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RE: Best substrate for ball pythons

KingRex — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 19:14:53 GMT

My vote has to be Cyprus Mulch: Abosrbant, Smells Nice, Cheap and LOOKS NATURAL.

I've been using it for years and apsolutly love it.

RE: Best substrate for ball pythons

Kathy Love — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 23:28:27 GMT

I use aspen for my corns and I love it. But I prefer cypress mulch for my ball pythons, because they seem to need more moisture for shedding than the corns require. If a BP is having problems shedding, I may just pour some water right into the mulch on the warm side to create a bit of a steam bath. Doing that with aspen often causes black mold and fungus. I use the brand of cypress from Ace Hardware as it seems softer and more shredded than other brands I have used.

I have not used coconut fiber myself. But I have seen it, and I suspect it would work quite well for ball pythons. I'll have to try it sometime so I will know firsthand if I should recommend it.

I try to stay away from bark products because trees tend to concentrate whatever pesticide type chemicals they have in their bark. That is the most likely place for insects to attack, after all. Some species have more available than others, of course. I have not ever heard of anyone specifically having problems with bark products, so I doubt it is a big issue. It is just a personal preference - better safe than sorry!

RE: Best substrate for ball pythons

SNAKE CHARMER — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 17:04:41 GMT

blkfirecrystal (8/4/2008)

Good for them. But then again shame on them for encouraging bad habits. It is NEVER a good idea to associate a persons hand with food.

they don't always do that usyally there fed in there tank thats just every now & again

RE: Best substrate for ball pythons

blkfirecrystal — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 13:44:16 GMT

SNAKE CHARMER (8/4/2008)

blkfirecrystal (8/4/2008)

Perhaps Balls are not prone to nipping behavior but I have noticed that my Corns and Kings certainly are. If they are fed in their home cage enough times they strike at whatever approaches them. This behavior ceases to be a problem once fed in a separate feeding cage.

the corns & kings down at the petstore i go will eat on your hand

Good for them. But then again shame on them for encouraging bad habits. It is NEVER a good idea to associate a persons hand with food.

RE: Best substrate for ball pythons

the herptile master — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 13:15:11 GMT

One of the best substaits is bark. But some peaple put there ball pythons on play sand. but i dont recimend that.

RE: Best substrate for ball pythons

matt94rocks — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 10:54:38 GMT

blkfirecrystal (8/4/2008)

I know how that is.Sadly I get bit or almost get bit everyday.

RE: Best substrate for ball pythons

SNAKE CHARMER — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 10:41:15 GMT

blkfirecrystal (8/4/2008)

the corns & kings down at the petstore i go will eat on your hand

RE: Best substrate for ball pythons

blkfirecrystal — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 10:24:16 GMT

RE: Best substrate for ball pythons

SNAKE CHARMER — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 08:01:26 GMT

snakes are not made nippy by feeding inside there enclosure just use tongs & if you have any partcle substrate then flip the hide & put them in it

RE: Best substrate for ball pythons

blkfirecrystal — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 23:40:06 GMT

matt94rocks (7/31/2008)

News paper or aspen work the best.Both are easy to clean if you use newspaper you can feed them in there cage.

I don't think it is ever a good idea to feed a snake in it's home cage. They will associate your hand reaching in their cage with "meal time", which will sometimes trigger a feeding response when you are merely attempting to remove them. No matter how small your snake, it is always good to establish a safe feeding regimen early on. The snake should be fed with tongs in a separate empty container/cage and only removed several hours after the meal has been had.

Aspen is my pick for substrate but I do agree that coconut fiber is very useful in retaining humidity levels. Either one of these is an excellent choice of substrate for your Ball python. Also, make sure that you put a ceramic tile or stone tile underneath the side of your tank that will have the under tank heating pad. (Especially if the tank will be on a wooden or plastic stand/shelf/dresser.)

Good luck with your new Snake!

RE: Best substrate for ball pythons

luvmymuraco — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 14:46:13 GMT

i agree with snake charmer. i use shredded coconut bark. its less harmful if ingested and its very easy to maintain. its actually recommended that you change it every 3 mos. which is convenient. and its great for humidity. pouring hot water over the substrate works great for the snakes moisture!

RE: Best substrate for ball pythons

SNAKE CHARMER — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 14:28:15 GMT

the best substrate for alot of boids(not for desert species)is cocunut bark its a bit pricy but you only have to changee it 2 times a year & it will not mold so instead of daily misting you can just poor warm water on it every week don't drown the place just get the cocunut dark

RE: Best substrate for ball pythons

Maximum — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 13:52:10 GMT

I think aspen is the best because it allows more burrowing and going under the substrate. But get the shaved aspen, not the aspen in the little slivers that are commonly available. Shaved works a lot better because it does not find its way to odd places on the snakes.

RE: Best substrate for ball pythons

matt94rocks — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 13:47:57 GMT

News paper or aspen work the best.Both are easy to clean if you use newspaper you can feed them in there cage.

Best substrate for ball pythons

cottens — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 13:39:28 GMT

I am getting a baby ball python in 3 months and am wondering what the best subsrtate to use for them in a naturalistic terrarium is? I heard that you can use sand, dirt, wood chips (mulch), aspen shavings, or a mixture of different stuff. But what one would be the best to use. My tank is a 30 gallon and i was wondering if you could make half the substrate sand and the other half mulch (so the ball python can choose if he wants to go on a more damp substrate or dry substrate like what they can choose in the wild) and i would divide the two with a little homemade divider... do you think this is a good idea, or not? (also, the under tank heating pad would go on the sand side, because substrates in the wild that are under the 'sun' are not wet.)