Probably worrying too much, but...

[chris-uk]

Steve's right. They can get their heads into gaps you wouldn't have thought possible. Best case is it squeezes all the way out, worst it gets stuck part way through and breaks its neck.

[jwolfe152]

this is the size screen i use and probably close to what steve has

[guidofatherof5]

this is the size screen i use and probably close to what steve has

Yes it is but I use a fabric mesh rather then a metal one.

[EasternGirl]

Yep...I agree...you don't want to take any chances with that screen...too many risks. I am glad to hear that Mort shed...does he seem to be back to normal now?

[EasternBlackNeckedGarter]

Yes, he does. I'll see about the lid, but until then, he's doing fine.

Edit: What're your opinions on my bedding? I used to use that soft AstroTurf stuff (forgive me for not knowing the name), but I switched to a few inches of Carefresh Natural bedding, because it's easier to clean and I feel like it has a more natural feel. It can be compacted to be firm, and the only nuisance is when it gets in the water dish.

[EasternGirl]

Carefresh is great as long as you don't feed the snakes on it. You really shouldn't feed on any substrate, in my opinion. My only issue with the carefresh natural is that they recently changed it...something in it now has an odd smell which I don't trust. Whatever it is...mushrooms grow in it in my guinea pig cage when it gets dirty...which is really freaky. For my garters, I use the colored carefresh...it's a little more expensive, but it doesn't have a weird smell and it seems to have less dust.

[EasternBlackNeckedGarter]

I'm using an older bag, I think. A few months at least. (Leftover from my rats.) He was eating minnows for a good while (Yes, bad choice, I know.), so he was used to eating out of a water dish. We went through four or five mice before we realized he wouldn't eat them, so he eats them out of the water. I'll try buying colored Carefresh when I replace the litter.

Anyways, he ate two fuzzies last night, so I think he's fine. Tongue's flicking, skin's shiny, no wrinkles...

[EasternGirl]

That is good to hear. My Sadie likes to eat out of the water dish if I feed her in her enclosure. She also goes diving for invisible food in the water after I put her back in the tank after a feeding...it's funny to watch. I just bought a bag of colored carefresh last night...it was $24 for the big bag...not cheap when I have to change Guinea Pig bedding every week or two.

[Mommy2many]

He is very pretty!