Aspen/cleaning

I wasn't sure where to post this, as this applies to all my snakes. I'd like to switch them all to aspen but I was wondering how spot cleaning works with this? Sometimes one of them will pass urates or something and there's no smell so the only way I can tell is because they're on paper towels right now. Will I have to dig around daily? Does all the aspen need to be changed out each time? Is it a pain in the butt in comparison to paper towels?

thanks!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by jenaero

I wasn't sure where to post this, as this applies to all my snakes. I'd like to switch them all to aspen but I was wondering how spot cleaning works with this? Sometimes one of them will pass urates or something and there's no smell so the only way I can tell is because they're on paper towels right now. Will I have to dig around daily? Does all the aspen need to be changed out each time? Is it a pain in the butt in comparison to paper towels?

thanks!

---

If you can afford paper towel and don't mind the look, I'd stick with it.. I have 1 of mine on aspen because she's in an aquarium and it's good for humidity, but when I cleaned it out last, it eventually gets pretty messy. Spot cleaning is easy, but some of the waste goes underneath the aspen and you don't notice til you clean the whole thing. Also, feeding.. It can get caught in their mouths as well.

It's personal preference, probably something you'd have to just try yourself and see if you like it and don't mid cleaning.

Cheers,

Mike

Hmm.. yeah feeding would be another issue.. Can they pass it if some of it gets taken down with the meal? I certainly don't want to get in the habit of removing my boa for feeding, and I don't think the bp would go for it at all. The only thing that got me thinking about switching was that my new corn likes to burrow.. Maybe I'll give it a whirl with her first and see how much of a pita it is.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by jenaero

Hmm.. yeah feeding would be another issue.. Can they pass it if some of it gets taken down with the meal? I certainly don't want to get in the habit of removing my boa for feeding, and I don't think the bp would go for it at all. The only thing that got me thinking about switching was that my new corn likes to burrow.. Maybe I'll give it a whirl with her first and see how much of a pita it is.

---

They can digest bone and hair. A little bit of substrate will pass just fine. Usually they will spit most of it out anyway.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Kaorte

They can digest bone and hair. A little bit of substrate will pass just fine. Usually they will spit most of it out anyway.

---

Snakes dont digest hair. Its pooped out the other end if you ever take a look.

I use Aspen for all my snakes (except hatchlings) and it is fine. I spot clean weekly and change as needed. I have no issues.