Color newspaper

Hi all,

I was reading somewhere that you should only use black and white newspaper as substrate. Is this true? And if so what are the health concerns?

I mostly use unprinted news print. I still occasionally use printed newspapers if I'm out. Never had issues with coloured newsprint, I've only ever noticed a bit more under side staining with coloured print.

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I personally wouldn't use newspaper at all because the ink is inorganic. For the most part, but I think colored newspaper ink has a few more inorganic ingredients... I could be wrong Because I'm super paranoid when it comes to my snek. BUT if the general consensus is no coloured newspapers you should probably listen.

I think this is a hold over from days gone past. Newspaper inks used to be made using toxic elements like lead or cadmium, but the majority of newspaper inks these days are soy inks, both for black and coloured inks.

Check with your local newspaper what inks are being used to print their papers and go from there, if they're using soy inks on the paper then I'd say it should be perfectly harmless for the snake.

As far as paper products I think I've used everything under the sun at some point.

For free products, I REALLY liked cutting up large brown paper grocery store bags and using them, but it was a little bit of a pain in the rear every time you needed to change them. The snakes liked them too as they offer plenty of grip so they can move easily. They are really absorbent for paper as well.

Otherwise traditional old black and white newspaper is good stuff, the high gloss colored paper (usually used in ads that come with your newspaper) I was not a fan of as it offers your snake no traction and it will temporarily stain your reptiles with ink if they tip their water bowl even a little bit. I don't think it hurts anything, but it's just not the best free product you can use I found.

Now, I use indented kraft paper which comes in HUGE rolls and it's cheap.

you can buy rolls of brown paper at home depot for almost nothing. That downside is that I have to take the time and cut it to size ;)

I have been using printed news paper with no issue for over a decade, the ink used is vegetable based.

The only issue you will ever have with newspaper is that if you have a white snake and it pees the ink might transfer make it is look dirty, it will shed out, and plus who can keep a white snake clean at all time anyway.

What you want to avoid is glossy paper like the ads you find in your newspaper, the ink if wet will run out pretty bad and everywhere.

If you think colored newsprint is bad, wait until you learn of how white paper towels are made. Mmmm tasty dioxides

In honesty your ball python is not going to eat paper unless it is finely shredded and they consume some with food. This goes for any paper product really. If you really want to have piece of mind just get non bleached brown paper or unprinted news print as both are readily available. Things like seventh generation products are an example of non bleached paper towels.

Thanks everyone for the replies. I will continue to use newspaper until my ball is in her forever PVC home.