Paper Towels

If I were to use paper towels for my substrate how many should I use? And when they go to the bathroom should I just replace the whole paper towel?

I use enough to cover the bottom of the tub, in two layers. If that makes sense. Sooo lets see - I have 36qt tubs from walmart, and i use 4 towels, doubled up - covers the bottom perfectly.

When they soil the paper towel, just change it all. That's beauty of using PT...it's fairly inexpensive.

Yup - I change everything when they pee/poo. Wash the water dish and hide, throw away all towels, and then spray everything with a 50/50 water/white vinegar solution, dry, replace towels, dish and hide, insert snake. Takes about 5 minutes.

I'd not suggest paper towel but for very small hatchlings. Accidental ingestion has and can cause death.

http://www.iherp.com/Gallery/1/8113_...ygb6K54M6y.jpg


http://i972.photobucket.com/albums/a...per-towels.jpg

the originals are loose on the web I am unsure whom shot them I hope the photographers don't mind re-linking them as it is for the intended purpose to warn of a potential hazard.

While paper towel ingestion is a potential risk, it's a VERY small chance and something that is totally avoidable if you supervise feedings.

I use paper towels in all of my enclosures. I use the Bounty select-a-size personally, and use it in 2 layers, enough to cover the bottoms and I leave about an inch extra on each side to curl up the very bottom of each side. Set the water bowl in the middle to hold them down.

To get this straight, I understand they can ingest it if they are feeding on the paper towel, but if I feed them in a different tub with a separate substrate is there a chance they may ingest some of the paper towel in their tub for who knows what reason?

ZBP- no. The snake will only open its mouth while feeding and the paper would get caught in an involuntary muscle response between the prey and its mouth, or something.

Is this risk reduced with newspaper or unprinted sheets? Apparently I need to observe feeding even for F/T...... good thing I only have 3 snakes...

When you consider the number of keepers who use PT as a substrate, the number of snakes that have ingested it while feeding is statistically insignificant. Even less if you make sure the prey item is dry, and even less than that if you supervise the feeding.

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Originally Posted by ZBP

To get this straight, I understand they can ingest it if they are feeding on the paper towel, but if I feed them in a different tub with a separate substrate is there a chance they may ingest some of the paper towel in their tub for who knows what reason?

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I use paper towels also, no issues here. There has never even been close to an issue here. I think one thing is if you feed frozen thawed then just make sure the rat isn't wet. Then the paper towel wont stick to it. I breed my own rats so pre killed is so much easier for me.

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Altough I have no evidence to back it up, I would think a lot more snakes have died from impaction due to aspen ingestion as compared to paper towels. I've used every substrate I can think of and PT are definitely my favorite. Never any issues, easy to clean and cheap.

To answer your questions, I overlap my paper towels in the center but basically one layer around the outer edges of the tubs. And yes, clean the whole thing whenever they make a mess. I'll also replace it if they make a mess with their water bowls or bunch up the paper towels on one side of the tub. It's super cheap so why not?

I'm glad you guys validated what I was thinking, which is that it wouldn't happen if the prey was dry and the paper towels were anchored. Still, pretty wild horror stories..

I'd suggest that paper is a safer alternative cheaper and basically the same with out the risk of ingestion. I have never heard of a snake that has impacted due to wood chips but it would not surprise me either. I can say that in my area (500 000 population) my vet has had 3 cases of paper towel ingestion in the past 2 years, all fatal. Personally, the expense (is any substrate more expensive?) and the fact there is a risk however small make it a poor choice based on my logic. Others may have some valid reasons why they choose it that over rides the issues I see. My opinion is to avoid it there are lots of other alternatives that carry lower risks.

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Originally Posted by kitedemon

I'd suggest that paper is a safer alternative cheaper and basically the same with out the risk of ingestion. I have never heard of a snake that has impacted due to wood chips but it would not surprise me either. I can say that in my area (500 000 population) my vet has had 3 cases of paper towel ingestion in the past 2 years, all fatal. Personally, the expense (is any substrate more expensive?) and the fact there is a risk however small make it a poor choice based on my logic. Others may have some valid reasons why they choose it that over rides the issues I see. My opinion is to avoid it there are lots of other alternatives that carry lower risks.

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I hear ya, but on the same note I have seen 3 snakes die from ingesting wood (2 were aspen, 1 was cypress). It all comes down to the competence of the owner.

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No debate there. I just believe pointing out there is a risk is important. The owner needs to be diligent and counter any risk to their pet but they can only do this if they know that it is there.

I use two layers of paper towels. Change em' all when poo or pee. This is the only thing stupid select a size paper towels are good for. (Can you tell select a size drive me nuts?). I have not had any issues. We also breed our food, so we do p/k and never an issue with towel sticking to prey. Congrats on your first snake, you came to a great place for information!

Not trying to hijack this thread, but why use a substrate at all? Currently I'm using double layered newspaper but have thought about using nothing. When there is something to clean, just wipe it with a papertowel. Is it just for absorption purposes so the animal doesn't slither through its own fecal matter? Anybody ever tried going without?

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Originally Posted by Trochu

Not trying to hijack this thread, but why use a substrate at all? Currently I'm using double layered newspaper but have thought about using nothing. When there is something to clean, just wipe it with a papertowel. Is it just for absorption purposes so the animal doesn't slither through its own fecal matter? Anybody ever tried going without?

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Some of my snakes pee a ton. I wouldn't want them sitting in a half inch of pee. The paper towels do a good job of absorbing a lot if not all of it...

Even tho I try to get it clean right away, I really don't want to them to sit in it at all...

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I put paper towels in once in both feeding tubs. I will NEVER do that again, it wrapped around the prey when the grabbed it!

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Originally Posted by tsy72001

I put paper towels in once in both feeding tubs. I will NEVER do that again, it wrapped around the prey when the grabbed it!

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I have seen that happen, but when they release the rat the paper doesn't stick then they go for the head. Feeding a snake is just something that should be supervised regardless of what substrate you use or whether you feed live or F/T...

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