 Recent Herp Discussion | | | | | | | | Online Users: 234 | | 169 members and 65 guests | | $N@K3$, ad, Adzo, allybally, ally_pup, andyh, antaresia childreni, appleton, awesomeherp, azzar, Barno111, bat088, baxtor, beeman, bellbird, benito22, blackhead1234, blading, bluejordo, book, bredli84, brendon, bundybear, buttss66, Casey, Chappy, cjpossum, craig.a.c, Dan19, daniel1234, Daniel_Penrith, Danni, Dave94, disasterpiece7.0, dizone, dogger_009, dougie210, dragozz, dtulip10, Dusty62, ecosnake, eden roscoe, eipper, elapid66, English, Eylandt, froglet, Gabe, gar1, Geck82, giganteus, Glen B, grammy, Grandpa, grimace256, Harro, Herc, herpkeeper, herpsrule, Hetty, hilly, hodges, honga05, Hopper, husskisam, jaih, JasonL, Jonno from ERD, Jorgo, juliedamian, junglepython2, Jungle_Freak, KaaTom, Karadiddly, kel, kensai, Kenshin, krefft, krylon, kyle1, laurajayne, liberty, Lonewolf, LullabyLizard, maccabros, malika, maloos, Marto167, mattG, mattyandnat, method, miley_take, Minke, monty00, MrBredli, Mrs I, mysnakesau, narkeg, natrix, nervous, NickM, Nikki_Elmo, No-two, nocturnal_pulse, nook171, Omgitschris, paleoherp, palmej, Paul Atkinson, paulw6676, pete12, pommygit, python blue, Pythons_Reptiles, rainbow__serpent, ravan, Renagade, repam, reptile_mad, RICK.T, Rocket, rockman, Rocky, rumpig, ShaneBlack, shlanger, sky2volk, slim6y, Slytherin, snake_boy, solar 17, spazzakazza, spottedjayne, steve86, Stewydead, stripe, swaddo, the.badger, theduclos, themightydragons, thenicewitch, toddy1964, trouser_snake6, tsbj, TURBO8, Twin_Rivers, vadnappa, w3ap0n, waruikazi, Whimsey, White Wolf, whiteyluvsrum, wil, xander, xshadowx, zoocam, zulu | |  | | 
24-Mar-08, 08:11 AM
| | Subscriber | Join Date: Feb-03 Location: Gosford | | | |
I have been using BC for over 10 years in ALL my adult and hatchling snake cages. I have had very few problems with it and would never go back to paper. BC saves me at least 20 hours of cleaning a week.
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24-Mar-08, 08:20 AM
|  | Subscriber | Join Date: Oct-06 Location: On the water or in the Bush. Age/Gender: 40  | | | |
20 hrs - is it because it absorbs all their urine etc.
I bought a Female blonde Mac from a reputable breeder who uses BC and stupid me did'nt check it
over completely before taking it home.
5 days later I noticed some orange scales and it went on from there - Scale rot.
Managed to treat her, and now she is fine.
All the breeders I now by my quality snakes from, never have nothing nice to say about BC - All use Newspaper. They dont care about time, they care about keeping their snakes in a healthy enviroment.
Cheers,
Aleks.
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Born to fish & hunt but forced to work 24/7......But not for long  |
24-Mar-08, 08:41 AM
| | Subscriber | Join Date: Feb-03 Location: Gosford | | | |
Aleks, scale rot can happen with any substrate. Actually its more common with newspaper which does not draw away moisture. I have one of the largest collections in Australia and my snakes are perfectly healthy on BC and have been since I started using it. As a few people have commented earlier it has to be used correctly, but then again so does any substrate used.
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24-Mar-08, 09:20 AM
| | Regular Member | Join Date: May-07 Location: Western NSW Gender: | | |
G'day Bigguy. Well it's about time someone (with notable experience) put the other side of the argument forward.
The only real problem I see with BC is the alleged ingestion problem. If the animal is able to digest the pellet, then there is no problem. If it cannot digest it then it should pass OK because it just becomes a soggy mass when wet. I cannot imagine a yearling BHP having trouble passing a wet BC pellet. Am I right or wrong?
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24-Mar-08, 09:38 AM
|  | Regular Member | Join Date: Feb-07 Location: NSW | | | Quote:
Originally Posted by mungus  20 hrs - is it because it absorbs all their urine etc.
I bought a Female blonde Mac from a reputable breeder who uses BC and stupid me did'nt check it
over completely before taking it home.
5 days later I noticed some orange scales and it went on from there - Scale rot.
Managed to treat her, and now she is fine.
All the breeders I now by my quality snakes from, never have nothing nice to say about BC - All use Newspaper. They dont care about time, they care about keeping their snakes in a healthy enviroment.
Cheers,
Aleks. | I've heard that argument before and it holds water like a sieve, many of the cleanliness issues related to BC come from people using too small a layer or simply not cleaning the soiled areas correctly. Funnily enough it is the people who use BC as a shortcut who have the most issues, those that take the time to use it correctly find themselves saving time and keeping a clean environment.
Besides, BC is also great for specious reasoning and also makes a perfect scapegoat for keeping practices. Alternatively you could use the follow the leader style of herpetoculture  |
04-May-08, 02:36 PM
|  | Subscriber | Join Date: Apr-08 Location: Cairns, Queensland Age/Gender: 32 | | | Quote:
Originally Posted by stencorp69 What surprised you? The fact that so many members talk crap about substrate? BC and the like is an excellent substrate, easily the healthiest and convenient option available when used correctly. | Here here. BC rocks.
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04-May-08, 02:54 PM
|  | Regular Member | Join Date: Feb-07 Location: Western Suburbs NSW Gender: | | | |
I have always been a little confused when it comes to using Bc or not because of the threads on this site.
I don't like the look of newspaper and my mac never leant to read.
So I have chosen to use Aspen snake bedding as it lowers the humidity levels and it is easily passed if she gets any caught on her food.
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While we may not be able to control all that happens to us, we can control what happens inside us. |
04-May-08, 02:58 PM
|  | Subscriber | Join Date: May-06 Location: redneck wonderland | | | |
this argument will go on for ever... but lets apply logic.
has any reptile in any collection suffered ill effects/death from bc? yes, it appears so.
has any reptile in any collection suffered ill effects/death from newspaper? no... it appears not...
now choose your substrate.
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04-May-08, 03:13 PM
|  | Subscriber | Join Date: Apr-07 Location: central coast. nsw Gender: | | |
And really, is there anymore to say. Quote:
Originally Posted by jack this argument will go on for ever... but lets apply logic.
has any reptile in any collection suffered ill effects/death from bc? yes, it appears so.
has any reptile in any collection suffered ill effects/death from newspaper? no... it appears not...
now choose your substrate. |
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Its a wise Diamond that knows its own father. |
04-May-08, 03:20 PM
| | Regular Member | Join Date: Dec-07 Location: Sydney Gender: | | |
What about the snake bitting ceramic plate? Damage to teeth? Mouth rot?
I certainly would'nt feed on a plate.  |
04-May-08, 03:57 PM
|  | Regular Member | Join Date: Mar-06 Location: Brisbane Age/Gender: 23 | | | |
I would make sure the snake has plenty of water available, not sure if anything else can be done.
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04-May-08, 09:46 PM
|  | Regular Member | Join Date: Jan-08 Location: In the bush Gender: | | | |
I personally try to recreate their habitat by using large rocks from the bush and sticks. I wash them regularly and submerge them in boiling water before they are returned to the enclosure.
natural look and easy to clean
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05-May-08, 01:04 PM
|  | Addicted to reptiles Subscriber | Join Date: Jan-08 Location: Southern Adelaide, S.A Age/Gender: 23 | | | |
Interesting read as i use BC. I didnt know that it was bad for my pythons. I feed all my pythons in a container and clean any mess up. Is it still that bad to use? I hate the look of newspaper and BC is no, what else is there to use that actually looks good? Bark chips, aspen bedding, etc?
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05-May-08, 08:25 PM
|  | Friend of huey Subscriber | Join Date: Feb-07 Location: on the coast Gender: | | | |
Personally I found BC to be messy, dusty and dried the enclosure enough to cause shedding problems. Its the only time i have had to help a snake shed. I also found little peices of metal and plastic in it. Everyone to there own, I tried it and didn't like it.
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the only good cat, is the one in the snake.
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