Hamster substrate (wood shavings)

[Chameleon Company]

Good day all.

Quick question, I have bought a brick of hamster wood shaving from the local petshop (the brick is a compressed 1kg bulk of these wood shaving from the company called Daro).

They are pure wood shaving and have no dust as well as have no smell to them.

Are these shavings safe to use as substrate for snake?

Regards

Paul

[Primogen]

They are normally pine so some would say no but they have been completly dried so will have no resin or oils anymore so should be safe.

[Chameleon Company]

Ok great.

I also use peat (again these are bricks that are mixed with water and then completely sun dried so the substrate is dry)

Is this peat also ok?

I feed all my snakes outside of their cages so no risk of them swollowing substrate while feeding.

[Primogen]

I use peat aswell but use it wet for humidity for my tegu it is fine dry aswell for snakes they like to burrow under it.
I feed all my critters outside their tanks, rather not take any risks.

[kfc223]

Pine shavings you buy in the compressed bags should be ok, I've used it in the past with no ill effects.

Peat works too, its even better when you get some coco husk to mix with it.

Creatures and Critters say they use pine shavings on their website.

http://www.creaturesandcritterscaptiveb ... ility.html

Substrates used are pine shavings, bark
mulch, potting soil, sand, gravel and
newspaper depending on the specific species
and practicality.

[Chameleon Company]

Thanks to everybody for their replies.

Will use both wood shavings and peat depending on species.

Thanks

[Lillypod]

I used to use wood shavings for my snakes that liked to dig, but replaced it with aspen substrate now.

[NewtTZ]

I have used pine shavings in the past with snakes with no problems. Avoid cedar as it has been proven to be toxic to reptiles.

[Chameleon Company]

If by chance a snake swollows a piece of wood shaving is this a definite threat?

Have there been chases that are documented of a specimen dying from ingesting a shaving?

[Bushviper]

I have never had a problem. I have seen deaths from bark chips but not wood shavings. Be safe and feed the snake outside the cage though.

[Unforgiven]

If by chance a snake swollows a piece of wood shaving is this a definite threat?

Have there been chases that are documented of a specimen dying from ingesting a shaving?

I have heard of one confirmed death from a breeder down here who keeps all his hatchlings on pine shavings. Take note this is one death out of the many many hatchlings he has produced.

Either way be safe rather than sorry. Snakes will ingest many foreign things when eating in the wild. If you see that a snake does ingest substrate, just ensure there is always fresh water available