Aspen V Newspaper

I am using newspaper right now for a substrate but Its seems like a pain to use. My BP can make it bubble up so the temp probes arn't on the ground. Would aspen be better. What would be the benefits of using aspen vrs newspaper. Also where can you get aspen cheap in big bags.

I actually use both newspaper and aspen. I put a layer of newspaper down, then a layer of aspen. The newspaper keeps the aspen from sliding around too much so the snake can't get to the bare bottom of the tub.

I've never used newspaper alone though, so I can't tell you the pros and cons of both. I can say that aspen is cheap, easy to spot clean, and is safe to use. I purchase mine in big bags from my local grocery store, in the pet section. It's 5 dollars for a big bag(not sure on it's actual size), and one bag will last me 2-3 cage cleanings with two cages that are 39 x 20 inches. You can get aspen at many places though. In the pet section of most stores, at hardware stores, garden centers, pet shops(if you wanna pay their usually inflated prices), etc. It's pretty easy to find, in my experiences. :)

We've used a lot of different types of substrates and they all have their good and bad points.

We currently use aspen and just love it. I buy it at WalMart (pet dept) for almost half the price of the pet store for the same size bag. It isn't a huge bag but is very very tightly packed so goes a long way especially since you can spot clean it so easily. I've never had it mold on me or cause any problems other than the big females tend to pack it down with their body weight so I finger fluff it every few days to help with heat/air flow up from their under tub heaters. Some of our snakes seem to enjoy piling it up into huge aspen waves LOL.


~~Jo~~

when i get my ball python im gonna keep s/he on newspaper till s/he is around 6-7 months then put s/he on aspen/carefresh!!

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Originally Posted by frankykeno

We've used a lot of different types of substrates and they all have their good and bad points.

We currently use aspen and just love it. I buy it at WalMart (pet dept) for almost half the price of the pet store for the same size bag. It isn't a huge bag but is very very tightly packed so goes a long way especially since you can spot clean it so easily. I've never had it mold on me or cause any problems other than the big females tend to pack it down with their body weight so I finger fluff it every few days to help with heat/air flow up from their under tub heaters. Some of our snakes seem to enjoy piling it up into huge aspen waves LOL.


~~Jo~~

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I thought you said you got yours at WalMart and when I went this past weekend, they only had cedar and pine at my WalMart. Phooey!

I'm currently using unprinted newspaper for my adults and paper towels for my babies.

I recently made the switch from aspen based sani-chips for a couple of reasons, but most of all because with paper, when it's clean it's clean!

:D

-adam

I just use paper towels, but have used newspaper and aspen and forest floor. Towels and newspaper work the best IMO. When I run out of towels I just use the classifieds so I can have my snakes S**t on all the low paying jobs :)

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Originally Posted by Adam_Wysocki

I'm currently using unprinted newspaper for my adults -adam

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Where do you get unprinted newspaper from?

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Originally Posted by vinnimac

Where do you get unprinted newspaper from?

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www.uline.com

-adam

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Originally Posted by Adam_Wysocki

www.uline.com

-adam

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oh, I think I'll just keeping using my old newspapers. :oops: Thanks for the reply, though.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Adam_Wysocki

I'm currently using unprinted newspaper for my adults and paper towels for my babies.

I recently made the switch from aspen based sani-chips for a couple of reasons, but most of all because with paper, when it's clean it's clean!

:D

-adam

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Just curious Adam, is there a benefit to using unprinted newspaper over printed, or just your preference? Thanks!

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Originally Posted by rabernet

Just curious Adam, is there a benefit to using unprinted newspaper over printed, or just your preference? Thanks!

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Cause there's nothing worse than adult albino ball pythons with newspaper ink smeared all over them ... LOL ... j/k

Actually, with a couple of hundred cages to cover in paper each week, it's not practical to walk into 7-Eleven and buy all of their newspapers out. It's much easier to order bulk unprinted paper and have it delivered and I can get it sized to fit my cages.

If I just had a couple of snakes, I'd use the sunday paper.

-adam

Well I'd go with the Sunday paper too Adam but I'm worried I'd have to put up with Malachi screaming for the sports page every two freakin' minutes! :P


~~Jo~~

Could be worse, you could have my Princess. She stopped dumping her water bowl since I got her a heavier bowl, but she's still "little miss priss". No other python I've had has managed to soil paper 4 days (once 3 hours after I'd just put down fresh paper) in a row with urates, dumped waterbowl, or poo.

She's a spoiled brat.

I found that the aspen based sani chips was easier to use for my colubrid when I had one. The newspaper just doesn't soak up enough urates for my adults it seems. I keep my Sarawak short tail on paper towels, but he's got the smallest container at the moment. When I had cresties they were on paper towels as well (easy for them to spit out if they got a mouthful while nabbing bugs).

Paper towels are cleaner and a lot more absorbant, but they're not free like the newspaper is. As for the sani chips, I have a giant bag that will last me for a while.

I've got one like that too. Miss Brann messes up her lovely tub every night...waves of aspen...hides pushed hither and yon...Acc-Rite ripped down...the occasional flipped water dish! None of the other females do this as much as she does, so I guess Brann just enjoys being a busy chicka at night LOL.


~~Jo~~

Well, Jo, maybe she's trying to order a pizza or something. You know, since ya'll NEVER feed the girl enough... *giggle*

But anywho, I use aspen bedding. Don't usually put newspaper under that unless I remember to in Amani's tub, but in Dillinger's tank, I put newspaper under the aspen so he won't come in contact with the glass bottom(yes, his tank is a little ghetto rigged-So!, LoL)

Ordering pizza! So that's where my cell phone is! Well as long as she's not running up daytime minutes and calling back to the jungle to see how Cousin Hiss is I guess she can just keep the darn thing LOL!


~~Jo~~