Menu
Aspen - One of the best choices for colubrids in my opinion.
Pros
* Cheap
* Odor Absorbing
* Easy to maintain
* Only has to be totally changed every couple months.
Cons
* Can cause impaction if ingested
* Doesn't hold humidity well
Cypress - Great for large collections that require high humidity.
Pros
* Cheap
* Holds humidity well
* Safe
Cons
* Sold as yard mulch, will usually contain bugs. However these bugs are not harmful.
* Can also cause impaction
Coconut Husk - Great for any animal kept in a cage. Available in many different forms.
Pros
* Absorbs and neutralizes odors
* Last longer than any other substrate on the market
* Harmless if ingested
* Conatins "friendly" tannic acid - Resists mold and mildews
* Can be composted or recycled.
* Available in forms desirable for any caged animal
* As finely ground, serves as a safe alternative for sphagnum moss
Cons
* Costs more than Cypress or Aspen
Reptile Bark - While this bark is typically from the White Fir tree, it is not harmful - such as Pine shavings. The oils and vapors are only found in the pulp, therefore the bark is fine to use.
Pros
* Absorbant
* Cheap
Cons
* Colubrids can't burrow as well as they can in others
* Doesn't control odors too well
Newspaper - A cheap alternative for large amounts of cages
Pros
* Cheap
* Readily available
* Easy to keep clean - just throw away when soiled
* Easy to record defeciation cycles
Cons
* Newprint can get on snakes, then on your hands
* Not asthetically pleasing
Reptile Carpet - Also known as astroturf. I have used this, and decided it was an extreme pain in the butt.
Pros
* Cheap
* Easy to record defeciation cycles
Cons
* Not the easiest to clean. Keep 2 pieces, then replace the soiled one with a clean piece. Every couple weeks, it needs to be soaked in vinegar to get rid of odors.
* Need 2 pieces per tank
* Non absorbant
* Doesn't help control odors
Sphagnum Moss - Commonly used in conjunction with another substrate to help hold humidity. Commonly thougt that if you rinse it out, it's safe. Not always true.
Pros
* Helps hold humidity levels up
* Cheap
Cons
* Can introduce the parasite Sporotrichum Shenckii (Commonly found)
* Can cause a fungal infection
Aquairum Gravel / Rocks / Gravel - Easily found, can be colorful.
Pros
* Easily Obtainable
Cons
* Non absorbant
* Doesn't help with odors
* Harbors germs
* Difficult to clean
* Grows bacterium and virii
* Can cause impaction
Calcium Sand - Not reccomended for colubrid snakes. Some snakes are okay on this, but I do not know which. If you have information you can help me with on this, please email me.
Regular Sand - Not reccomended for colubrid snakes. Can cause impaction, not absorbant, and won't fight odors. I would also like some input on this.
Dirt - I wouldn't reccomend to use this. Any dirt you get, no matter if you go buy topsoil from a store or dig it up from the yard, it can contain parasites, bacterium, and fungal diseases.
Cedar - This contains toxic oils and odors, which can cause respiratory infections.
Pine Family - This includes the White Fir, which is commonly used. This is unsafe for reptile use, and the odors can cause respiratory infections. Please note these oils are only found in the pulp of the wood - not the bark.