Reptile & Amphibian Forums

have read that the print can give off fumes and cause breathing problems ,other aticles state newspaper is fine ,so now totaly confused ,any body have some up to date info on this ?
many thanks celia

>>have read that the print can give off fumes and cause breathing problems ,other aticles state newspaper is fine ,so now totaly confused ,any body have some up to date info on this ?
>>many thanks celia

I would be shocked if newpaper turned out to be harmful to reptiles. Too many people have used it for too long for me to believe that it is more problematic than all these other wood particle substrates. The ink is non-toxic in the US. I've never had a snake react to it with problems.

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Mark

Only downside I've had is, when wet, the ink can and does rub off onto the snakes, cages and my hands. That's why I add a layer of dimpled craft paper on top, keeps the snakes clean. I can easily wash the ink off of the cage and my hands.
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Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com

0.1 Wife (WC)
0.2 kids (CBB, a big part of our selective breeding program)

LOL, to many snakes to list, last count:
19.29 BRB
14.19 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

Newspaper ink is now soy based and quite safe. I now use the end rolls, which are supplied by my local news paper printer. End rolls are rolls of blank newspaper that the printers have left over, as they stop running the rolls prior to them running out of paper and there is often a good deal of paper left on them. Most printers will give you these, so long as you agree to return the spools, and I have heard that others may charge a nominal fee for such.
If you are using printed paper, it is generally an accepted practice to avoid pages with a great deal of colored ink and stick with the black and white. Also, I prfer to allow printed paper to "season" at least a few weeks prior to use, as to avoid teh implications of "wet ink" described by others...

Best regards,

Jeff

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Jeff Snodgres
University of Arkansas
snodgresjeffreys@uams.edu
501.603.1947

Newsprint can be purchased by the ream from educational supply houses fairly reasonably. I've found the 24"x18" to be easy to cut for smaller enclosures, and rolls for larger ones. I use different substrates depending upon the species. I don't like "ink grunge" coming off of the ones I keep on newsprint.
rgds,
althea

Hi Mark thanks for your response . Ihave bben using it myself for years to ,but cam across this acticle "Newspaper (printed)
Layers of newspaper have been used for years in animal keeping. It is relatively absorbent when several layers are used, and inexpensive to replace. However, colored inks are known to be harmful to animals, and there may also be problems with the plain black ink. (Cedar shavings were accepted as a safe bedding for years before it was discovered that the volatile oils caused skin, respiratory and reproductive system damage.) In an enclosed space, an animal who relies heavily on olfactory and tongue chemosensation may be overwhelmed by the pungent odors of the inks, even the new soy-based inks."

so now am a bit dubious
cheers Celia

It is not a bad thing to be cautious, and unless you are a snake, you really don't know how the ink affects you..

I'd still think that newsprint is OK, but listen to your own judgement.

My latest substrate of choice is finer-grain gravel for my rosies. Funny, but that is what I used as a little kid, and now I came full circle back to it. It transfers heat well and is completely benign - no oils, dyes, dust, etc. Not suitable for every type of snake of course, but the rosies do fantastic on it.
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Mark

As all the others have said, LOTS of people use newspaper at one time or another on a variety of pets.

I think my ONLY complaint would be that it just seems a bit dry for the animal. i.e. its seems like it dehydrates a bit...

many thanks everone ,the end of roll newpaper , a good tip,need to look into that
cheers Celia