pine bedding for substrate

Tried it all heard all the don'ts,who does use it.

I don't use pine for any thing except for rats. For my monitors I use the excavator clay so they can dig their burrows, and for all of the ball pythons that I have had, I used the expandable eco- earth dirt substrate because it was cheap, and held humidity great, as well as being very resistant to mold.

You are asking who uses a toxic substrate for their ball pythons?

I get it. We find out everyone that uses it, then we tell them it will kill their snakes!
Hahaha

(Ok, but seriously, I don't get it).

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mr. s

You are asking who uses a toxic substrate for their ball pythons?

I get it. We find out everyone that uses it, then we tell them it will kill their snakes!
Hahaha

(Ok, but seriously, I don't get it).

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Toxic? On what, pray tell, do you base this on?

Is it toxic if its kiln dried?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by mr. s

You are asking who uses a toxic substrate for their ball pythons?

I get it. We find out everyone that uses it, then we tell them it will kill their snakes!
Hahaha

(Ok, but seriously, I don't get it).

---

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Now I feel like an idiot. (Which I probably am. And by "probably am", I mean, "am")

But, is it not a known fact that pine, like cedar are toxic for snakes?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 2kdime

Is it toxic if its kiln dried?

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Yes, I have heard of people using kiln dried for rats.....

Pine IS toxic, or at least certain oils in it are.

That doesn't mean it is toxic enough that keeping snakes on kiln dried pine will have any measurable negative effect on them. My understanding is that in the old days, most people used pine.

Personally, I like using newspaper.

I have also heard of pine being toxic, but not as bad as cedar. Aspen would be a better bet, though, just to be safe. I used loose substrates for a few years, imho they're a waste of time and money (when used for non-burrowing snakes; I do use loose substrate for my frogs and geckos). Now I use all newspaper for snakes. Easy, cheap, safe. And I do have naturalistic enclosures for my BPs, the newspaper looks fine. But, whatever works for you guys.

I've heard both sides, it is and isn't. But in any case why chance it? Personally I have no idea weather or not it will kill a snake but I'm not anxious to run the experiment...

I use the kiln dried pine mixed with wood pellet for my rats. I do not use it for my snakes. There are people that do and always have though.

We have had more then one thread on here go back and forth about pine. It is believed to be toxic but there is no proof or report saying that it is. A danger to any animals that is. It was brought up in another thread that it has never actually been proven be toxic and snake owners and breeder have used it for years.

I don't use it.
Pine personally bothers my sinuses/allergies more than aspen anyway, so I use aspen and newspaper.

If it's properly kiln dried, then it's technically safe for animals. I've used it with rats and mice before with no problems or 'sneezing' that so many claim.

Pine was one of the no's i was told not to do so im not trying it at all.:D

I use pine, but only certain kinds. The stuff I use is kiln dried and is chipped more course than regular bedding. Therefore there is no dust which I believe would be the cause of the RI's and stuff with snakes. If you think about it, wouldn't all of the "toxic" oil be burned or evaporated (or whatever you call it) out of the bedding in the kiln?

Anyway, I havent had any problems yet,and I save money from not buying aspen :gj: double win.