Reptile & Amphibian Forums

We are currently using cypress mulch in our racks and were considering switching over to newspaper. I have seen on websites and posts here that a lot of other ball python keepers are using newspaper. What are the pros and cons? How is the proper humidity maintained? I dont like the idea of spot cleaning. I would rather clean the tub and change the newspaper. Also, does the print stain the tubs? If so, does it wipe off?

Thanks
Danielle
-----
www.myspace.com/pichereptiles
Website coming soon

In my racks I have switched from cocanut mulch to newspaper and find that humidity is much easier to control. If it is too dry I mist. If it is too wet I open the drawer and let it dry for a moment. Also, no stains.
-----
"It's insane this guys taint"

I am pretty new to racks myself so if someone with more experience says different take that into consideration.
-----
"It's insane this guys taint"

They are more absorbent than newspaper and don't leave ink smudges on you snakes.

More expensive than newspaper, but I am anal about sterility.

It is up to you what to yse , I don't like it the ink come of on the snakes bellys and all thow I know of know quote to say one way or another it cant be good for them over the long term . just my OP. David

I tried newspaper for a month and found that I didn't like it much - for the following reasons ...

1. Water dishes could be moved around the tub easier and although they didn't tip they would slosh out onto the paper.

2. Wet paper molds easily

3. Wet paper that dries to the tubs is a pain to remove

4. Paper distributes messes - if the snake releives itself in the corner - it could easily spread over 1/4 of the tub - the snake spends the night sleeping in it's own urine. With other substrates the urine is contained in the corner or filtered to the bottom layer where the snake isn't right on top of it.

5. Spot cleaning - can be done quickly without disturbing the snake - cleaning up newspaper requires removing bowls, hides and snakes to lay down fresh.

6. Most of the snakes crawl under the newspaper anyway - why even have it (LOL)

7. I had a couple of snakes go off feed in protest

8. With the extra work involved with cleaning up paer and with the increasednumber of tubs that needed to be cleaned - my morning cleaning doubled in time with the paper.

But a lot of people have used it successfully for a really long time.
-----
Tosha

I found it also harder to hold humidity snakes didn't shed as good at least for me with mulch I only mist once a week maybe twice if they are in shed and I get perfect sheds every time.
-----
Vince Pramuk

I use unprinted newspaper in my racks and it's great. I use Sterilite 1960 tubs, so I buy end rolls from the local newspaper printer and cut pieces to fit. There's no ink mess, a change out requires removing the paper, disinfecting real quick, and laying down a new piece. It takes about 1 minute per tub, that's it. Loose substrates were a pain, because if the snake peed I'd have to make sure to get all of the soiled bits and then replace them. I hated dumping out the tub every week and having to wash it down before disinfecting to get all the nasty dirt bits leftover. Newspaper is cleaner, easier, and more efficient for me.
-----
~* Jen *~

The bottom line is do what you feel is best for your reptiles,Not whats easiest for you. Your not in the cage 24-7 they are!! David

If this board wasn't designed to maximize clicks we could have an easy to read poll that would show who uses what. I use aspen (not the real fine shred though). I hated newspaper for the reasons Tosha mentioned. Especially because it is not absorbent enough to keep the snake out of their own pool of urine. Maybe it works ok for small snakes but for adults it can't handle the volume good enough for my taste. Did that sound gross? Talking about urine and taste in the same breath? LOL Anyway, as for it being dangerous long term, if I am not mistaken (as I often am) I believe that every newspaper printer in the country uses ink made from soy beans so that it is not detrimental to the environment or to balls
-----
***If I'm wrong about something, correction is welcome. I'd be pretty stupid if I never learned from my mistakes ***

Has anyone used little sani-chips? I feel aspen and cypress could be injested during feeding.