NEWSPAPER OR ASPEN

[T.Exeter]

I would like to ask what people prefer.
Is it newspaper or aspen and why.

Thanks

[KLG]

We exclusively use newspaper for all of our ball pythons due to ease of maintenance.

Aspen can be a great substrate - just watch your humidity levels as it easily molds once wet.

K~

[jay mc]

I used to use aspen but now only use papper with all my snakes.

[Adam]

i was told news paper is the easiest to maintain. but eventoualy it starts to smell extremly bad! (not that that matters)

[LdyDrgn]

We use newspaper for most of our animals, and cypress mulch for those that require higher humidity. :) We don't use aspen at all.

[Amelia]

Well we still have some things on aspen bedding, which is slowly changing as I want everything in newspaper, much easier to clean, with a few hundred snakes in rubbermaids I hate having to scrape out aspen shavings, and scrubbing them, plus the fact that it can't tolerate getting wet or humidity too well before it molds up.

[PadraigC]

Newspaper-Aspen molds way faster then some let on

[Apython]

I use newspaper, never tried aspen.

[BallPyFan]

I use newspaper also...get the free papers from post and the college...works great!

[Brendan E]

Mine are on newspaper aswell.

[Schlyne]

Issa is on cocanut coir, all of the other snakes are on newspaper.

I had issa on aspen when I first got him (it's my ball python), but I was having humidity issues and changed it aruond.

I still have 3/4 of a bag of aspen, just haven't used it for anything yet. Chances are, it will eventually be used for rat bedding, just so I can use up the rest of the bag.

[TommyD.]

Newspaper here also.

[gmherps]

newspaper :smt004

[SMsnakes]

Ok... This has always been a good topic that comes up a lot. :D
Its always the same answers. So with that said use what you feel most comfortable with.

We all live in different climates and this has some influences on it also. The type of snake.

For my ball pythons I use simple paper towels. I tried news papers but then it was staining my tubs, water dishes and yes my albino had a black and green belly once..

I have uses cyprus with good results, I have just bought aspen and will be trying it with my gravid females.

I have been told that aspen is great to use on fresh wild caughts.... never tried it tho.

[T.Exeter]

I used news paper and was also frustrated with staining of tubs and snakes.
All my snakes are on aspen.
I agree that WC come round quicker on aspen.
I actually find aspen lower maintenance than newspaper.
I have also had albinos with black heads due to the print.

[SMsnakes]

II have also had albinos with black heads due to the print. "GRIN" :smt042

[my99zx9r]

I use aspen. I love it and it looks really nice too.

[ItsJustJosh]

I use woody pet (www.woodypet.com) the stuff is amazing. I keep my balls, carpets, and colubrids on it, as well as rats and mice. it's hard to find, but i work at a horse supply joint, and we get pallets of it at a time, 35 bags/pallet. rats can easily go 3-4 weeks between cage cleanings, and one bag is enough for 4 rat trays, 10 mouse trays, and all of the snakes for at least two changes. if you can find it, i HIGHLY recommend it for most anything. It's also a great cat litter, no silica dust!

[SMsnakes]

Aspen.. Seems to be working great.

[vespascooter]

does anyone use carpet?
-s

[BallPyFan]

I have just recently switched to something new: shredded paper. The scale-kids seem to love it, burrowing around and tunneling and not using the hides much anymore and it is the perfect use for all the refinance/mortgage offers I get almost every day in the mail :)

[Boa_Addiction]

Hmm interesting, I use newspaper but i have a trouble feeder I am going to swap to Aspen and see if that helps her decide to eat.

[cnfrost]

To avoid the stains and dirty snakes you encounter when using newspaper, you could always go with newsprint. It's just newspaper that hasn't been printing on. Granted it's not free, but it's not terribly expensive either. A roll that is 2 feet wide and 1,695 feet long will run you about $30.

[bones]

cypress is the best in my eyes
it resists mold and you can tell when its dry easier

[v2r]

hey cnfrost, where can you buy the newsprint at?


thanks in advance
vaughn

[cnfrost]

Try uline.com
I've got a friend who gets it through them and he likes it. That's where I plan on getting it once I get my rack built.

[CJReptile]

I used to use paper for my snakes, but now i can just spot clean with the aspen bedding, it even costs me less, and i find it easier

And if you use bowls, there will be no mold

[Steve_Ray]

Add me to the list of newspaper users, not only does it work great but I also love seeing the faces of the people at the convenient store when I ask for all their old leftover newspaper :-).

[xdeus]

Has anyone done a comparison in cost between news print, aspen and cypress. Just wondering?

[Boa_Addiction]

I am on all newspaper ATM
I may switch to Eucalyptus Mulch though.

[KLG]

I am on all newspaper ATM
I may switch to Eucalyptus Mulch though.

I'd be leery of doing so due to the potential residual oils involved.

K~

[cnfrost]

Eucalyptus Mulch? What's that usually used for?

[Lance]

I go back and forth with the aspen vs. newspaper thing. Right now 3/4 snakes are on paper and one is on aspen. The odor issue is the biggest factor. My retics generally have some sort of urates every day and with paper it immediately starts to smell up the place. With aspen, unless it is a huge mess, I can usually do a quick spot clean and then do a full clean on the weekends. As a lot of people, I have an extremely busy schedule since I went back to school with work and school. The problem with aspen, is I hate when it sticks to the food during feeding, and the full clean on the weekends in a lot longer than with paper. Once my aspen supply is out, I'll be back to newspaper only again.

[varanoid]

I kept some snakes on newpaper before and agree that it is very easy and efficient. In my experience however, the newspaper ink wears off and muddies the colors significantly. I didn't notice how much it actually wears off until i saw the snake shed and it was beautiful once again.