Pine shavings.

[Skiploder]

I would think that the vehemence with which some of those posting have let their views be known that substantiating facts would be but a moment in production, surely hiding on discs and in secret memory caches for just such a query as mine.

It seems that, once again, I have erred.

heh

Who'd a thought?

I'm glad you brought this up.

Back in the old days, when I was young(er) and apparently stupid(er) I kept my reptiles on dried pine shavings. Those snakes lived long and fruitful lives - some are even still with me.

I live close to a livestock supply store that stocks Harlan-Teklad shredded aspen at a very good price - so a couple of years ago I made the switch.

I've read the toxicology reports on cedar, and I have read anecdotal evidence that pine can cause issues with the liver along with potential allergic and/or respiratory problems.

I've read Debbie Ducommun's report on the toxicity of cedar and pine shavings which cites soft wood studies done in the 90s on rodents http://exoticpets.about.com/gi/dynam...g/litters.html and I've read the studies on which they were based.

There is also a rebuttal of sorts at http://exoticpets.about.com/gi/dynam....geo/Pine.html . which addresses Ducommun's article and the studies it was based on.

With all that said, I've never had a problem, and there are some well-known breeder's out there who have used or currently use kiln-dried pine without issues.

So how many people who have responded to the OP actually have some experience with kiln-dried pine shavings? How many have had health issues that they can prove are linked to this bedding?

Or are we just regurgitating what has been read elsewhere?