Substrate

[Stefan-A]

It's heavy, James.

[adamanteus]

Yes. But it's clean, clean, clean!

[Stefan-A]

And slippery. And expensive if you can't get your hands on broken pieces. Otherwise I'd be using slate already.

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

I love your slate :P

there's a bunch of slate rock out in my backyard... in the stream and bordering he sides of it!

Now how to break it into flat pieces without murdering it...

[Garter_Gertie]

Darn! Nobody likes my slate!

James. I like your slate, but just not all slate. I agree. Slate on a heating pad is perfect. I just don't want to do my entire bottom in slate.

[dashnu]

Once James starts building his enclosures in bulk and lets me "test" one out I will like his slate !!

[anji1971]

I think the slate looks great, but I would also want it only in part of the tank. My snakes like to burrow into the substrate too much to take it away from them now!

[Garter_Gertie]

I'm xtremely xcited about the oak leaves. That will just be the perfect touch. I'll ask at the park today if I'll be allowed to gather some there. You're not supposed to pick, cut, gather stuff in a state park. But maybe since I work there... We'll see.

Burrow. Yup. I don't know if I can do it, but I've got pictured in my mind a kind'a crumbley mix of all this stuff - but for the leaves. I guess I'll just have to play with amounts. I don't want too much 'dirt' because I don't want the compaction, but I don't want too muhc big bark chips either. I think it will be fun to see what I come up with. Once I get the mixture to my satisfaction - or as close as possible - I'll let you know the porportions.

[drache]

James
I totally love the slate
and I never walk by construction sites without peeking in their dumpster
some day I'll find some nice pieces
my biggest problem is always transportation, with heavy stuff like that

[Garter_Gertie]

I need to post here the ingredients I've come up with - so far.

On the bottom aquarium gravel - small rounded polished river rocks.

I don't know if the rest will be in any particular order, or all mixed up and they are:

Coco Soft (kind'a leery about since it holds moisture and releases into the air. But if holds moisture - pee/poop - would be an easily scooped up ingredient.)

Peat moss

Potting soil (though I read this compacts easily. However I'd not be using a lot still may go with it/try it.)

Sphagnum moss

Bark chips (what I bought I have to take back as they're pine).

And Kaytee Natural Timothy Hay (is going to make WONDERFUL grass!).

I'm going to go the way of feeding in my hand, or in a seperate tank/container. I want soft varied stuff so they have as natural a burrowing place as possible.

Willl let you know how this turns out or if I add/remove and ingredient.