Shredded Paper as Substrate?

[Bogertophis]

Thanks all. I'm between snakes right now but I'll keep it in mind.

As I recall, you were thinking about a small Aussie python? FYI, I line my spotted python's tank with a layer of paper towel (makes for easy clean up- just roll it all up), then put a mix of paper shreds & Carefresh over that- about 1" deep, & of course, she has a large humid hide with moss or orchid bark inside, which she needs & obviously enjoys. I have never used a damp substrate for her entire tank, as most ppl do with their BPs.

As far as printer ink being toxic- to the best of my knowledge, some years back newspapers switched to harmless soy-based ink. It's safe to shred & use. (I just don't get physical newspapers any more.) I can't speak for your work printers, but I shred & use copies from my home inkjet printer (as well as clean business papers from elsewhere)- I don't notice any sort of smell to the ink- it seems to be safe, & I've been using it for years- most always mixed as I described above. I also shred clean brown paper bags & brown craft paper, as it's absorbent. (I exclude any slick paper as it's NOT absorbent.) All of my snakes are housed in glass tanks with screen tops, with good air-flow, so any minor odors would dissipate pretty well, but anything I notice first (ANY sort of chemical odor) would NOT be used.

Shredded paper is a similar texture to aspen shreds, but it's also free. One other advantage for using paper shreds is that there's a lot of air spaces in it (assuming it stays dry), unlike many of the semi-moist coco-bark substrates which are quite dense. It's an advantage for me because I use UTH on all my tanks, & the heat rises much easier thru loose substrates like paper shreds or aspen flakes, whereas dense ones tend to "insulate" the cage floor & prevent heat from rising. I see posts all the time about how the heat from UTH doesn't raise the ambient temperature in enclosures, but part of the reason likely has to do with the choice (and depth!) of substrate.

So it all depends on what you're keeping- me, I'm a colubrid person with few exceptions now, & my exceptions are fine with it anyway. (I also have a desert rosy boa- no need for damp substrate there either.) Taking the best care of snakes means thinking about the needs of whatever species you're keeping- it's not "one product fits all".