My new tank for sauritus

[GarterCZ]

It is.

Why ?

[RedSidedSPR]

Don't ask questions. listen to the man.

Seriously, I'm not sure... Never really looked into it... but in know there's much better
out there, that look just as nice, if not better.

I use ReptiBark... Looks nice, cant be ingested..

[kibakiba]

Stefan has used many different substrates.

Personally, I'd ditch the gravel. Imagine if you were the snake, you wouldn't want to sleep on the gravel, much less slither on it, would you?

[guidofatherof5]

Why ?

Don't ask questions. listen to the man.

Nothing wrong with WHY. Keep asking question and getting answers so that you know why it's not a good substrate. This is a LEARNING place.


[/QUOTE]I use ReptiBark... Looks nice, cant be ingested..[/QUOTE]

Not true. All substrates(good and bad) can be ingested.
I know what you were trying to say but it didn't come out quite right

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

Gravel is probably one of the worst substrates because it is non porous... So when a snake "goes" the liquid and feces runs between the gravel but ends up not being absorbed or dried out. This creates a breeding ground of bacteria that will fester and continue to flourish. Gravel will retain all the moisture that goes down in it from misting as well and once again, it becomes a breeding ground for molds, fungi and bacteria that can potentially be infectious to you and your snake. Unless you are scouring that gravel twice a week, it is simply highly unsanitary. The moisture that it collects also means that your snake will be very prone to scale rot, and/or fungal infections of the skin/cloaca/eyes/mouth. Gravel doesn't really dry out, definitely not fast enough to be a good substrate choice for any snake. Garter snakes need a very clean, dry habitat to thrive, misting is ok every now and then the but moisture must dry up in an hour or two and can't be lingering. With gravel, that is not possible. Hope this helps! I wOuld recommend switching to a substrate that is absorbent, such as coconut fiber, Aspen shavings, newspaper pellet, repti bark... Etc. That way when the snake goes (And garters go a LOT) it is absorbed and dried out. Gravel and sand are big no-no's when if comes to keeping any snakes, especially garters with their semi aquatic habits and sensitive skin.

[GarterCZ]

Gravel is probably one of the worst substrates because it is non porous... So when a snake "goes" the liquid and feces runs between the gravel but ends up not being absorbed or dried out. This creates a breeding ground of bacteria that will fester and continue to flourish. Gravel will retain all the moisture that goes down in it from misting as well and once again, it becomes a breeding ground for molds, fungi and bacteria that can potentially be infectious to you and your snake. Unless you are scouring that gravel twice a week, it is simply highly unsanitary. The moisture that it collects also means that your snake will be very prone to scale rot, and/or fungal infections of the skin/cloaca/eyes/mouth. Gravel doesn't really dry out, definitely not fast enough to be a good substrate choice for any snake. Garter snakes need a very clean, dry habitat to thrive, misting is ok every now and then the but moisture must dry up in an hour or two and can't be lingering. With gravel, that is not possible. Hope this helps! I wOuld recommend switching to a substrate that is absorbent, such as coconut fiber, Aspen shavings, newspaper pellet, repti bark... Etc. That way when the snake goes (And garters go a LOT) it is absorbed and dried out. Gravel and sand are big no-no's when if comes to keeping any snakes, especially garters with their semi aquatic habits and sensitive skin.

Thank you, I will get some coconut fiber or peat and change it.

[RedSidedSPR]

Dang, not wording stuff right today...

I know what my problem is... MORE SMILEYS

Anyway, I wasnt serious about the "no questions", I was joking. Obviously, nobody gets it, I shouldn't have said it. my advice would actually be, if you have a question ASK THE FREAKING QUESTION

And yeah, it can be ingested. I just meant, it's big, and not as likely to get stick to food and get swallowed.

Sorry, sometimes it just doesn't come out right with me.