Switching bedding

[shadow240sx]

So basically I have been using paper towels for my ball pythons and don't get me wrong its great.
But I was considering cypress mulch or possibly just aspen.
But I'm a little skeptical about changing the way I have been doing things.
Any suggestions? Anyone been using aspen or cypress mulch that would recommend it?
Thanks

[Ryan Chin]

I use unprinted newspaper 1.30 a roll from the local newspaper headquarters. works great except for absorbtion if they urinate defecate under it, other then that it's great.

[kitedemon]

I tend toward aspen of the two it is common and fast growing tree and the chipped product is from branches and such as the lumber is used in construction and panels (often a by product). Cyprus is a slow growing, long living tree. Cutting a old tree down to grind it to mulch and needing to many many years to replace it is not a good environmentally responsible option. Especially given they tend to grow in wet lands this often has a large impact on native herps.

I would suggest also coco coir, aka eco earth. It is available from greenhouses as peat moss replacement. It is super cheap (31 cubic feet uncompressed for 18$ roughly the same as 10 large bags of aspen chips (native earth 2.2 cubic foot large bags @ 8$ a bag... $18 to $80)

[SlitherinSisters]

I use newspaper or aspen. Out of all the wood type beddings I feel safe using aspen. It's very malleable and I feel better about it getting accidentally ingested than other beddings.

[jasonmcgilvrey83]

I use reptibark or eco earth. Both are good so far

[Neal]

I've used both, just depends on the type of snake I'm keeping in which enclosure.

Cypress Mulch tends to hold better humidity versus Aspen. I like the Zoo Med Cypress mulch though I think it's called Forest Floor if I'm not mistaken, because it's double milled so it's a lot smaller. You have to also be careful with this because I've come across one bag that had what looked to be a piece of glass or two, and when I called Zoo Med, they're answer was to send me another bag or it may of been two for free. So I always recommend going completely through the substrate first to be safe.

[Andys-Python]

I started with Aspen. Tried newspaper and paper towels. One poop and I'm back to Aspen. It is so much easier to clean up. With paper towel and newspaper, I have to empty the tub (snake, water dish, soiled paper) and clean the tub and then put everything back. While cleaning, I had to find something to put the snake in.
With Aspen, it's an easy: pickup soiled bedding, skootch the aspen to the side and wipe the tub with alcohol, replace any needed bedding and you're done.
I suppose other bedding would work this way too, but I've only every used aspen.

Andy -

[Andys-Python]

Oh - not to mention, I always had to clean the snake!

[S.I.R.]

We prefer to use shredded aspen bedding for our ball pythons. Nice and easy clean up. Our ball pythons love it. Good luck!

[MsMissy]

Some of the answer is going to be dependent on where you live. How is your humidity? I'm in the desert which means low humidity is the bane of my existence. I'm using the substrate as a means to raise it. I started with aspen, nix'd it after it dried out and felt like a block of shredded wheat. Now am using reptibark and Eco earth mixed together for ascetics and humidity.