Aspen VS Paper

You know I know for colubrids aspen seems to be the go to substrate but I just have to vent a moment.


I got some the the ugliest worst pinkies from "Arctic Mice" After the ones I bought from a show ran out. These things were gross and I felt bad feeding them to my snakes.

But no matter how hard I try to aim the pinkies up sometimes they slip out and get covered in substrate, or the snake will strike and then draaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaag them through the aspen back into there hides!

So now on top of poor quality mice My snakes probably have mouthfulls of substrate.

I feel like a :cens0r:

Snakes can ingest a little bit of substrate, and it will do no harm. If they are to get any stuck in their mouth, or ingest large pieces, then you would have a problem.

As for the mice/ rats, I don't know what to tell you. I feed strictly live just because I have had nothing but problems with frozen thawed, and I hated thawing them, and some of my snakes just prefer live. I personally do not see a problem in feeding live, it is just that supervision is required.

Oh I'd never feed live I just was venting because of the poor quality f/t.


None of my snakes have a problem with f/t and they even took these greedily. I would never wanna house live mice or go out to pick them up. f/t is tops for me on convieniance and safety. Live is just not for me.


Thanks though, I hope they didn't take in to much substrate.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Seru1

Oh I'd never feed live I just was venting because of the poor quality f/t.


None of my snakes have a problem with f/t and they even took these greedily. I would never wanna house live mice or go out to pick them up. f/t is tops for me on convieniance and safety. Live is just not for me.


Thanks though, I hope they didn't take in to much substrate.

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No problem, not everyone likes to feed live. I understand your reason to vent, I've had frozen thawed like that.

I guess I need to buckle down and go to another show. I got some really good mice last time I was there.


I'm really worried about the substrate intake though. I'd love to switch to newspaper but they love burrowing and putting the aspen against there hide entrances so much!


Edit: Oh and I hope you understand I have no problem with people who do feed live! So I meant no offense. Just I couldn't be one of those people unless there was no other way.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Seru1

Oh I'd never feed live I just was venting because of the poor quality f/t.


None of my snakes have a problem with f/t and they even took these greedily. I would never wanna house live mice or go out to pick them up. f/t is tops for me on convieniance and safety. Live is just not for me.


Thanks though, I hope they didn't take in to much substrate.

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Never say never you may have to some day ;)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Seru1

I guess I need to buckle down and go to another show. I got some really good mice last time I was there.


I'm really worried about the substrate intake though. I'd love to switch to newspaper but they love burrowing and putting the aspen against there hide entrances so much!


Edit: Oh and I hope you understand I have no problem with people who do feed live! So I meant no offense. Just I couldn't be one of those people unless there was no other way.

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I've kept a lot of snake over many years. During that time my snakes have ingested aspen, they have ingested pine. They have ingested coco fiber and they have ingested finely shredded aspen.

I have never had an issue. Even my vet says she's never seen a case of substrate caused impaction in a snake.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Skiploder

I've kept a lot of snake over many years. During that time my snakes have ingested aspen, they have ingested pine. They have ingested coco fiber and they have ingested finely shredded aspen.

I have never had an issue. Even my vet says she's never seen a case of substrate caused impaction in a snake.

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Thanks skip that makes me feel alot better. I suppose they'd get the same in the wild.

I guess with all that meat they eat a little fiber in their diet may even be good for them. LOL :P