to come out from hiding. They'll get used to us! Hang in there!

[chris-uk]

Leave the substrate in, but don't be too worried about having a dig to find them. You'll soon learn where they tend to sleep when they burrow, then it's usually just a case of sticking your finger into the substrate in those places, wiggle it a bit to disturb the substrate, and a head will soon pop up. :-)

[zendragondrew]

And it's "cute" when little heads pop out of the shavings.

Very true. I just put in a new substrate that's easily "burrow-able" and she keeps her whole body under it except her head. It's funny looking, I love it.

[zendragondrew]

The problem is now I'm afraid she's going to poop underground and I won't be able to clean it.

[chris-uk]

The problem is now I'm afraid she's going to poop underground and I won't be able to clean it.

Don't worry, they prefer the water bowl just after you change the water.