Feeding on aspen bedding

I just switched my tank to aspen bedding, before the switch the snake was on reptile carpet and that meant I could feed right in the enclosure.

With the addition of aspen bedding would everyone say I would have to feed outside or place something over the bedding? Anyone here actually feed on aspen without issues?

is it aspen grass or aspen chips? with either you should be fine, just make sure that if you use chips there arent alot of big pieces. thats just from what i have heard, i personally dont use aspen.

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Originally Posted by instinct27

I just switched my tank to aspen bedding, before the switch the snake was on reptile carpet and that meant I could feed right in the enclosure.

With the addition of aspen bedding would everyone say I would have to feed outside or place something over the bedding? Anyone here actually feed on aspen without issues?

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I feed directly on my aspen and havent had any problems at all.

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Originally Posted by hawaiianice99

is it aspen grass or aspen chips? with either you should be fine, just make sure that if you use chips there arent alot of big pieces. thats just from what i have heard, i personally dont use aspen.

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I'm using chips right now but can easily add aspen grass to the surface if that would prevent any possible problems.

I had an incident with my BP feeding on aspen, but I think it's a pretty rare thing. When he struck at the mouse, he got an aspen chip lodged sideways in his mouth, and couldn't get it loose. We let him work at it for a couple minutes, but it seemed to be really freaking him out, so I held his head, and hubby pulled it out. We left him and the mouse alone, and he eventually came back and ate it, but it was a little scary.

Now I'm feeding him F/T rats, and he doesn't even bother striking or constricting them :rolleyes:, so I don't worry about the aspen as much. I like a layer of aspen over the newspaper, because the ink worries me a little. If I can find a good, cheap supply of blank newsprint or butcher paper, I might just dispense with the aspen altogether.

I've been wondering about this issue myself. I have my little guy on Repti-Bark right now, but place a foam-core mat down when I feed him. I'm thinking about doing away with the foam-core because by the time he grabs the mouse and decides where in the enclosure he wants to eat it, he's off the mat anyway.

I even tried to do some research on the Calcium Sand from ZooMed, but I haven't seen anyone who uses it for a BP. Might make keeping the humidity right a little tough.

i have just heard to many bad things about bark so i dont even bother with it, i just use paper towels. its easy to clean, looks good, and is everywhere.

I thought about using a reptile carpet, but wanted a little more distance between him and the UTH.

Just watch your bp when he eats.

I've never had a real issue with feeding on aspen.

When I feed a juicier mouse, like a pinkie with wet skin or one that's bleeding, sometimes the bedding sticks a little. I just pick it off with my tong once my snake has struck. None of my snakes will let go once they've started to swallow.

I always offer the rodent on tongs so that there's no aspen in the initial bite.

I feed on the shreded aspen and they soemtimes get it in their mouth but nothing has ever happen.If it appears to be bothering them and they dont eat I gently pull it out with twezzers.