I have an okeetee cornsnake and thought to try a new type of bedding since I feel the natures park and mulch stinks. I picked calci sand and thought it might be ok, but kinda thought with him burrowing and with cornsnakes not quite being adapted to sand living I looked it up. I found many people arguing against it for lizards but havent found what anyone has said in regards to cornsnakes. Im changing the substrate either way, but still wanted to know opinions from others on it. Plus, the fact its stated by websites that its the worst for impactation and death in reptiles (mostly geckos) so Im hoping he'll atleast be ok for the night.

Any kind of sand is not good for most snakes, it can get under the scales and cause problems, as well as the danger of impaction. I used to use beech chips, but have now changed all mine to Aubiose - a hemp based horse bedding.

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3.3 various corns
2.2 cali kings
2.0 hybrid 3/4 pine 1/4 bull
0.1 bull
1.0 common boa
1.0 royals
1.0 yellow rat
1.1 albino black rat
0.1 jungle carpet
2.2 kenyan sand boas
1.1 red sided skinks
0.1 chile rose
OH NO! NO MORE SPARE VIVS!
WOULD LIKE-GTP,1.1 redail racers, 1.1 blue beautys, house snakes, 0.1 yellow rat, 1.1 radiated rats etc etc........

Well, corn snakes in the wild don't live on sand dunes... so no, sand of any description is not an appropriate substrate.

Aspen, hemp fibre, flax bedding, newspaper (shredded or flat sheets) ... all of those are much closer to the woodland type areas they live in.

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- Ssthisto





Lizards: 2.2 E. macularius, 1.2 H. caudicinctus, 1.0 R. ciliatus, 0.2.1 A. fragilis, 1.1 T. merianae, 1.0 V. niloticus ittibittius
Colubrids: 3.5.15 P. guttattus, 1.0 P. guttatus X E. climacophora, 1.1 P. o. rossalini, 1.0 P. o. lindheimeri, 0.1 E. anomala, 0.1 C. radiatus
1.2 Lamprophis spp, 1.0 L. g. nigritus, 0.1 L. g. californiae, 1.0 H. n. nasicus
Boids: 1.1 E. c. maurus, 0.1 E. conicus, 4.1.6 P. regius, 1.1 A. maculosa
We HAD a three-bedroom house... Current lodgers: 1.0 E. c. maurus, 1.1 E. c. loveridgei

As above, it is completely unnatural and unsuitable for a corn snake... the only types of snake is it suitable for would be those who actually live and burrow through it in the wild, corn snakes come from the USA and not from the desert parts. They will dry out, the sand can get under the scales, and in the eyes, and cause irritation, and over all not be comfortable or natural for them.

Remember that in captivity we are simply trying to provide the environment that most closely matches their natural one, which will ensure the highest amount of health & happiness

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I have no idea why anyone would put a cornsnake on sand, even the most basic research would show this aint natural, there are a number of options which would be more natural, but you will definately run into problems if you do,

Whats wrong with Aspen?
Sand can cause resp probs, scale probs and i'd imagine a whole multitude of other issues. Best thing to do is stay clear of it. Like the others said thsi is not a natural substrate found in their habitat.

Cheers

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I own...
1.0 Snow Corn - Phoenix
1.0. Normal Corn - Flyk
0.1 Lavender Het Motley Corn - Kali
1.0 Grumpy Ball Python - Monty
0.1 Hognose on the way!!
1.0 Uromastyx - Steve
0.0.1 Green Bottle Blue (Chromatopelma Cyaneopubescens) - Sprite
0.0.1 Aviculara Purpurea - Vimto
0.0.1 Grammostola rosea

I also live with...
0.0.1 Bosc - Diego
0.1 Crawl Cay Boa - Kiera
1.0 Boyfriend - Roger
0.0.1 Fire Leg Tarantula (Brachypelma boehmei) Zippo

I AM A GIRL! MY NAME IS VICKY and I AM A LUMBERJACK

GAZ HAS A BOA BED AND BREAKFAST AND I'M INVITED!!! Only proper lumberjacks will be accepted.