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[christo]

Ambree, if newspaper looks too dodgy, you could try brown wrapping paper or plain rolls of "butcher's paper". You can get 6m rolls for about 5 bucks from art supply shops. More expensive than newspaper, but I find it looks better and sits better on the floor of the enclosure(the snakes don't disappear under the paper all the time). The droppings are more visible on plain paper as well - easier to keep clean.

Or you could stick with the gravel. It shoucl be fine if it's kept clean.