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Feeding on natural particulate substrate

Posted By:

KeepYourSky

In Relation To:

Deadpool

I recently switched all three of my enclosures to bio active substrate. These substrates are a mix of potting soil, eco earth, and playsand. My yearling kingsnake, 6 month old kingsnake, and by the end of the week (hopefully) a new 6 year old IJ will be housed on it.

My concern is mostly about the 6 month old. Housing him on this mix is somewhat of an experiment, and seems very taken with burrowing. I never see him surface before midnight. When I go to open his cage to feed him he burrows down again. I set up my tanks according to The Art of Keeping Snakes, and the author says feeding on the substrate would not prove to be an issue assuming all conditions are correct (which they are), my concern with the baby specifically is his ability to pass any substrate at his small size, and not stressing him so that he stops burrowing.

Has anyone had any experience feeding young snakes on natural substrates? I have no issue taking him out if that's what's necessary, but getting him out is obviously a stressful experience for him. I'd likely switch him back into a simple tank, but other than when I try to get him out the ability to burrow seems to have calmed him down somewhat.


Points:	150
Topics:	Feeding , Digestive , Caging
Tags:	Bioactive, Feeding, Sand
Species:	Kings and Milks > Kingsnakes > Lampropeltis getula meansi
Administrative:	Show/Hide

Member Comment

5/8/2013 7:37:14 PM

Cenobite

Depends on how much he ingests. I feed all of mine in the enclosure and they always ingest some bedding but not too much.

Member Comment

5/8/2013 8:10:51 PM

Fishbone

It shouldbe safe, as George said, it depends on how muh he ingests. What you have carries a lower risk of impation IMHO. But many people, myself inluded, avoid having to worry about this with young snakes altogether. used to keep everything on natural substrates, including neonate rainbows, on coconut coir and other things, and never had any problems. They would come out at night and take the F/T rodents from tongs though.

Accepted Answer

5/8/2013 8:17:23 PM

Sonja K. Reptiles

What I do with the Sand Boas, since I keep them on ground walnut shells, is to have a small deli lid in the enclosure, and as they grab the prey from the tongs, I direct them over to that deli lid and lay their heads onto it for them to eat.

Member Comment

5/9/2013 12:06:47 AM

NikiP

I use a mix of lids & small paper plates for almost everyone. Food goes on the plate & at some point it disappears. Easy peasey.

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