Is it ok to use just dirt from the ground to use as bedding for a ball python?

Question

is it safe.if not could it be dryed out completely.would that help anything.i just want to experiment with different terrains.and see what would be best.i think anything is better than having a towel on the bottom of the cage.

Answer 1

sup randy and man this is what i think. i have 3 snakes 2 balls and a carpet python. well i use the green turf because one your always able to view your snakes well 2nd its easier to clean their messes and if u had anything else then there p**s and p**p would seep down into whatever bedding u have and just have to take water to the turf and it washes right out and 3rd i bought some mulch for my snake at the pet store and there was ants in the mulch so it puts your snakes at risk with mites and ticks and anyother harmful bug but i hoped this help man good luck

Answer 2

Well, I prefer to keep things simple, so I just use a few sheets of newspaper. It's cheap and easy to replace when soiled. Of course there are other materials you can use. I would caution to stay away, very far away, from cedar mulch. Cedar oils are toxic and can lead to deadly respiratory infections. Plant/Wood based mulches that are safe to use include: Aspen, Pine, Long Grain Sphagum Moss, and Cypress. Another substrate is astro-turf. Your local home supply sells it cheap, and it comes in colors which may be more pleasing to you than newspaper. I would suggest getting enough so you can switch out clean for dirty pieces. If the idea of newspaper appeals to you, but you don't like the look of the sports section, some local newspaper offices sell the ends of the unprinted paper spool.

Answer 3

They live in that habitat if they are wild but if you have a captive bread snake i would reccomend getting some wood chips that are very cheap you can get a big bag for like 1.25 .That and some shrubs and maybe tree limbs that help them shed in thier cage would be your best bet.

Answer 4

Dirt could contain bugs, mold, and other things that could be harmful to the snake.  Go to a pet store and select some different reptile beddings to use in his cage.

Answer 5

DON'T USE ANYTHING FROM THE OUTDOORS FOR ANY DOMESTICATED ANIMAL.

Answer 6

i think you shouldnt because your snake could inhale it. i just use aspen pine shavings for mine and it works fine. plus they can burrow in it without having problems. you just have to clean out soiled spots really good, its pretty easy for me. but i wouldnt recommend dirt.

Answer 7

It would not be a good idea because you don't know what's in that dirt. There could be bacteria, insects, fertilizers, pesticides, etc. You should use a commercially made product, as it has been properly sterilized. I prefer to use Bed-a-Beast, which is made up of shredded coconut husk. Looks natural, almost like dirt, but lighter.

edit: Not necessarily. I'm no scientist, but I believe there are some types of bacteria that baking in the oven won't kill. Baking it also may not remove any pesticides or other chemicals in the dirt. If you can afford to purchase a ball python, surely a brick of coconut husk or a bag of aspen is not out of your reach?

Answer 8

u could  or u can use hamster bedding

Answer 9

Drying the soil out won't do anything to remove mold spores, and as your last poster mentioned - insecticides, or bacteria.

Even baking it won't make it safe or remove fertilizers.

It's never a good idea to use products from the outdoors for your domestic reptile.

Depending on the snake and size; I use either Carefresh (this is a pulpy looking light gray paper product which is absorbant making spot cleaning easy); aged newspaper (at least a week to permit the ink to dry and fumes to air); paper towels, or plain white paper.

The snakes I keep on a loose bedding are removed from their tanks onto paper for feeding.  I don't want them ingesting even pet safe subtrates.  I'm not a fan of mosses/mulches/pine bedding, etc. simply for the dust factor (and again - ingestion issues).  A wet snake picks it up, and wham! right back into the bowl it goes.  I prefer not to have to dump water crocks 3-4 times a day.

Whatever you decide to use, remember it should be what's best for the snake, and not what's simply aesthetically pleasing to your eye.  The ball has to live on/in it, after all.

I hope this has been helpful, and that you find a substrate medium which meets the snake's needs, and suits you, too.