Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Everything has gotten so expensive. I remember when my snake hobby was only a couple dollars a week for bags of feeders and bedding was easily 6 dollars cheaper. And it doesn't help that my collection grows exponentially every year.

That complaint was for these questions: Where does everyone get their bedding from? Is there someplace you can buy bulk online or someplace you can call to have it shipped and save?? I use aspen bedding, and $20.00 a bag when I have so many snakes to accommodate is officially starting to become a lot.

Also, I'm looking for Sterilite 90-qt tubs, model #1865. Anybody have any tricks on finding hard-to-find tub sizes?? In bulk would be cool as well.

Thanks in advance!!
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Cheers!
• Chelsea Lynn Gardiner
(and Frank M. Wood)

not sure if it is your kind of thing but I use newspaper(after trying everything else) and I love it.

Easy clean up and it is pretty much free!
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Misty Sprouse Ball Pythons

We go to a local farm store co-op for aspen and rodent chow. Call your farm stores and check around. The price difference is phenomenal.(one such store is Mills Fleet Farm, don't know if you have one near you, but we use their premium aspen horse bedding)
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Kare

"keep smiling; it makes people wonder what you're up to!"

I too use a local feed/farm store to get Aspen and Rodent food. I use Aspen from http://www.nep-co.com/ You might be able to contact them and see if they have dealers in your area.

Not sure what to tell you on the tubs, sorry.

Chris

My local Tractor Supply has 4 cubic foot bags of aspen for 9.99... I'm not sure how large you're collection is, but I spot clean my cages regularly and completely clean about once a month or so and a bag that big can last me a couple months... but then again, I only have the 4 snakes...
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~Maggie~

"Not one shred of evidence supports the notion that life is serious."
1.1 Cal Kings (Spot and Fry)
1.0 Brooksi
1.0 Ball Python
0.1 Red Belly Piranha (Fluffy)
1.0 Australian Shepherd (Spooky)
1.0 Springer Spaniel/Beagle mix (Snoopy)
0.1 German Shep mix (Shadow)
0.1 Cat (Echo)

Hey, thanks! As soon as I read the other 2 posts above that recommended a farm store, the first thing I thought of was the tractor supply in town. Their price is half of what I'm paying; thanks for the advice! I do the same thing, I spot clean regularly, about every 1-2 days, and then full clean once a month. I have 33 snakes right now, though. It is still generally a small collection compared to a lot of people, but that doesn't mean it doesn't get expensive quick.
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Cheers!
• Chelsea Lynn Gardiner
(and Frank M. Wood)

wow... 33 snakes is a lot... no wonder you're tryin to find cheap bedding for them....
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~Maggie~

"Not one shred of evidence supports the notion that life is serious."
1.1 Cal Kings (Spot and Fry)
1.0 Brooksi
1.0 Ball Python
0.1 Red Belly Piranha (Fluffy)
1.0 Australian Shepherd (Spooky)
1.0 Springer Spaniel/Beagle mix (Snoopy)
0.1 German Shep mix (Shadow)
0.1 Cat (Echo)

Actually, 35.. I must have typo-ed. Still really small compared to a lot of guys out there.
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Cheers!
• Chelsea Lynn Gardiner
(and Frank M. Wood)

either way, I sometimes feel overwhelmed with my small zoo, and I don't have near that many animals.. although I've discovered that 4 legged furry pets are a much bigger hassle then the slithery ones...
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~Maggie~

"Not one shred of evidence supports the notion that life is serious."
1.1 Cal Kings (Spot and Fry)
1.0 Brooksi
1.0 Ball Python
0.1 Red Belly Piranha (Fluffy)
1.0 Australian Shepherd (Spooky)
1.0 Springer Spaniel/Beagle mix (Snoopy)
0.1 German Shep mix (Shadow)
0.1 Cat (Echo)

Agreed!! I have a 6 month old German Shepherd that REALLY gives me a run for my money... I spend my entire days chasing him around and keeping him in line. LoL, it doesn't help he's insane.

You have a German Shepherd mix too, I'm sure you understand :-p
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Cheers!
• Chelsea Lynn Gardiner
(and Frank M. Wood)

actually, its my aussie that gives me the hard time... My shepherd mix is 13 years old now, but even as a pup she was calm and mellow... My 2 yo Aussie on the other hand is a bundle of energy that doesnt stop... I guess my old dog spoiled me a bit
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~Maggie~

"Not one shred of evidence supports the notion that life is serious."
1.1 Cal Kings (Spot and Fry)
1.0 Brooksi
1.0 Ball Python
0.1 Red Belly Piranha (Fluffy)
1.0 Australian Shepherd (Spooky)
1.0 Springer Spaniel/Beagle mix (Snoopy)
0.1 German Shep mix (Shadow)
0.1 Cat (Echo)

I've tried the aspen that Tractor Supply sells, and to be honest, something about it doesn't set well with me. It is extremely dusty, doesn't have the typical aspen smell, and I don't like the chips it comes in. It also tends to get funkier quicker than the Kaytee aspen. So I've gone back to paying the extra $4 a bag for the Kaytee stuff, and I'm happier with the final product.

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South Central Herpetological

give newspaper another purpose before it's trashed or recycled.

i get all of mine free from a local paper boy. whatever he doesn't use comes to me.

Pitoon

>>give newspaper another purpose before it's trashed or recycled.
>>
>>i get all of mine free from a local paper boy. whatever he doesn't use comes to me.
>>
>>Pitoon

I've tried everything and I always end up going back to newspaper. It's free, clean, and doesn't make you lazy. lol. Not saying people who don't use it are lazy, but aspen certainly made me less tedious. I clean every day now, just because it's so much easier in the long run.
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www.brandonosbornereptiles.com

I called my local tractor supply to make sure they had it before I drove up there. I wanted to look at it first before I got it; I feared that it wouldn't be... quality, I guess. I just gottta find time to get down there between class and work now...

BUT.... Kaytee Aspen?? Its $14.00 a bag?? Where do you pick that up at?? I mean, it still not $20.00 a bag, you know?
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Cheers!
• Chelsea Lynn Gardiner
(and Frank M. Wood)

I get the Kaytee Aspen from Petsmart. Wal-Mart used to sell it for $5 a bale. I would call around to your local feed stores. They may be able to get you Kaytee, Harland, or other higher quality Aspen for less money. Even moreso if your taking quantity.
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South Central Herpetological

Hey thanks!! I'll deff look into that.
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Cheers!
• Chelsea Lynn Gardiner
(and Frank M. Wood)

Actually the shredded aspen is the best-but also most expensive. We spring for the L/M-beautiful, soft fluffy fibers! But yes, expensive, particularly when there are a couple of hundred breeder snakes to clean!

But I still prefer it to newspaper (which I did use for many years)-hands down! Newspaper demands constant replacement, and I often noticed some of my snakes were uncomfortable attempting to move on the slick surface. there's a reason the vast majority of big snake breeders rely on particulate substrates like cypress and aspen.
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Brad Chambers
WWW.HCU-TX.ORG

The Avalanche has already started-it is too late for the pebbles to vote....

I have to say I agree as well. I don't like Newspaper; yeah, its free, but I don't feel its as clean -- it does need constant replacement. Plus I'd feel like I'd rob them of any activity they may have. All my snakes spend time flattening down the fresh, borrowing in it, or building up barriers, or making holes for them to curl up in. I think aspen or wood-chipped bedding prolly feels more secure for them, and additionally keeps them busy even if its for a little in their small bins.

Maybe thats crazy and stupid -- I guess I just want to spoil my snakes.

Anyone else think this?
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Cheers!
• Chelsea Lynn Gardiner
(and Frank M. Wood)

The only cons of newspaper is that you need to stay on top of cleaning the tubs. I open a full piece of newspaper, and place it so it lays flat, and comes up the sides and back about 3 inches or more. I also sometimes, will rip a sheet of newspaper, and use it like a hidebox. I have had no problems, but I clean the cages usually twice a week. The hatchlings are on paper towels, and cleaned daily. You really cannot spot clean with newspaper, but to me, even clean wood chips always make for a messy looking cage.

Dave

I spot clean usually at least every other day. So how often I have to clean is not really an issue -- though it is a "con." Idk if aspen LOOKS messy, but it definitely IS messy. Maybe not for the snakes, but for my life, LoL. I find pieces of it in the oddest places. And its usually randomly all over the snake room floor, haha. I just prefer aspen because I feel like it gives them something to keep them busy. Maybe I'm just weird.
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Cheers!
• Chelsea Lynn Gardiner
(and Frank M. Wood)