New substrate?

[guidofatherof5]

I've been very happy with the compressed aspen pellets made by Gentle Touch Products:
Gentle Touch Products - All Natural Pet Litter and Bedding

[ConcinusMan]

If I'm not mistaken, that stuff just swells and falls apart when damp. That just wouldn't do for me. I need something I can dampen to slowly release humidity, still retain it's integrity and shape, and not mold even if kept damp for long periods. I suppose everyone has their preferences based on availability, price, and practicality in their specific situation. For me that would be reptibark/coconut fiber mixture. As far as swallowing goes, I wouldn't want my snakes swallowing any substrate, "safe" or not, and so I take measures to be reasonably sure that doesn't happen.

I'm sure if I had as many snakes and as much surface to cover as you do, my preferred substrate might just be different.

[zooplan]

A friend had offered dust free wood chips for woodchip wallpaper, that works fine for is ball pythons, but its too small for my Garters, if I don´t want to change to a off cage feeding routine.

[infernalis]

I really like cage liner "carpet" for babies. I can keep an eye on them better, they can't burrow with it but it does tend to get little white (poop) spots all over it quick.

[zooplan]

I´ve wondered about those carpet too, but it looks not really comforable for my snakes to me. Is it easy to crawl on those carpet?

[infernalis]

The babies seem to move around on it just fine Udo.

[ConcinusMan]

I really like cage liner "carpet" for babies. I can keep an eye on them better, they can't burrow with it but it does tend to get little white (poop) spots all over it quick.

Same here. For the first few months, I used liners for my litters. It need not be barren however. I scattered moss around on top of it, keeping some of it moist. Like you see here:

[New Mutant]

I've been using paper towels and really like them (they're cheap and very easy to clean), but Luke has started burrowing in between layers and not coming out for days. I'm looking for a substrate or combination of substrates that's easy to keep clean and clean out of the cage and that they can either burrow in safely or not burrow at all.

[ConcinusMan]

I use this:



And I mix it with a little of this:



I keep it about 2 inches deep. It take a very long time for it to become soiled to the point of needing replaced, and it makes snake poop/urates odor disappear.

My snakes burrow into it all the time. It's also nice that you can keep an area of it damp to raise humidity. It won't mold or stink and dries quickly.

I purchase it online much cheaper than a pet store.

[New Mutant]

Is it easy to clean out without spilling it on the floor? I keep my snakes in my bedroom, which has long carpet. If it spills and gets in the carpet, how easy is it to clean up? I like to keep my room clean, if only to make my mom happy.