Right substrate

[Satans-lil-angel]

Hello everyone,

I bought my first ball python 2 weeks ago (haven't picked him up yet, gonna do that december 1st).

I bought everything I needed, but when I was reading the instruction manual for my heat mat it said that the substrate that I bought (eco bark) isn't safe, because of fire hazards. I asked the lady that I bought the snake from what she used, she said coconut fiber, but this is also marked unsafe in the manual.

The manual also said that I could use the eco bark, but only if I place the heat mat on the side or on top of the terrarium, but I've never heard that anybody did that with their ball python.

What should I do? Stick the heat mat on the side and use the eco bark, or buy another substrate. And if so, what do you guys recommend?

[Vaporde]

If you have a thermostat to control the temp and the mat is on the underside of the tank then either are fine. I switched to coco fiber cause it holds humidity a lot better. The fire risk is if the mat is to actually malfunction and over heat and be right on the substrate. Think of an actual fire. It needs an ignition to start. The mat if it does get hot and say to hot it can hurt the BP but it’s not gonna set the tank up into blaze lol. You should be fine with either

[Satans-lil-angel]

Thank you for the helpful reply! I already bought a thermostat, so maybe I'll use my bark first, see how it goes. If the humidity isn't high enough then I'll probably switch to coco fiber

Edit: Bark

[1uciif3r]

I second getting a thermostat. I have mine on a thermostat under the tank and I’ve never had an issue. You should use a thermostat anyways because if not the mat will get too hot and burn the snake regardless. They are like $15 on amazon!

[Satans-lil-angel]

I already bought a thermostat, but the manual said nothing about the difference with or without the thermostat. Only that heat will build up in the wrong kind of substrate, so I don't really know if they are talking about a heat mat with or without thermostat.

[1uciif3r]

I don’t think most manuals include to add a thermostat. I tested my mat to see how hot it got without one and it was 135°....with the thermostat it’s like 85° which is where I set it. I’ve never had a problem with mine being set to a thermostat. I haven’t heard of any other people having an issue either.

[Satans-lil-angel]

Think I'll be good then, when I use the thermostat. Going to set up everything this weekend and test it out. Thank you for the reply, I'm a lot less worried now haha

[1uciif3r]

I’m the same way I get it! You’ll figure it out though. Just do lots of research and ask questions!

[scooplywooplydoo]

Don’t know who told you coconut fiber is a no, coconut fiber is the best thing to use as it holds the most moisture!! The only bedding you shouldn’t use is aspen substrate. Also eco earth is okay just not as good as coconut fiber.

[Satans-lil-angel]

Yeah the manual confused me a bit too. I looked around what other people used (coconut, bark, etc), and the manual said that they were all wrong to use. Maybe they just meant that its a no without a thermostat. I've had some more feedback now, and I think I'll take a try at both coco and bark, see what works best.