Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I know Cedar is toxic. I've heard Pine can be but may people use it. I've read not to keep snakes on pine so I don't. My question is. If you keep rats on pine, can there be an issue when feeding them to your snake, ie oils on fur? Also, what do you think about chopped and shredded newspaper. I found a feed store that sells chopped newspaper for $6.50 for 12-15 cu ft. Also, they have generic "soft wood" shavings for $7.00 for 10-12 cu ft. I'm trying to find the cheapest way to bed my rodents. I currently use aspen but it's kinda expensive in comparrison.
Thanks
Jared

If you think it might cause problems dont do it always trust your gut feeling I usually for my rats and feeder mice go to Wal-mart the have rodent bedding fairly cheap around 10 for a big bag

1.4 Normal balls
1.2 Red Tail Boa's
0.0.20 mice/rats
1.2 American Pit Bull Terriers
0.2 Albino Balls
1.1 Spider Balls

Payne- double check your Walmart bedding... my local Walmart sells "rodent beddding" for fairly cheap also, but all they have ever had is either pine or cedar shavings.

The shredded newspaper will work- but just remember what happens to newspaper when it gets wet. If you use it as a rodent bedding you are likely to end up with a gross "urine-glue" slop.

You have to remember to balance cost with functionality. If it isn't going to work well it isn't worth the cost (even if the cost is "free".

the bedding I'm refering to is almost like cardboard but much softer and has a much better absorbancy rate than others

I work for a rodent breeder and raise my own rodents. Never once out of the gazzilions of rats produced has the pine shavings caused any issues giving the rodents to the snakes. Try your local feed store. Horse people use pine shavings to put down in horses stall so you can imagine it takes alot of shavings! It is cheap for a big bale. I go to blue seal myself,drive through,about 7 bucks for a bale and they throw it in your car for you.(now if i can only get them to unload it,clean my rats etc...) Have tried using my paper shreddings from my own desk shredder in a few drawers. I agree with the last comment,it doesnt seem to absorb as well,dusty, and stinks up quicker. i do however when i still need to empty that shredder throw the paper in,in addition to the pine shavings as the rats make baby nests with it. I figure it gives them something to do and I am "recycling"

http://www.fex.at/
strufex it is horse bedding that I put down and then give them a hand full of aspen or pine to make thier nest.they sell it at a feed store here for like $5.also last time I looked at wal-mart the rodent bedding that I saw had cedar in it which is not only bad for your snakes but also for the rats.
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www.wreckroomsnakes.com

feed stores, farmer type supply companies...Agway...etc

pine

you should get it for around 5 to 7 ...?...a bale....

pine is fine.........

and I know a guy that used to put $10,000 snakes on it too......

with snakes I use aspen.....and cypress.....

all rodents here use pine........
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LOL......

Use the pine. We use it for our rodents and have no problems feeding them to our snakes. We use to use Harlan Aspen but its just to expensive with the number of rodents we have now. I will give you an additional tip though on saving money on your bedding. Use a gram scale and weigh it. We use 300 grams for our breeder tubs(small mortar pan) and 900 grams in the holder tubs(Large mortar tubs). Those weights have varied from brand to brand but you would be surprised how much farther a bag will go when you use the same amount (give or take a few) every time. My wife thought I was just being anal until she found out how much we could save every month. Try it you'll be surprised.JP