is pine really bad?

[davidyun]

so i have a bedding which i havent used yet that said made from bits of pine, spruce and fir. can i use it?
i once saw a thread on someone saying pine doesnt really affect ur snake
can someone answer quickly?

[smoffler]

Idk I use cypress mulch

sent by two homing pigeons!!

[llovelace]

Why take the chance, yes there some that use kiln dried pine with no ill effects to theirs animals, but three sap trees pine, spruce & fir? I'd toss it

[bad-one]

I don't know about spruce and fir but kiln dried pine in fine imo. I use it with rats all the time with no ill effect on them (and they are prone to respiratory issues). I'd use it for snakes as well if I didn't like using newspaper more

[Dundee]

Im using cocanut fiber seems to do well.

http://www.pet-tech.com/index.php?pa...mart&Itemid=61

thats what im starting to use on all my snakes and the humidty in 2 of my enclosures i have put it in the humidity is remaining real steady.

[kitedemon]

This has a lot of debate surrounding it. Pine has a lot of phenols in it that are a natural insecticide. They also can cause respiratory issues and skin issues in humans and animals. However the real issues is kiln drying. If it has been forced dried the phenols are largely baked out and it is much safer. If you are SURE that it has been kiln dried it is likely ok but if you are not I'd not risk it. The problem I have is kiln dried or air dried or just branches and junk chipped who knows for sure.

On another note Cyprus is great but is also a important species that is just used to make chips. Whole trees chewed up for no reason. Look at Melaleuca mulch it is an invasive species and is being killed intentionally anyway. I live in Canada and Melaleuca mulch isn't available at all I use coco fibre.

[Rorschach]

Apparently it is bad for most small animals because of the oils it secretes.

[Adam Chandler]

I would also not chance it. RI are serious and expensive, I wouldn't deal with anything that would raise the risk of one. I'd go with Aspen or Cyprus.

[smoffler]

On another note Cyprus is great but is also a important species that is just used to make chips. Whole trees chewed up for no reason. Look at Melaleuca mulch it is an invasive species and is being killed intentionally anyway. I live in Canada and Melaleuca mulch isn't available at all I use coco fibre.

Ya im down here in southwest florida plenty of cypress here



sent by two homing pigeons!!

[davidyun]

alright thanks guys
i was just wondering becuase i had some of the bedding at home because i had ran outta aspen
i guess ill keep my snake in some newspaper and go get some aspen