Substrate choices for Corn Snake?

[Slick]

What are my options for substrate with a Corn Snake? I'll be using a 4' viv with one of these removable lower front rails, so dont fancy loose substrate, unless anyone thinks it would be ok.




Also anyone recommend a good care sheet for Corn Snakes?

TIA

[Hardwicki]

I use different substrates with my corns depending what i can get hold of.
Aspen bedding, wood chips, newspaper, a mixture of the previous.
If you dont want substrate falling out when you open the door you could put newspaper down and just put substrate at the back and middle of the viv.
Dont use pine, cedar or sand with your corns.

[Modern Dinosaurs]

We use Aspen for our Corns & Garters

[draziwekans]

Aspen of course is a good choice for corns, however I guess that is 'loose' substrate. Not so aesthetically pleasing would be newspaper or kitchen towells although functionable. I have heard of people using carpet or Astro-turf, but I'm not sure on the practicalities of this.

Our PET rats are in a mesh bottomed cage and we use loose woodshavings over the mesh, some of which does fall through but it seems to work, the alternative was removing the mesh bottom.

There are lots of care sheets availiable for corns and will pretty much compare to one another, Have you looked on the site.

[Slick]

I'm still deciding on whether to have the heat mats on the inside or not, which I suppose will have a say on what substrate I choose. There's no rush, just want to learn as much as possible before I buy the snake, so the right choice will come along I suppose. Never kept a snake before just wanted to see what the experts think.

My wooden viv has a completely flat base, so if I was considering putting heat mats underneath it rather than inside, do I need to raise the viv at all?

Originally Posted by draziwekans

Have you looked on the site.

I'm on the case as we speak.

[ch4ncy]

aspens great for corns as they can burrow under it.

as for heat mat in viv, as its wooden i would suggest inside the viv rather than out as a mat can struggle to heat a wooden viv from the outside (of course this all depends on the power of the mat and thickness of the wood). Use a tile or something over the mat and place your thermostat probe against the tile.

I personally prefer ceramics and spot lights for heating vivs and only use mats for rubs and faunariums.

[grannykins]

I used to use Aspen, but then changed to Aubiose, which is a hemp based horse bedding. The snakes can burrow in it easily, and its softer than aspen.

[Slick]

Originally Posted by grannykins

I used to use Aspen, but then changed to Aubiose, which is a hemp based horse bedding. The snakes can burrow in it easily, and its softer than aspen.

Thanks, I'll look into Aubiose. How much do you pay for it?

[Hardwicki]

Heat mats in vivs can be ok providing there is something over the top of it. I have a piece of slate over each of mine. Thermostats are recommended but many ppl put the heat mats on the sides of the viv to avoid burns etc.

[Slick]

I also use slates with my leos, well they're synthetic roofing slates, cut to fit then silicone round the edge and joints. Completely waterproof and easy to clean. I know it's what I should do for the snake viv, just feeling lazy I guess. Then again, as the snake has no tiny toenails to get trapped in the joints and edges, I wouldn't need to seal them in.