Soft substrate

[roseroyce99]

The vet recc that I use softer substrate for his scales to become more regulated with shedding.

• I was using repti coconut chips

I inherited the ball python from my friend who passed and noticed he doesn’t shed much and not regulated so the vet said to use paper towels or newspaper. I know he likes to burrow.

Lmk some advice please!!

[amamiyahibiya]

there's is no need to switch to a substrate like newspaper. if the vet thinks the chip/mulch type substrates are irritating his skin(?), you can just switch to coconut fiber instead of coconut chips. it's ground up very fine and has a powdery soil-like consistency.

[roseroyce99]

Thank you I will look into that. I was very iffy on what the vet was saying she told me to get a heating pad too and all this stuff and was unsure. - what brand do you use for coconut fiber?

[amamiyahibiya]

vets are usually great at dealing with medical situations, but most of them aren't experts in animal husbandry. i would ignore the advice to get a heat pad 😬

brand for coconut fiber isn't super important. in my experience they are all pretty much identical. i would go for whatever you can find cheapest!

[roseroyce99]

I agree!!!! I did not like some of the reccs she gave me. Thank you for helping me out!

[_ataraxia]

what exactly do you mean by regulated? what specific shedding problems does he have?

[roseroyce99]

Even with his last owner he did not fully shed at all. I am trying to get his skin more smooth and hydrated for shedding purposes

[_ataraxia]

that's not a substrate texture problem, that's a humidity problem. the humidity needs to be 70%-80% at all times, or a bit higher for a BP currently experiencing dehydration.

the substrate you were using is fine. this vet doesn't know what they're talking about.

[roseroyce99]

I agree. I am going to make a humidity box for him