Aspen bedding or newspaper.

I know newspaper is easy to clean and it is inexpensive but I have a huge bag of Aspen just sitting here. I use it for my rats. I know I can do it and i dont mind cleaning, But does anyone have any stories or any thoughts on why they wouldn't choose Aspen? Thanks !!!

-Mark


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I love aspen but I dont use them on my boa cages just because they are to big. They work great for tubs though because they are easy to turn over and empty them.

I had to use aspen as the other wood substrate I get was out. I felt kinda bad about it, but if anyone can provide input that would help. I hope it's ok.

You just dont want to use cedar.

I use both paper and aspen. I would choose paper any day, but my Dumeril's boa needs to burrow. Aspen is nice for a week or two, then it starts to get nasty (even with spot cleaning) it works fine of you are using an overhead heat source like a heat lamp, CHE, or RHP. But if you are using a UTH it really can become a pain since it doesn't transfer heat very well.

I have used aspen and cypress up until recently when i ordered unprinted news paper(2 weeks ago), and i will never go back. they all have there plus sides and downsides. i would say just use the aspen up since you have it. It most likely will not cause any problems unless your bp eats a huge mouthful of it. I love the look of aspen and cypress but to me the look vs the price/easiness to clean is not worth it. i still use aspens for my corn(loves to burrow) and my carpet get cypress because she's in a big display cage.
use it up and then after its gone decide do you want to order more or try something different, its all up to you.
Tom

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Originally Posted by Cameron Lamb Exotics

You just dont want to use cedar.

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Or pine. The oils can irritate the skin or even be toxic. But aspen and cypress are totally safe.

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Originally Posted by The Serpent Merchant

I use both paper and aspen. I would choose paper any day, but my Dumeril's boa needs to burrow. Aspen is nice for a week or two, then it starts to get nasty (even with spot cleaning) it works fine of you are using an overhead heat source like a heat lamp, CHE, or RHP. But if you are using a UTH it really can become a pain since it doesn't transfer heat very well.

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I so agree! I use disposable cage liners in my tubs and I'll never go back. Like Aaron, I'd only use aspen now if I had a snake that needed to burrow. I use shredded tree fern as a substrate for my GTP's natural viv, but it's a pain to clean. It's worth it for one center piece of beauty, but I'll stick to the cage liners for everyone else, lol.... :gj:

But as far as aspen or cypress, both are safe and perfectly fine to use!

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Originally Posted by The Serpent Merchant

I use both paper and aspen. I would choose paper any day, but my Dumeril's boa needs to burrow. Aspen is nice for a week or two, then it starts to get nasty (even with spot cleaning) it works fine of you are using an overhead heat source like a heat lamp, CHE, or RHP. But if you are using a UTH it really can become a pain since it doesn't transfer heat very well.

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My last bag of aspen from Pet*** came with "bonuses".

First were the mites which, although they didn't bother the snakes, made the lives of my mice and rats miserable.

Second was the weird reaction to moisture.

If it got wet at all, it turned blue and then overnight, grew some kind of weird, cotton-like fungus up the sides of the tubs.

I am sticking straight with newspaper now and my Dumerils is happily burrowing around in the special shredded newspaper I made for her with a common desktop paper shredder I had laying around.

Just fold the newspaper and run it through.

I don't know what those mites were but they bite people too.

:mad:

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Originally Posted by Salamander

My last bag of aspen from Pet*** came with "bonuses".

First were the mites which, although they didn't bother the snakes, made the lives of my mice and rats miserable.

Second was the weird reaction to moisture.

If it got wet at all, it turned blue and then overnight, grew some kind of weird, cotton-like fungus up the sides of the tubs.

I am sticking straight with newspaper now and my Dumerils is happily burrowing around in the special shredded newspaper I made for her with a common desktop paper shredder I had laying around.

Just fold the newspaper and run it through.

I don't know what those mites were but they bite people too.

:mad:

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Eugh. You should have told the store and then also contacted the manufacturer if possible. Because that is not good.

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Originally Posted by Inarikins

Eugh. You should have told the store and then also contacted the manufacturer if possible. Because that is not good.

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I will if I ever go back there again.....:D

Of course, you know they're going to try and lay the blame on me, somehow.

FWIW, the store has had an albino rat running loose that they can't seem to catch for about a year.

It tears open bags of food, shavings and everything else it can reach.

There's no telling what the level of cross-contamination is, after all this time.

My bag was sealed but mites can wiggle through any tiny crack.

Ive used both aspen and newspaper. I definitely prefer newspaper becouse its cheaper and much like Salamander i got mites once from pet co aspen. To each his own tho it all depends on the person. I would also stay away from repti-bark if u feed in the cage. I had a female bp choke on wood chips and i had to pull it from her throat. So best of luck.

I was using aspen shavings until my snake started to ingest it when it was eating. I switched over to paper towels and I wont go back. Paper towels is the way to go. 1) its absorbent 2) it doesnt have ink in it to dye your snake if it gets wet then sits on the paper 3) its still cheap and lasts a while. 4) super easy to clean

Paper towels for my snakes hands down.

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Originally Posted by Bill T

Ive used both aspen and newspaper. I definitely prefer newspaper becouse its cheaper and much like Salamander i got mites once from pet co aspen. To each his own tho it all depends on the person. I would also stay away from repti-bark if u feed in the cage. I had a female bp choke on wood chips and i had to pull it from her throat. So best of luck.

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OMG....poor girl!

My het Clown male Mosby got a piece stuck of aspen on the roof of his mouth 3 weeks ago that I thought sure was gonna strangle him.

He was thrashing about wildly, trying to dislodge it [why can't snakes spit?!?] and I had to calm him down enough to reach in and carefully tease it out.

He hadn't eaten since then until last night.

I don't know if his off-feed was from pain or fear because the shaving was stuck to the rat's head and I think he may have associated his terror with eating.

Even when he did eat last night, he didn't do his usual Killer Cobra imitation.
He stayed away from it until I laid it on top of his hide and then ate it about a half hour later.

That is not his normal, 'savage attack' behavior.

Mosby was the final straw for me.

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Originally Posted by reptiliachnids

I was using aspen shavings until my snake started to ingest it when it was eating. I switched over to paper towels and I wont go back. Paper towels is the way to go. 1) its absorbent 2) it doesnt have ink in it to dye your snake if it gets wet then sits on the paper 3) its still cheap and lasts a while. 4) super easy to clean

Paper towels for my snakes hands down.

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Has anybody ever tried something like these?

http://www.samsclub.com/sams/shop/pr...navAction=push

Lots of them, a nice size and they're washable/reusable.

Thanks so much everyone I love newspaper and I'm sticking with it now :) non-printed news paper would be awesome ! But it's more of a luxury that I can't really afford right now. Thanks again everyone!! This app and all of you are life savers!!!

-Mark


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