Can I use sand as a substrate for my ball python?

Answers:
Sand is not recommened by any expert. It carries with it the risk of impaction and holds bacteria well. There are severa other good choices, among them aspen and astroturf. Here's some helpful links:
http://www.debscaptivebredballpythons.co...
http://www.jetpythons.com/index.html...
http://www.anapsid.org/ball.html...

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It's not a good choice for a ball. They are a woodland, scrubland species and require a fair level of humidity. They lack the particular adaptations that snakes that live on loose sand have. Better to use one of the wood substrates like cypress mulch if you want a natural looking enclosure.

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Not a good idea for ball pythons. They are used to densly brush area. I suggest some foresty-type bedding or even newspaper. Not sand though.