Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I've heard not to use cedar but I was wondering if pine is ok. I've heard that it is just as bad as cedar. Thanks in advance.

Although many people have "successfully" used pine for their rodents studies prove that pine and cedar both increase risks of cancer, liver ailments and disfunction, respiratory infection, asthma, and immune system disorders in rodents as well as humans and other animals.
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Tosha
JET Pythons

I've heard that rats that are kept in cedar cause problems to the snakes that they are fed to. Is that true for pine also?

something in cedar can cause problems in snakes...not sure if its the oils (can get into the rodents fur etc). But pine doesn't have it as strong or not at all. However most rat breeders use pine, especially kiln dried pine (all the 'piney' smell is removed when fully dried).

However, for the rodents, pine still is an irritant and can shorten their lives, cause all the problems the other poster mentioned. But if the rats are going to be used for breeding and feeders, they won't live long enough to be really affected by pine. Back to back breeding puts a lot of stress on females anyway and shortens their lives..and once they stop breeding, most breeders will feed them off, in favor of younger more productive females. Female rats only really breed good for about 8 months before litter sizes drop considerably.

For pet rats or if you are just really concerned about a small amount of pine oils harming your snakes, use aspen shavings, carefresh, yesterday's news, beta chips or shredded paper. (the last won't cover odors at all but is cheap).
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PHLdyPayne

.......I have used pine for more than 17 years........it started out at $2.50 a bale more or less..and is now at $5 to $5.60 a bag depending on if you buy 1 or 5 bags.....(or more).........aspen is $15 at shows and if you can get it bulk you pay still ??? $9 a bag........I am sticking with pine.....it's getting harder to buy.......the company in Maine /Canada supplier has trouble processing it in winter with trees and all else burried in too much snow and add to that the fact that England is buying it for wood pellet processing for pellet stoves.....

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rats here are like little less than 2 minths old when they start dropping litters and are killed off after 6 months of production.......so they don't live long enough for cancers to set in too much........

some pine is worse than other pine........

......aspen will grow mold very fast if it gets wetted.....(in conditions with low air circulation like a basement with lots of mold spores present alreday).......

..use what you like.........no cedar.......
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