Paper substrate Questions

I've always used cypress mulch, but due to the cost and fact that I am using Flexwatt I am considering the paper options. When people use newspaper/paper towels as substrate are they just laying it down across the terrarium or are they cutting it up/shredding it or both?

What about corrugated cardboard?

I've just layed my paper towels down, that's always worked for me.

I buy rolls of precut packing paper. You can also get rolls of brown paper - I forget what is called -at Home Depot that is more absorbent but you have to cut it. I have also used newsprint. If I go away for a weekend and want more absorption, I have used shredded paper (from my shredder) or repti-chips. The helps whisk fluid away from the critter.

Never shred. You don't want bleached paper ingested and shredding just makes it a pain to clean when messed up. Look into either brown paper rolls most hobby stores or home improvement stores sell or if you have a local newpaper that still prints their runs, ask to see if they sell left over newsprint rolls. Unprinted newsprint should be insanely cheap.

Pound for pound paper towels are rather expensive compared to rolls of paper.

Another option is corrugated paper. Like your cardboard question but more flexible and cheaper.

See my post for images of substrate including corrugated paper

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/show...=1#post2567825

How thick do you usually layer? like lets say for paper towels or newspaper how many sheets would you lay down? Paper towels are expensive thats for sure.

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Originally Posted by Blitzjg

How thick do you usually layer? like lets say for paper towels or newspaper how many sheets would you lay down? Paper towels are expensive thats for sure.

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With newspaper it depends on the size of the snake and the thickness of the paper - some store circulars are on heavy card-stock type "paper" in my area, while others print their ads on paper so thin it's almost tissue paper.

For my adult retics I put down 4-5 layers and none of it is the thin stuff. Smaller snakes get 2-3 layers depending on the type of paper.

As an aside the best "newspaper" I've used is the Wall Street Journal - the sheets are large and nicely thick. :D

I would call up your city's newspaper (free press I think is one) and ask if they sell or give away scrap newsprint or end rolls. You might be able to score a ton for real cheap. OR... here is some place you might not have thought of. Shipping/packaging company like Uhaul but not those price gouging devils. You should be able to pick up a pack or sheet of newsprint for super cheap. Even home depot should sell that stuff.

I use indented kraft paper from Uline. I love it. It is really nice thickness and it has dimples in in that help absorb messes. I order it on line by the roll. I get the 2 ft wide by 320 foot roll. It cost me $29 but it last a long time. I use it for three 4 foot AP cages.

https://www.uline.com/BL_1961/Indent...ulinepaperwrap