How Can You Stand Using Paper Towels?

I have done tests where I put areas of just craft paper down in the enclosures and other areas of loose susbstrate (aspen or cypress) and have found (after many different test configurations to eliminate the chance of habit, security, or temperature playing a role in snake choices) that my ball and my boa both prefer loose substrate over flat paper. The boa especially likes to burrow in the substrate. Both definitely choose the loose substrate to lay on rather than the paper. I won't speculate on why but that's how it stacks up in my house.

I stopped using paper towels and started using a thicker paper from Disposable Cage Liners.. Comes in a big roll or pre cut.

I cut the product information for everyone to see.. and I put the link on the bottom.

Highly absorbent, mold resistent, indented surface
aids in the shedding process.
Made from recycled materials, 100% biodegradable.
Totally free of inks and dyes.
Outperforms smelly newspaper and Astroturf.
Safe for all reptiles.
Comes in 300' rolls of various widths for Vision, Boaphile and
Neodesha Cages, glass tanks and Rubbermaid or
Sterilite boxes. Also comes in pre-cut sizes to fit
many special applications. See pre-cut price list.
Very economical to use.


http://www.cageliners.net/

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by zantedeschia

One layer? Two layers?

Wow.

I use a minimum of 5 layers per cage.

And while snake poo is smelly, it doesn't hold a candle to cat litterboxes, which are so smelly I try to con other family members into changing those out.

I like the vinegar idea, I'll have to try that. I've been using a very dilute bleach solution (rinsed thoroughly afterward), but only if the cage still smells of urine/poo after it's been wiped down with a damp paper towel.

---

I was thinking the same thing. I use at least five or six layers.

I've always used at least 2 layers. Spot cleaning aspen bedding is a lot easier and faster than changing the paper towels to me, all I do with aspen is pick up the crap with toilet paper and down the toilet it goes. It's as simple as that. Last night I caught my '09 normal female slithering underneath the substrate and slithering all around the cage, so I know she has to like it because she never is as active anymore unless I take her out. My Spider was also slithering around. Since the Pastel is in shed she hasn't came out yet. I think the aspen is a lot softer on their underside and easier to slither around on. Plus the aspen benefits my '08 normal female because she soaks the paper towels so now she doesn't have to sit in it.

Also, I go in the cages at least once a day, and I do check for any feces. So, even if it's easier to spot crap in paper towels, I'll still find the crap when I go in to look for it. I always check the tubs once I wake up to make sure there isn't any feces in the tub. I'm never going back to paper towels though. Too messy for me. The aspen makes it smell less which I'm glad about LOL. The only time I would ever use paper towels for my Ball pythons is if I get a new arrival or one of them is sick. Other than that I'm not switching back to paper towels LOL.:D

i prefer the aspen bedding myself as well. I spot clean and check my snakes more than once a day so i never let it get dirty. i even got smart and started cutting the tub lids down a little bit so that when i feed them i can just take out the snake and water dish and drop a sheet of plastic (the once lid) down over the aspen, then throw the snake and water dish back in with a rat! now i don't have to deal with all them feeding tubs but still don't have to worry about my snakes getting a mouth ful of aspen shavings in feeding.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Shiffy420

i prefer the aspen bedding myself as well. I spot clean and check my snakes more than once a day so i never let it get dirty. i even got smart and started cutting the tub lids down a little bit so that when i feed them i can just take out the snake and water dish and drop a sheet of plastic (the once lid) down over the aspen, then throw the snake and water dish back in with a rat! now i don't have to deal with all them feeding tubs but still don't have to worry about my snakes getting a mouth ful of aspen shavings in feeding.

---

I did say I check once a day at least so that meaning if I'm not too busy I'll check it 3 times a day (mostly). I really do like the aspen though, it really has worked for me with every snake I've owned. The cypress I used one time would mess up my Ball python's underside so that is one substrate I will never go back to along with paper towels.

I do not think it harms the snake if aspen is swallowed. My Kingsnake is a messy eater and swallows a bit of the substrate and nothing happens to him. In my opinion I wouldn't be worried about my snake swallowing substrate, unless it is a lot then I would get concerned. I always watch my snakes eat and finish before I put the lid back on to make sure they ate it. I always dry off my mice and rats before I offer so not a lot of substrate will get stuck on the rodent.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by CoolioTiffany

I did say I check once a day at least so that meaning if I'm not too busy I'll check it 3 times a day (mostly). I really do like the aspen though, it really has worked for me with every snake I've owned. The cypress I used one time would mess up my Ball python's underside so that is one substrate I will never go back to along with paper towels.

I do not think it harms the snake if aspen is swallowed. My Kingsnake is a messy eater and swallows a bit of the substrate and nothing happens to him. In my opinion I wouldn't be worried about my snake swallowing substrate, unless it is a lot then I would get concerned. I always watch my snakes eat and finish before I put the lid back on to make sure they ate it. I always dry off my mice and rats before I offer so not a lot of substrate will get stuck on the rodent.

---

i was agreeing with you on the part in the first paragraph.;) And as far as the second i guess i'm just being paranoid about feeding over loose aspen lol but it only took a minute to cut the lid down to fit over the aspen and other wise i have no use for the lid anyway when i buy the tubs. I might try feeding over aspen again, with 30snakes it'd be a lot faster to just throw a rat in lol. thanks.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Shiffy420

i was agreeing with you on the part in the first paragraph.;) And as far as the second i guess i'm just being paranoid about feeding over loose aspen lol but it only took a minute to cut the lid down to fit over the aspen and other wise i have no use for the lid anyway when i buy the tubs. I might try feeding over aspen again, with 30snakes it'd be a lot faster to just throw a rat in lol. thanks.

---

I wouldn't just throw a rat into the tub. Use tongs and dangle the rat in front of the snake. Get them to work for their food. Plus, by doing it this way, you don't get a rat covered in substrate.

Takes a little longer, but I believe it's a better, safer way to feed.

Jim Smith

when i said "just throw a rat in" i was refering to the ones that still won't take f/t. None of my f/t eaters will take food w/out me tonging. And when they do strike the f/t i like to regrab the prey by the tail or foot*(whichever is exposed with the snake wrapped around it) and tug on the rat for a minute as if it was resisting. You can pretty much instantly feel the snake get a tighter grip as you keep pulling on the rat. I wish they all ate f/t (and i'm still working with them) but i'm pretty sure the live eaters work for there meals on their own.