Shredded newspaper anyone?

I don't use really finely shredded. Its more like little strips about 1/2" wide and 2" long.

I can see the mess issue though. Maybe I can wean him down off the shreds. I definately experienced the humidity thing which is why I had to add in some wet paper towel wads.

I've never used aspen and I don't recall seeing it in the stores around here. Is it soft? If its what I think it is it always looks like sharp little wood splinters to me (in photos)

If you choose to use newspaper/print, a couple of sheets of newspaper on the bottom of the cage and then some loosely crumpled balls of paper filling the in the gaps between the hides is a system that many people find highly effective when keeping ball pythons in enclosures vs. racks.

For hard to humidify cages, a humid hide does the trick.

I've been using unprinted newsprint for a long time now and I love it.

As far as changes go ... a healthy ball python kept in the proper conditions is a very adaptable animal ... just not quickly ... most often it takes several weeks for them to settle into any new environment (even a current environment that undergoes a slight change) ... once settled they are fine.

"Ball patience" is a skill many new owners don't grasp for a long time. ;)

Hope this helps.

-adam

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Originally Posted by Adam_Wysocki

If you choose to use newspaper/print, a couple of sheets of newspaper on the bottom of the cage and then some loosely crumpled balls of paper filling the in the gaps between the hides is a system that many people find highly effective when keeping ball pythons in enclosures vs. racks.

For hard to humidify cages, a humid hide does the trick.

I've been using unprinted newsprint for a long time now and I love it.

As far as changes go ... a healthy ball python kept in the proper conditions is a very adaptable animal ... just not quickly ... most often it takes several weeks for them to settle into any new environment (even a current environment that undergoes a slight change) ... once settled they are fine.

"Ball patience" is a skill many new owners don't grasp for a long time. ;)

Hope this helps.

-adam

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Where do you get unprinted newsprint? Is there a risk from the ink you think? (that puts you on the brink with its stink when you wash it in the sink?)

Newpaper ink is vegetable based, so no harm from it. Many keepers, including Adam from past posts he's made, just prefer not to have "black" albinos or dirty snakes at all, for that matter, from the wet ink.

I use printed paper, but am beginning to see that I may be moving to unprinted, because my snakes' bellies are always "dingy" from crawling on wet or damp newsprint, either from overturned water bowls or normal urination.

I'm not sure where Adam gets his, but you can purchase it from Uline:
http://www.uline.com/Group_290.asp?s...ed%20newspaper

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Originally Posted by bearhart

Where do you get unprinted newsprint? Is there a risk from the ink you think? (that puts you on the brink with its stink when you wash it in the sink?)

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there is nothing wrong with printed newsprint.

it can just leave marks on the belly if it is wet.

I try to keep my tanks clean and free of any water or dampness.

but I have never noticed anything on my snakes and I have been using it forever.

I am not sure where they get it. someone else may have to chime in on that.


*Robin you have quicker fingers than I do!!!*

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Originally Posted by jeffnme

*Robin you have quicker fingers than I do!!!*

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I type all day long placing purchase orders and writing to vendors! :P

Cool. well the paper this is meant to be temporary but I'm considering changing. I have been using spagnum/fir and haven't had any reason to be dissatisfied so far. But, nobody seems to use it and it wasn't even in the last poll so I wonder if there is something bad about it. It holds water well but once it gets really wet then it seems to hold the moisture forever. Also it's a very dark brown and I'm liking the look of a lighter substrate.

You should be able to find a fine shred aspen at most pet stores. Walmart also sell a very nice fine aspen in a compressed bag for around $4.00 (it goes a long way with only one snake). Just make sure with any natural substrate that you are buying what you think you are buying...avoid anything that is a "mix" or a marked "pet bedding" without indicating exactly what's in it. Many of these are cedar mixes.

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Originally Posted by Kagez28

i lay down a page, which is two sheets, then put my thermostat and thermometer probe down, then another page of paper.

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That sounds a little dangerous to me. If the snake dislodges your tstat probe you could cook your snake. I would keep the probe outside of the enclosure between the UTH and the tub/tank. That way your snake has no chance of moving the probe.

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Originally Posted by bigballs

yes! newsapaper gets nasty and cant hold humidity well at all. if it gets wet your snake may have headline news printed on it's white belly! aspen is way better. (in my opinion).

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Just to clarify, I use unprinted newsprint sheets. I was saying that one time I tried shredding it, and like Meme, we found it to turn into a gross paste when soiled.

I like the idea of completely cleaning a cage every time it is soiled, and its not really economical to do that with Aspen. So, unprinted newsprint gets my vote.