I haven't used it personally but...

[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ The Rat Snake Forum ]

Posted by Jim Demirjian on October 16, 2001 at 22:50:09:

In Reply to: Has anybody used that new coconut shell stuff?? more posted by Kenyanboa on October 16, 2001 at 15:37:04:

I have heard some good things about it.
For me, I have had a long standing conflict with substrates. I have experienced similar problems as you describe, snakes with pieces in their mouth, etc. I am an extremely paranoid keeper to begin with, and the last thing I want to see is my animals with a mouthful of substrate, I don't care if it's made from rodent hair :)
In the wild, snakes will ingest various 'earth matter,' but they also experience a wide variety of surfaces, unlike captivity. In enclosures, even the most calm CB animals will likely push, burrow, rub, and press. This brings me to my current methodology. I now use several substrates in my collection. Everything from cypress mulch, moss, shredded aspen, and care fresh. I now believe rather than having a unified 'look' to my main collection room, I utilize substrates depending on the animal. Some do great on one, and with another, I don't like what I see, so I now just use another that suits that animal more. It may not look as good, but who cares, I am really more at ease knowing that they are in an optimal setup.
One other note about ingestion that you may want to try regards feeding: I actually feed in the evening, and put the food item on a paper towel, so the animals actually have a 'plate.' Silly, yes a little, but a gut impaction just isn't something my snakes are going to get.
Try the coconut, and let us know, is my very long winded suggestion!
Be Well
JD

: I bought some of those bricks of expandable coconut shell bedding. I thought it might be good for my little guys who are haveing problems with dry air. I have a few that haven't been shedding well. Well, it does seem to hold moisture nicely, and its helped with the sheddings, but it seems to have another problem. Some of my realy little babies have been getting clumps of it stuck in their lips! I have to soak them and then sometimes use a q-tip to get it out.Its supposed to be digestible, so I don't think it will hurt them that way, but its a **tc* to remove it from their mouths. Anybody else have problems or tried this stuff out?

Follow Ups:

Post a Followup

Name:
E-Mail:

Subject:

Comments:
: I have heard some good things about it. : For me, I have had a long standing conflict with substrates. I have experienced similar problems as you describe, snakes with pieces in their mouth, etc. I am an extremely paranoid keeper to begin with, and the last thing I want to see is my animals with a mouthful of substrate, I don't care if it's made from rodent hair :) : In the wild, snakes will ingest various 'earth matter,' but they also experience a wide variety of surfaces, unlike captivity. In enclosures, even the most calm CB animals will likely push, burrow, rub, and press. This brings me to my current methodology. I now use several substrates in my collection. Everything from cypress mulch, moss, shredded aspen, and care fresh. I now believe rather than having a unified 'look' to my main collection room, I utilize substrates depending on the animal. Some do great on one, and with another, I don't like what I see, so I now just use another that suits that animal more. It may not look as good, but who cares, I am really more at ease knowing that they are in an optimal setup. : One other note about ingestion that you may want to try regards feeding: I actually feed in the evening, and put the food item on a paper towel, so the animals actually have a 'plate.' Silly, yes a little, but a gut impaction just isn't something my snakes are going to get. : Try the coconut, and let us know, is my very long winded suggestion! : Be Well : JD : : : I bought some of those bricks of expandable coconut shell bedding. I thought it might be good for my little guys who are haveing problems with dry air. I have a few that haven't been shedding well. Well, it does seem to hold moisture nicely, and its helped with the sheddings, but it seems to have another problem. Some of my realy little babies have been getting clumps of it stuck in their lips! I have to soak them and then sometimes use a q-tip to get it out.Its supposed to be digestible, so I don't think it will hurt them that way, but its a **tc* to remove it from their mouths. Anybody else have problems or tried this stuff out?

Optional Link URL:
Link Title:
Optional Image URL:

[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ The Rat Snake Forum ]