Substrate

[Natrix]

Has anyone used Natural peat mixed with River sand as substrate?

[Light of Dae]

sand is bad, can cause huge impaction issues, n scale rot. the only thing I've considered other than store bought n bagged 'proper' substrate is a chunk of grassy sod.

[Natrix]

I only asked because i am sure that i have read somewhere that a mix of coco peat and riversand makes a good natural substrate. The sand is a good source of minerals for the snakes. I can't remember where i read it but I am sure it was on here somewhere.

[Natrix]

Just had another search and found it
Doing it the dutch way! "My decoration is basic.... Baskingspot which acts as hindingplace, hay in the corner for hiding, small waterdish, some fake green plants... a bit of wood for the looks of it and cocopeat/riversand as bedding."

So the question is ...... Would natural peat be ok for a substitute for the coco peat?

[BUSHSNAKE]

not 100% sure but i think the peat would be alot dustier depending on humidity...ive used coco peat by itself for garters and liked it but prefer a heavier substrate. Peat ive used by itself since the mid 90s for arachnids....so i could imagine peat mixed with sand and maybe a layer of leaves would work very well...come to think of it i used straight peat for a cottonmouth one time...worked fine, and it looks natural

[EasternGirl]

I s coco peat the same as ecoearth? I thought that stuff was really dusty...I didn't like it at all.

[Natrix]

One more question, Un- Guarded spot lights? I know it is usually a NO NO, BUT I have noticed that in some breeders pics they are using these for light and heat. Some thoughts please.

[Natrix]

I s coco peat the same as ecoearth? I thought that stuff was really dusty...I didn't like it at all.

I thinks so but there are two different grades. 5mm for snakes etc... and finer screened stuff for geko's, amphibians and inverts.

[EasternGirl]

One more question, Un- Guarded spot lights? I know it is usually a NO NO, BUT I have noticed that in some breeders pics they are using these for light and heat. Some thoughts please.

You are talking about inside the tank?

[Selkielass]

Michigan peat is broken down spagnum moss. It tends to be fairly acid.
I haven't used it as a substrate, but my snakes like a damp hide filled with moss or peat.
I don't know about river sand- lots of ingestion worries in back posts here.
Falconers havem in tne past, used river sand as a natural dewormer. (Strip of meat dipped in snad then fed to bird.) but Garters don't have gizzards. Still I think ingesting a certain amount of sand occurs in the wild. Hard to say when the animal isn't the one choosing.