Newspaper shavings

Hi, I was wondering if newspaper run through a paper shredder is an ok substrate for snakes.



Thanks

i wouldnt shred it i'd just use it in whole. it would be ok i guess but the problem i would see is if you feed it in its cage then u risk him eating a piece of the paper also and the ink from the paper has toxins in it if im thinking correctly and if congested it could possibly harm your pet. i wouldnt do it myself but that is me . im sure others would agree but give it time for some of the more experienced to reply.

Creates a lot of dust and can cause respiratory issues.

Newspaper ink is not toxic. If that were the case, I'd think there would be a lot more people running around with cancerous fingers. ;)

Thank-you everyone, I think I will keep using it.

Ive used it before. It worked okay, but I didn't like the way it looked....and my shredder broke, lol.

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Originally Posted by m00kfu

Newspaper ink is not toxic. If that were the case, I'd think there would be a lot more people running around with cancerous fingers. ;)

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It is toxic but in very large amounts. It's just like toxic marker ink. Newspaper ink smells horrible. Several years ago I used to deliver newspapers and when you handle the newspaper for so long, it gets all over your fingers and it's disgusting and smells like poop. I wouldn't recommend using it around a snake.

The dust can cause respiratory hell, I would avoid using it shredded.

Just to add, if you do choose to use newspaper, use the sheets with the least amount of ink (no pictures and no colour). Avoid the comics at all costs. If you're looking for a cheap alternative for substrate, go to the pet store, and buy a bag of 1250 cubic inches of compressed aspen. It's normally used for hamster and mice cages. But for some reason, buying a small bag of substrate specifically intended for reptiles costs just as much if not more for a quarter the amount. I buy that stuff for 10 bucks a bag. and it should last you months and months; possibly even a year. Considering you're using it for one tank.

If you want to use shredded newspaper try making a sift box with a wood frame with hardware cloth or window screen. Sift the shredded newspaper over it to get rid of the dust.

You'd have to eat an awful lot of newspaper for it to be toxic. Most papers are printed with soy-based ink, which is safe.

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Originally Posted by Pandora

It is toxic but in very large amounts. It's just like toxic marker ink. Newspaper ink smells horrible. Several years ago I used to deliver newspapers and when you handle the newspaper for so long, it gets all over your fingers and it's disgusting and smells like poop. I wouldn't recommend using it around a snake.

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I agree... I used to deliver newspapers too! When I was in 7th grade...way way way back..lol it did stink!