I currently use unprinted paper and like it for most of my snakes. I have some that no matter what get water everywhere. What would you suggest as a different substrate in those enclosures?
Gary

Drier snakes, the aussie and boas I use pine/aspen with and the bloods and bp's I use cypress...

I saw your thread with the cypress and that is what I was thinking. I just wasn't sure if there was anything else that might work better for water spillers in tubs.
Gary

Aspen is pretty absorbent.

Smaller bowls? I am about to put my little hatchling bowls in with some of the yearlings that can't seem to understand that the water is to drink...:cheers:

Alright got some cypress today. I spread it out outside in some tubs to dry. Is there any kind of bad reaction I should look for or be aware of? All of these guys have been kept on newspaper since they were little. Also should I give a settle in period like when you get a new guy.
Gary

Depends on the animal some go off feed, some love it...I would just watch for to wet of a mixture but other than that I have never noticed anything abnormal.:cheers:

Thank you. I plan on letting it dry for a few days before I put them on it. If they go off feed change them back?
Gary

Depends, normally I wait them out until they get used it...if nothing else you can change back the night before feeding like I have to do to some of the ones I move up tubs but move back down a size right before I feed them to keep them eating but most will come around...I feel they get more security out of cypress because the smaller ones can burrow in it and feel it all around them, for whatever reason it works for me most of the time.

I like the idea of it and want to give it a try. Has there been any feeding issues with it? I mean like ingestion. My big rainbow I feed on a paper towel to prevent this. He is on orchid bark.
Gary

My live eaters no not at all, the FT I use deli cup lids or bigger lids to feed off of because my rats are normally still a bit damp from the soaking...I use the 6 qt lids to feed the big rats to some things that don't come right out for it.

Why not just get large flat bottomed ceramic bowls?

I've used these with great success.....

http://www.tractorsupply.com/pet-care/pet-feeders-waterers-bowls/pet-food-bowls/spot-stoneware-crock-7-1-2-in--2427321

Note they are from TSC, not anywhere else. There is another company out there making bowls that look like these, they're not the same.

I use those bowls in most of the tubs. The bigger snakes just seem to find anyway possible to spill water for me. I even got really big spill proof dog bowls and they flip them over trying to get underneath. I think my only other option is gluing the bowls to the tub. I just think this is going to be a pain to clean. Thank you all for the help.
Gary