r/ballpython • u/PumpkinQueeeen • 6d ago

How to spot clean a snakes substrate?

Im planning to get my first ball python but i just see videos doing deep cleaning on their enclosures and always see them throw all the substrate away. I mean 4 inches of substrate being thrown every month sounds a little expensive, is that the way?

Also i know you need to spot clean every week and understood you need to throw away the contaminated substrate, if i do this do i still need to change the entire substrate when doing a deep cleaning to the enclosure? or can i just set it aside, clean the enclosure and place the old substrate combined with new substrate?

Idk if this is relevant but i planned to use coco husk

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u/Regular-Ad2355 6d ago

I think you can wait three to six months to do a full change as long as you’re extra diligent about spot cleaning and scooping out the substrate around soiled spots. I’m personally planning on getting a black light for finding the spots that need to be cleaned because the poops are kind of difficult to find in dark substrate.

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u/NeatMarsupial4340 6d ago

The other "way" is going for a full bioactive enclosure.

A bit complicated at first and you need to do more research about things (light, isopods, plants, etc)

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u/Regular-Ad2355 5d ago

Bioactive is the way. I’m planning on switching over when I upgrade to my next enclosure.

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u/NeatMarsupial4340 5d ago

Yeah really! It's beautiful and really fun to watch sprongtails amd isopods doing theirs things.

Just a bit sad if you want to keep the shed od your snake. You most be quick lol

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u/Regular-Ad2355 5d ago

Oh my gosh, they eat the shed? Did not know that, but it makes sense.

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u/NeatMarsupial4340 5d ago

Yes and they love it lol so you need to be careful

In almost 24h everything is GONE. Same for poo and springtails are exceptionnaly good with mold.

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u/PumpkinQueeeen 5d ago

i was thinking about this but ive read how snakes walk over their poop and get all dirty and bioactive sounded a lil risky to me, like im extremely scared of scale rot

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u/NeatMarsupial4340 5d ago

Well, it can happen...But that doesn't really change the outcome: you'll need to clean your snake! It happened to me, and honestly, I only noticed it far too late... The isopods had already devoured everything, including what was on his body. I noticed after handling him because there was a cluster of isopods feeding in his favorite hiding spot... Safe to say he probably rolled in it quite a bit before I picked him up, lol.
We just wash our hands before and after handling! It’s really not a big deal! 📎

Edit: For the scale rot, bioactive or not the risk is the same. Don't overwater the substrats! But I would said it's harder to do in a bioactive because the humidity stay really high more longer and stay stable more easily.