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Can you use birdseed as a substrate?

~Just Curious~

~Just Curious~

Gotta ask!
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Currently I use aspen shavings. I just have a single woma python at the moment, but I'm getting a pair of gophers soon and that's adding two more tanks. All three tanks are 4' x 2' and that's a lot of shavings when I think about how much it costs.
Currently a bag of aspen shavings that I buy is $20 and will only cover two tanks thinly. I can buy a HUGE bag of birdseed at Walmart for just $7.

Somewhere when I was browsing online I stumbled upon somebody advocating the use of birdseed as substrate because it's cheaper and if they accidently ingest some then they'll just digest it without impaction. I'm pretty sure they were talking about some kind of lizard so I don't know if this applies to snakes as well.

If I was to buy birdseed then I think maybe one with small seeds such as millet might even simulate sand. Pic http://img.search.com/thumb/4/43/Pe...0px-Pearl_millet_after_combine_harvesting.jpg That's nice because I'm pretty sure womas normally live in sand. What about pacific gopher snakes, not so much?
Maybe I'd only use it for the woma if it even does work out...

So my questions - would this work? Is it true that if they were to ingest some it wouldn't cause impaction? or is that just for some lizards?
Have you ever heard of this before? What do you think yay or nay?

If it's not the best then I'll just stick to aspen. Thought I'd ask though~
THANK YOU!
 
Probably not a good idea, as when it gets wet with spilled water, feces, or urates (and it will happen), it would become a moldy mess in short order.
 
TheFragginDragon said:
Probably not a good idea, as when it gets wet with spilled water, feces, or urates (and it will happen), it would become a moldy mess in short order.
Click to expand...

You're completely right! I did some more digging and found out how many problems there are with it. I'll just stick to aspen!

THANKS!
 
TheFragginDragon said:
Probably not a good idea, as when it gets wet with spilled water, feces, or urates (and it will happen), it would become a moldy mess in short order.
Click to expand...

BIO-shield prevents this from happening, so in theory it could work i suppose.
 
Utta said:
BIO-shield prevents this from happening, so in theory it could work i suppose.
Click to expand...

It may stop mold from growing on the cage walls, but IMHO I don't think it would stop it from growing on the seed substrate itself though.
 
TheFragginDragon said:
It may stop mold from growing on the cage walls, but IMHO I don't think it would stop it from growing on the seed substrate itself though.
Click to expand...

didnt think of that, so ill have to agree with your previous statement. thanks John! :D
 
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