Anything wrong with paper towels?

I have a very young bp and she has been on paper towels since she was born in late may. The breeder (our own Laooda!) kept her on them and thats what she has stayed on with me. I was wondering if there is any real reason for me to switch substrates. My humidity is solid and ranges from high fourty's to high fifties and paper towels are just hella cheap. If I did switch it would probably be a layer of newspaper with aspen on top, but I wanted to see if there really is any reason to switch any time soon.

Thanks!

Quite a few people use papertowels and there are a lot of benefits to using them. Super easy to spot clean, if you have mites or anything like that they are easy to spot, they are cheap.

If your humidity is correct and your temps are fine, then you have no reason to switch. The only reason I don't use them is because I like my substrat to be more visually pleasing.

Theres nothing wrong with using paper towels. News paper is a lot cheaper.

its cheaper so keep it

I'm sure knott meant this but I'll say it anyway...

There's no spot cleaning paper towels. Once they're soiled they gotta go! And when my BP goes she almost always knocks over her water dish so that means everything has to come out. I still like it better than aspen though.

Can't newspaper stain your snake black if it gets wet?

Dennis

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Hapa_Haole

I'm sure knott meant this but I'll say it anyway...

There's no spot cleaning paper towels. Once they're soiled they gotta go! And when my BP goes she almost always knocks over her water dish so that means everything has to come out. I still like it better than aspen though.

Can't newspaper stain your snake black if it gets wet?

Dennis

---

I know on the first day I went through half of an entire role because she kept sloshing water everywhere and would soak the entire floor. I was excited that my humidity went up but thats not the best way to do it :)

Yea the spot cleaning would be a nice thing to be able to do. If I used newspaper on the bottom I would like to get the kind without print on it. Not sure exactly where you can buy it though lol

I have a question and since it's related i'll just posted here instead of making a new thread.

I know some people use un-printed newspaper. I have tried looking for it at home depot, but all I find is construction paper. The kind thats used to cover stuff up when walls are painted etc. Now is that the same as unprinted newspaper? Im guessing not.

In another thread someone mentioned "moveze" un-printed newspaper at home depot. But it seems they dont sell that anymore. What is the corrent name so I can have the home depot employees find it for me.

Thanks. :)

You do have to watch them eat when they're on paper towel--every once in a blue moon, a baby will try to swallow the paper with the prey. It gets tangled up a little bit more easily than newspaper does.

Apart from that, I like paper towel for hatchlings, too--it's nice and absorbant, and easy to clean.

I don't believe in spot-cleaning. Once you see the volume of a good snake pee, you'll see how much filth would be left behind if you were using a particulate bedding and spot-cleaning.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by WingedWolfPsion

I don't believe in spot-cleaning. Once you see the volume of a good snake pee, you'll see how much filth would be left behind if you were using a particulate bedding and spot-cleaning.

---

I completely agree. When I switched to paper towels I couldn't believe the mess I was leaving behind (unknowingly) when I spot cleaned my aspen bedding.

Dennis

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Danounet

I have a question and since it's related i'll just posted here instead of making a new thread.

I know some people use un-printed newspaper. I have tried looking for it at home depot, but all I find is construction paper. The kind thats used to cover stuff up when walls are painted etc. Now is that the same as unprinted newspaper? Im guessing not.

In another thread someone mentioned "moveze" un-printed newspaper at home depot. But it seems they dont sell that anymore. What is the corrent name so I can have the home depot employees find it for me.

Thanks. :)

---

You can order rolls of unprinted newspaper or kraft paper from Uline.

I'm thinking of trying out this site for my next order...I use kraft paper.
http://www.papermart.com/Product%20P...FQxM5QodaAST6w

So many different kinds :O

Which would be best for a BP? Since I use Sterilite tubs, I guess 15" width would be the best width size. But I dont know what category. There is 30, 40 and 50LBs.

Also, I used to work at a deli, they used similar rolls of paper, but they were called "butcher paper." would that be the same? Just wondering.

Whoa! That stuff's way cheaper than paper towels. I'm also interested in the weight of paper you use. Also, do you use a single layer of it?

Danounet, I could be wrong but I think butcher paper has a slight waxy coating on it. It'd probably be more expensive anyways.

Go to your local newspaper and ask if they have end rolls of unprinted paper. Most places will give it out for free since they normally just junk it anyway. That's what I use as well as a few other people on here.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Danounet

So many different kinds :O

Which would be best for a BP? Since I use Sterilite tubs, I guess 15" width would be the best width size. But I dont know what category. There is 30, 40 and 50LBs.

Also, I used to work at a deli, they used similar rolls of paper, but they were called "butcher paper." would that be the same? Just wondering.

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by branson

Whoa! That stuff's way cheaper than paper towels. I'm also interested in the weight of paper you use. Also, do you use a single layer of it?

Danounet, I could be wrong but I think butcher paper has a slight waxy coating on it. It'd probably be more expensive anyways.

---

I don't remember exactly which one I ordered the first time but I'm going to go with a 40lb, 36 inch roll when I place my next order.

I would use 2 layers, cut one piece and fold it in half. After a while you get good at sizing it by eye.

I also think that butcher paper has a slight waxy coating to it so I'm not sure how absorbent it would be.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by branson

Whoa! That stuff's way cheaper than paper towels. I'm also interested in the weight of paper you use. Also, do you use a single layer of it?

---

Know what is even cheaper, and even easier to use??? Regular newspaper that your family members bring to you for FREE.

Yep normal newsprint...

It always makes me laugh when I see people spend all this money on Kraft paper.... paper that has to be manufactured, purchased, taxed, shipped, unrolled, cut and or folded, just to end up as a piece of paper that does little to nothing as far as absorbing liquids unless you use several layers of it. The same people who read, then throw out their newspaper.

Reasons to use NORMAL newspaper:

1.) its free.
2.) it is without any doubt the easiest thing to use because it usually requires no folding or cutting (this is true for 20 gallon long tanks, 30 gallon long tanks, 32 quart tubs, 41 quart tubs... the four most common things used to keep ball pythons(
3.) it is very effective in absorbing the snakes waste.
4.) it can be considered "green" afterall, you are reusing newspaper that would have likely ended up in the trash anyway. consider it self recycling.

I don't have a reliable source for newspaper. We don't get the paper at my house and neither does anyone in my family aside from the weekly circulars.

The times I have used newspaper I didn't like the way it came apart when it was wet. The kraft paper I use absorbs well; is a little thicker and maintains its structural integrity which at the end of the day makes my life easier when I clean.

A roll of craft paper last me months and it doesn't end up being "all this money" when you spread the cost across all those months.

With that said I'm happy the way I utilize my budget makes you laugh :gj:

Mike - I used to use regular newsprint but I switched to unprinted paper. I know the ink is nontoxic, but it gets on everything in the enclosure, most notably my water bowls, and is very hard to get off. And after cleaning, my hands would have black marks all over them. It's great that it works for you, but substrate is really a personal preference thing, that is everyone has their own preference for different reasons.

I went to Home Depot and asked about Kraft or packing paper, and the employee told me they didn't have any. Well that was not true. Just ask where their packing supplies are. It comes in a cardboard box that says "Pack-eze" on it, it's 145 sheets for something like $10. Don't quote me on the price though.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Spaniard

With that said I'm happy the way I utilize my budget makes you laugh :gj:

---

Maybe you should reread what I said again? I pointed out that I thought it was funny when people pay for kraft paper and ALSO get a news paper every day, and just throw it away. As you stated, you don't get the paper, therefore this would not apply to you.

Anyways, one thing you said was that you don't like how the newspaper breaks up when it gets wet? Maybe we are using different techniques, because this doesn't happen at alll for me. I use entire sections keeping the origional fold of the newspaper. in other words, I pull out the metro section and lay that whole section down flat.. so really it is like 6 or 8 layers of newspaper. that is why it is so good absorbing liquids, and it doesn't break up when it gets wet.

If you don't have a source of newspaper it takes little effort to find free paper. Stores for instance trash extra newspapers that don't sell. I, myself don't get the paper. I do though have friends / family members that do and every once in a while they will bring me an old stack.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by icygirl

Mike - I used to use regular newsprint but I switched to unprinted paper. I know the ink is nontoxic, but it gets on everything in the enclosure, most notably my water bowls, and is very hard to get off. And after cleaning, my hands would have black marks all over them.

---

Maybe inks are different in different areas? I don't experience this at all. all of my bowls are white... and no ink gets on them. ink also does not get on the snakes like many people claim. Even my albino ball doesn't get any stains from the ink.

I should also add that I don't use the pages with BIG pictures... If I do use a page with a BIG picture, I make sure it is pointed down.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Mike Cavanaugh

Maybe inks are different in different areas? I don't experience this at all. all of my bowls are white... and no ink gets on them. ink also does not get on the snakes like many people claim. Even my albino ball doesn't get any stains from the ink.

I should also add that I don't use the pages with BIG pictures... If I do use a page with a BIG picture, I make sure it is pointed down.

---

I think they must use different inks in different areas. I do tend to see some ink coming off in my enclosures. Also one time when I handled large amounts of newspaper (we were covering my friends entire room with it) my hands and shirt were stained black. This did happen to be the school newspaper so maybe they use cheap ink?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Spaniard

You can order rolls of unprinted newspaper or kraft paper from Uline.

I'm thinking of trying out this site for my next order...I use kraft paper.
http://www.papermart.com/Product%20P...FQxM5QodaAST6w

---

I am not sure that if it was a ploy to have me buy their product or if it is true information-but-the woman at the pet store told me that the newspaper's ink would harm the specimen.

I am sticking with aspen. I used paper towels and newspaper and yes I see lot of snake waste but they are not absorbent as well as aspen. Aspen collect snake waste and tend not to spread out as well as newspaper. Just my 2 cents.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by jblaze

I am not sure that if it was a ploy to have me buy their product or if it is true information-but-the woman at the pet store told me that the newspaper's ink would harm the specimen.

---

Newspaper inks are non-toxic and should not pose any health risks to your snake.

I use 2 layers of paper towel on bottom and 1 layer of kraft paper on top. I cut out a piece of cardboard to the dimensions of my tank that I use as a template. Just roll out the paper, lay the cardboard on it and cut... :gj:



Rob

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by PrioBull

I am sticking with aspen. I used paper towels and newspaper and yes I see lot of snake waste but they are not absorbent as well as aspen. Aspen collect snake waste and tend not to spread out as well as newspaper. Just my 2 cents.

---

Here is another way to look at it. a big reason why I will never use aspen is because of what you are talking about... It is super absorbent. in fact, it is so absorbent that it is quite possible that a snake can let plenty of fluid out and when the aspen absorbs it, it won't even noticeable. that means that your snake the majority of the time will be sitting in aspen that is filled with poop and pee.

With newspaper on the other hand, I can tell you that even though I have almost 50 different snake tanks / tubs, NONE of them sit on urin or poop more then a day.

A keeper using newspaper (printed or not) or paper towels will on average ALWAYS have cleaner enclosures then those that use other substrates such as aspen.

Why not combine the suggestions here and lay a single thickness of paper towel on top of newspaper? Newspaper provides the absorbency while the paper towel protects snakey from the ink. :)