Newspaper is great and almost free - but don't be alarmed if your snakes get black bellies from "snake painting" on wet newspaper. For that reason, I switched to un-printed packing paper (which is essentially newspaper). You can get 145 sheets in a box at Home Depot (24" x 36") in the packing section for $8.80. You can also get wrapping paper (the same thing) at any local U-Haul for the same price, but 140 sheets. I fold it to fit in my tubs.