What Kind Of Bedding Do You Use? Cypress Or Aspen?

[Repsrul]

I have used Aspen and did not like it at all. I use Cypress (Breeder Choice). I pick up a few big bags every couple of months. I get them at cost and dump them in a big container and spray it down with P.A.M. I always have it on hand and it is not as damp out of the contain as it is right out of the bag.

[adam_degel]

Hi,

Where?

Ths.

http://www.ballpythonaddiction.com/?page_id=1506

[wax32]

I use aspen at the moment. But I might switch to newspaper. Does it stain your snakes? I know I tried it before with an albino kingsnake and he didn't stay "white" for long.

[vive-moi]

http://www.ballpythonaddiction.com/?page_id=1506

Thx, I live in Montreal, So It might cost a lot for then to send a bag. I'll check with them.

[Big Gunns]

I use aspen at the moment. But I might switch to newspaper. Does it stain your snakes? I know I tried it before with an albino kingsnake and he didn't stay "white" for long.

Don't even think of it. You have a problem feeder right now, do you want more? You would probably be better off switching to Cypress, but not yet.

BG wants you to put a hide in with that problem snake, and feed it a mouse first also. If you put a hide in there you can wait until you see it poke it's head out...this is ambush mode and it's waiting for food.

[Danounet]

You can wait until you see it poke it's head out...this is ambush mode and it's waiting for food.

That sounds like my GF when she is realy mad...

[abuja]

I used aspen for 2 months before switching to cypress. After switching to cypress, my snake appeared to have an allergic reaction, as when I lowered him into his cage he'd start wheezing. When I switched to newspaper, he hasn't wheezed since. Guess it's just one of his quirks...

[mrmertz]

Ok, I have considered this. Tell me how this works for you, how long you have been using etc. All i can find is cypress blend and have considered this stuff for both my boa and my pythons... tell me more.

We have only been using it a short time but I do notice this - it holds humidity EXTREMELY well. For example, the humidity right now in here is 23%. In all enclosures we have maintained humidity levels of 80% (give or take per enclosure - that's the average) for the past 3 days - without having to spray mist since switching to moss! We use natural daylight for light in the room where they are and we have glass I had cut with handles drilled through to cover the screen tops which I made removable if we need to. These also help hold the humidity levels.

Our vet, who we are fortunate enough to have is also the herp vet for all the reptiles at the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum here in Tucson. He knows his stuff. He's actually the one that reccomended it to us as he said he knows of quite a few herpers around here that can attest to postitive results with it. With the Repti here in the desert we just struggled to keep humidity levels up all the time.

I also wanted to kow if it made a difference where we bought and he said no so long as it was labeled as the only ingredient being peat moss. It cannot contain any other additives - good example of this is MiracleGro peat moss - it has MiracleGro plant food mixed in with the moss. Not good.

We got 2.2 cubic feet compressed at Lowes for $9 and change. It's pure Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss directly out of Canada. No bugs and the thing we notice is that the boys seem to like it better than our old Repti-Bark moss combination we were using. No lie. Our boa Mr Biggs used to spend all of his time slumped up and around the water bowl but since we put him in the new setup with the pure moss - he now lies fully streched across the tank and has continued to do so since putting him in there. Our RTB seems to like it better also as he loves to bury under the substrate and we now rarely see "Gopher" at all except for his snout protruding out. Oh well, as long as he is happy. (He's prone to regurg so this substrate makes him want to bury which also brings him to his low wattage UTH for belly heat). I have nothing against Rept-Bark, we used it since we had our original setups.

But to sum it up, here's why wer'e sold on sphagnum peat moss (in order);

1. Hold humidity levels EXTREMLEY well.
2. Judging from our snakes reactions, they seem to be more comfortable on it.
3. Cost - for what you get it's a fraction of what we used to spend.
4. Upon "turning" the peat moss substrate in the enclosure, it will dry out the top layers fairly quickly which is nice if you want to avoid possible mold issues. (We have never had mold or fungus issues).
5. Less need to spray the enclosure.

Hope this helps. Lemmie know if anybody else out there would like more info.

Jeff in Tucson AZ

[Oxylepy]

I used to use cypress, then it got too expensive so I nixed the look and went for aspen SOOOOO MUCH BETTER belive me it was easier to work with definitely and half the cost. But when I switched to tubs I went unprinted newpaper (packing paper) and I dont ever plan on going back. It works perfectly, switches easily, and you dont have pieces of friggin wood all over your room.

Oh and in your shoes, I should mention that too, it stinks when you put on your shoes and it just happens that there was bedding in it, god that was horrid, and almost like once a week.

[singingtothewheat]

Paper towels, newspaper, or unprinted newspaper are all I use. Much easier, much cleaner,much safer and much cheaper.