|
1-9 of 9 messages
|
Page 1 of 1
|
|
RE: substrate
|
Reply
|
|
by agkistrodude on November 12, 2008
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
|
Try typing "substrate" into the search engine on the right hand side of this page and you'll get allot of past discussions on this issue. Also if you'd fill in your profile so we have an idea who you are, age, location, experience, etc. you will get more responses. Take care, Marty
|
| |
|
RE: substrate
|
Reply
|
|
by atwageman on November 12, 2008
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
|
I keep WDB's and use shreaded aspen and reptibark. Stay away from pine shavings. Like somebody else said, you got a snake without knowing what kind of substrate to use? Not trying to bust your balls, with smartazz comments to your question, but your question comes across like you have never even owned a non-venomous snake in the past.
|
| |
|
RE: substrate
|
Reply
|
|
by Cro on November 12, 2008
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
Brandon, Thanks for filling in your profile. That helps us know your experience level with venomous snakes, and better answer your questions.
As far as your Western Diamondback Rattlesnake, there are many substrates that you can use. Many keepers use newspaper that is folded to fit the bottom of a cage. This makes for easy cleanup, but does not work well for a display cage.
You can also use "natural" aquarium gravel, which is available at pet shops. It is larger and more rounded than regular gravel, and comes in many nice shades.
You can also use wood products like aspen bark, cypress bark, or repti-bark. I do not care for these, as the aspen will mold if it gets wet, and the reptibark gets too dry and dusty over time, and cypress bark is stringy and not very attractive. I know some folks will whine that they use them all the time, and I used all of the wood products for many, many years, but overtime have decided that they are more trouble than they are worth for most snakes.
Because you have a western rattlesnake, I would suggest the gravel for a display cage, with natural flat rocks stacked to create a hide spot. Just remember that liquid waste works its way to the bottom of the cage, so the whole thing will have to be taken apart two or three times a year, and the gravel washed and dried, then re-assembled. You can use a scoop spoon to remove solid waste from the cage. Over time, you will wind up with less and less gravel because of that. What I usually do is buy a large bag of gravel for the cage, and save some in the bag to replace what is scooped out with waste.
Also, be sure to provide a stable bowl with fresh water.
Hope this helps.
Best Regards John Z
|
| |
|
RE: substrate
|
Reply
|
|
by Rob_Carmichael on November 13, 2008
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
I'll share how we keep our WDB's. As John said, gravel can work very well and look nice in a decorated enclosure - it's widely used in zoos. The only downside is, as John mentioned, the gravel will have to be removed, rinsed, disinfected along with the enclosure several times per year - something that should be done anyway. At our facility, which is open to the public, we use a combination of beach sand, torpedo sand (gives it a more natural "rocky" look), top soil/peat, and leaf litter. The ratio will depend on the species. For example, our timbers get a higher proportion of the forest humus/soil and less sand while our WDB's get a more sandy environment. When the snakes defecate, the feces just clumps up in the sand and we can remove it via large scoops or even gentle giant tongs. Makes for a quick and easy cleaning. We "rake" through the substrate once a week so that the microbes in the soil can do their thing. In some cases, we haven't done a complete cleaning in a year or two - and, yet, the cages remain immaculately clean and odor free. For our montane or tropical species, we keep them on a combination of peat/soil/forest humus/leaves/a little sand and once again, when raked once a week, the microbes in the soil are able to break down much of the particulates that may have been missed during routine cleaning. Throw some rocks/limbs and maybe some decorative faux cacti or cholla in the cage and you have a showpiece in your home for your WDB.
Rob Carmichael, Curator
The Wildlife Discovery Center
|
| |
|
RE: substrate
|
Reply
|
|
by Evergreenwitch on November 13, 2008
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
Very good advice on the substrates!When I get my new hot room finished(outside shed,cause the wife doesn't care for snakes)I may try the gravel as well. Mostly I kept them on tiles and sandstone,made cleaning a pain ,but with trap boxes ..wasn't to bad.
Again ,very good advice.
Buck
|
| |
|
Email Subscription
You are not subscribed to this topic.
Subscribe!
My Subscriptions
Subscriptions Help
Check our help page for help using
, or send questions, comments, or suggestions to the
Manager.
|
