Reptile & Amphibian Forums

So Ive been trying different substrates over the last year or so....I started using Aspen many years ago when I kept snakes (various boas and pythons), which I had to get rid of due to time constraints and money.

Well Im back....over the last two years I have collected a small group of animals focusing just on the boa constrictor (always my favorite!!!) and will be breeding boas for the first time with this group, so bear with me as I am learning my animals as I go along.

So what I think I have noticed is that my boas seem to like aspen better than either newspaper,or various types of paper/cardboard rolls from Uline. Its kind of a bummer because I was really enjoying the ease of cleaning the cardboard rolls from Uline, it was like a cage liner you could just pull out, and usually the snake would deficate on top of it, and lay under the cardboard. But they seem so much happier with aspen, they seem to move around more, they dig in it, I think it makes them feel more secure and its probably more efficient as far as the heat from underneath goes.....oh ya and I guess the big pluses for me are that they look better, I see my snakes more, and it smells so much better......so I guess its worth it for a little extra elbow grease huh....

thks for listening to my ramble....

Paul

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Paul Harb

I'm with you. For the longest time I've wanted to try something different. I was using the carefresh animal bedding for a while (it comes in different colors) and it was just too "fluffy", by boas and pythons would just hide in it, forever. I just recently decided to stop fighting it and go with the aspen. It looks sweet and you're right, the boas seem to like it. By the way, that's one sweet boa!

Thks, she is a Argentine/Columbian Albino X......crazy color and pattern......hoping not only to duplicate but improve upon her looks....thks.

Paul

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Paul Harb

aspen is the only way to go, Is that snake yellow with pink spots or pink with yellow spots!!

LOL....she is pink between the saddles....crazy huh....she is a Argentine/Columbian X.....I hope to replicate her look.....it is unreal....thks for looking!

Paul

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Paul Harb

cool snake man! but I think she is yellow beyween the saddles.LOL Good luck.
Joel Thomas

LOL......I promise, its the other way around....although when I purchased her, I thought she had pink saddles, until Pete Kahl pointed out that she had yellow saddles and a pink body......nutty huh.....can you imagine a Lipstick crossed with her....yikes!!!!

Paul
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Paul Harb

Thats a killer Boa by the way. I thought the snakes Fared better and enjoyed the aspen more as well. And you're on the money about the heat as it definately holds it in more. But this is the problem I have found that made me get rid of it. On two occasions, the aspen was pulled into the males hemipenes and a bunch of it was stuck in their vents. I wet the aspen and gently pulled it out. If I didnt find it soon enough that could have been worse. I want to switch back to Aspen so bad its not funny but can I risk it? Anyone else have pros and cons? Thanks

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honesty is my only policy

Personally I've never seen Aspen stuck on a hemipene. I have seen Boas with Aspen on/in vent area,unless there is an irritation around the area I don't mess with it. They'll crap it out,in the wild stuff, leaves dry grass etc.. must do the same thing (get stuck).I'm sure they do just fine,LOL no one there to wash it off for them. Now if you've experienced actuall infections or what appears to be an infection starting from this Aspen sticking in the vent.I'd understand being concerned and switching over. I will be on the look out for what you've discribed with hemipene problem,I'm glad you brought this to my/our attention. never heard anyone mention it before.
. . . . . . Lar M

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Boas By Klevitz