Bran as substrate?

[Lillypod]

The other day while cleaning out my mealworm and suoerworm tubs my boyfriend asked if bran can be used as a substrate for snakes. I couldn't answer him... He thought it would work well, especially for our kenyan sand boas and western hognoses. Any ideas?

[Primogen]

I think it moulds very easily with moisture and could encourage grain eating insects to live in it, rather use dry coco peat if you want a nice burrowing substrate.

[Lillypod]

I won't use it anyway, was just wondering.

[LizardLover]

I think it moulds very easily with moisture and could encourage grain eating insects to live in it, rather use dry coco peat if you want a nice burrowing substrate.

I agree with you on the peat. The bran would mold after misting it for the first time. I tested it! So don't go arguing!

[Westley Price]

I have read of bran being used as substrate for Bearded Dragons with great success.

It offers more tractions than newspaper, it's not such a big impaction risk, and it just looks a tad more natural than other options.

But I assume it is only used for Beardies for a reason; they require low humidity so the bran will not rot/grow mold.

I would venture a guess and say that one could use it for lizards from desert environments as they shed in pieces anyway, but for snakes it wouldn't work as they snake would have trouble shedding and increasing humidity would cause mold.

[Lillypod]

Maybe I should try it for my beardies... If it doesn't work then it doesn't...

[Joh]

I wouldn't suggest it. Bran needs next to no provocation here to start molding(I've tried it for various creatures).