Aspen vs newspaper?

I don't really post much...I'm more of a lurker. I've been keping reptiles for quite a few years, but finally ordered a ball python.
I'm not sure what I should use for substrate though, aspen or newspaper.
Which do you think is better, and why? Obviously newspaper is much cheaper, and aspen is more aesthetically pleasing.
Any input is greatly appreciated.

Mine are in racks, I prefer to use scott shop towels (the blue ones) because they are more absorbent than reg paper towels or I use unprinted newspaper. Inked newspaper will discolor the animal and to me when its soiled the inked paper smells like hell

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Originally Posted by iCandiBallPythons

Mine are in racks, I prefer to use scott shop towels (the blue ones) because they are more absorbent than reg paper towels or I use unprinted newspaper. Inked newspaper will discolor the animal and to me when its soiled the inked paper smells like hell

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Hmm, well smelling like hell is no good. I guess I should stock up on paper towels, as if the geckos don't use enough of them! :rofl:
Are they any advantages to using aspen in a non-rack system? I'm assuming it's no where near as abosorbant as paper towels.

I like how absorbent aspen is and how I can spot clean with it. unfortunately Im allergic to it so I do paper towel or newspaper but the newspaper is much quicker to clean anyway so im just as satisfied.

Aspen is absorbent, but i do not like any type of loose substrate because years back a tiny splinter got wedged in the teeth of one of my animals, the animal all of the sudden went off feed and a week later looks like an abscess, swollen gum around the area, after 2 vet visits we finally figured out it was a splinter. True you can spot clean aspen but for me when its time to clean its a total clean and disinfection which is why I prefer the substrates i do over the loose types.

Today I decided to switch off of loose substrate. I was using a reptile bark, I had used aspen and HATED it. Would get wet like crazy and never dry. Spot cleaning really sucked. While I was taking out the reptile bark you wouldnt believe what you miss when spot cleaning. The urine seeps to the bottom, leaving stains. Also taking every piece of substrate out that had fecal matter on it is almost impossible. Plus you wont always see the urine, unlike urates which are easy to spot always. I now have 140 feet of 28 inch wide brown contractors paper. And that cost 9.46. Now thats a deal. Cant really beat it, and you can cut it to the size you want. Its perfect for my 4x2's. Honestly, I dont believe you can get a true clean with loose substrate. With this contractors paper or paper towels, newspaper, as soon as it is soiled, you take it out clean the ENTIRE cage and the bacteria count is exponetialy less.

I hate aspen. HAAAAAAAAAAAAATE it. I use it for my colubrids only because they seem to like burrowing.


Newspaper is my fave...though after what Candi said I might switch to unprinted. Sucks because printed is so cheap.

Okay, thank you for your imput. :)
I think I'll go with paper towels.

Go to your local newspaper printing place and ask for an "endroll" its a part of the unprinted roll that they dont use, most places give them away in pretty good size rolls

I hate aspen but use the expensive shredded stuff for my corns only, they poop more and its smaller and easy to spot clean and they do seem to like burrowing in it.
My balls are on newspaper. I dont care for it but its free, I get big boxes of it at the paper office for nothing.
I wish I could get my hands on some of that corrugated kraft paper in the rolls but its too expensive to ship. I may try the shop towels though, sounds interesting.