i prefer the aspen bedding myself as well. I spot clean and check my snakes more than once a day so i never let it get dirty. i even got smart and started cutting the tub lids down a little bit so that when i feed them i can just take out the snake and water dish and drop a sheet of plastic (the once lid) down over the aspen, then throw the snake and water dish back in with a rat! now i don't have to deal with all them feeding tubs but still don't have to worry about my snakes getting a mouth ful of aspen shavings in feeding.