Thought about using it as a substrate or possibly those squashed looking 1/2 in diameter colored glass beads that they sell in craft shops. Also, I have seen small round flattish pebbles about the same size for sale in fish stores. I'm just trying to think of something different than the usual setup. Can anyone think of a reason not to try this? Besides, I think the rocks would distribute the heat from the Under Tank Heater better than the aspen I am currently using.

Thanks,
Mike

Personally I wouldn't use it. And especially the small 1/8 inch type of the gravel. Too much danger of it getting swallowed.
The glass beads and pebbles might be ok in a desert type of set up since they will hold zip for moisture, but they will also add a lot of weight to the tank. They will also make spot cleaning virtually impossible since they are not absorbent and any fluid will run straight thru and pool on the bottom of the tank. Being slick glass they would also not be very good for giving the snake traction and probably would end up pushed up against the side of the tank.

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Merlin,
What's Life Without A Little Magic!

Merlin made good points. They're an interesting idea, but not very practical. There are better substrates out there.

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+5 bonus points to whoever finds me a job!

"Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines." - John Benfield

The only time that I have saw them used is at a show to display the animal.

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They would probably look cool, but the cleaning would be a nightmare.

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Andrea

there is a guy at our show who shows his snakes on black marbles. I yelled at him for having frogs in there (he just recently started selling frogs)

zero moisture and the poor dart frogs were trying to bury and getting crushed.



The snakes looked pretty though.

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My name is Liz
Do what's best for the animal, not what's best for you.

What type of snake are you considering this substrate with? I don't know many snakes that would be comfortable on a complete substrate of rock. Most snakes like to burrow in their substrate. The rocks wouldn't make this nearly as possible as aspen.

Using them as a decoration in the tank may work, but I just don't see it being a viable substrate for most captive species of snakes.

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I too use the aspen, Rich. It's much safer for the snake and when it's feeding time I just remove the snake to another empty container so I don't have to worry about him/her ingesting the aspen.

The aspen is warmer and maintains their heat better. It also provides a substrate that they can burrow into if they so choose.

Gravel and marbles are too cold and with a daytime light on all day you may run the risk of a very hot spot in the gravel.

*** Hot Rocks *** Bad

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Thanks For Reading My Post

bob/stano40

I have a pueblan, i was thinking of a black substrate, ppl use the outdoor carpet all the time as long as you have plenty of hides they seem to be fine. i don't use heat lamps so no worries about hot spots, in fact I get more problems with hot spots in aspen than with carpet. snake can burrow all the way to the glass in aspen but carpet tends to more evenly distribute the heat. (checked with ir thermometer). and I think gravel would distribute even better. BTW I always feed in a different container too. if anybody knows where I can get black outdoor carpet let me know. after the shed I might try a few different setups (closely monitored of course) and see how the snake does.
mike

you could always try putting the layer of aspen on top of the carpet...

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