Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I always use newspaper but recently am considering using shredded Aspen bedding. Why do you prefer it over newspaper? Also, how do you buy it...what's the largest size bale?

Thanks.

Bill

I use it for three reasons:

1. it seems to keep the smell down slightly (although this might be due to the smell of the actual aspen itself)
2. easier to clean up. I can use my shop-vac usually to just suck it all out, where as with the newspaper it would occasionally get stuck to the cage and need to be scraped off.
3. I personally like the look better as well.

I should add that I only use it for my yearlings and up though. the youngin's still get paper towles.

I guess the boas like it more. I actualy hate it and will be going back to news paper. Everytime you open the cage or take a boa out,it falls all over the floor! Too much work!!

i think my boas enjoy the aspen better than a flat bottom of a cage covered in newspaper or cardboard.

I buy my aspen from my local mom-and-pop pet store. I pay about $13 for a compressed bale that is roughly 4 cubit feet. Since it is compressed it seems that it will expand to about three times that size.

I prefer it over newspaper for a number of reasons, but the biggest one (besides that my boas and pythons seem to be calmer in it) is absorbency.

Newspaper can't hold deal with excess water (my dishes don't tip, but water does sometimes slosh out).

1. Absorbency
2. Odor control
3. I can spot clean it
4. Gives my boas something to burrow in (my pythons just lay on top of it)
5. Looks better
6. Easier to control humidity with at least SOME type of substrate that will hold the moisture and release it over time... otherwise my snakes have to sit in a water puddle or wet spot if I decide to mist them
-----
.
.
.
.
Stay United!

I'm still not sure if it's weird that my best friend is a two year old boa named Ronin. He's quiet, non-judgemental and listens... what more could you want?

Consider this. One of my males pulled a bunch of aspen into his vent during breeding season. I thought I got most of the aspen out and cleaned the area with saline. The snake developed an infection in his vent which was treated by two vets. Costly? yes but I could have lived with that but the infection never fully cleared and ultimately, it led to his death. Just think about it is all I'm saying. Take care. Mike Panichi
-----
Honesty is my only policy
www.mikepanicreptiles.com

I lost this guy to an infected hemipenis from aspen during breeding.

I still use aspen, just not when my boas are breeding.

Steve - sdi

I use a combination of newspaper and a little aspen on top for babies to sub adults, but i use strictly newspaper for all my bigger boas and breeders.
-----
Richard Ceniceros

I used to use paper, but recently went back to aspen.... Ok... paper is easy to keep clean... cheap, and isnt messy... But boas cannot crawl very easily on a slick surface....

I notice they never move around the cage when on paper.... there is nothing for their scutes to catch on.....

So I went back to aspen... now the boas move around and get excercise..... It requires alot more work... but I think its worth it it the snakes are more comfortable..... I believe Gus has a great article on this very topic.....
-----
Marc Duhon
Lafayette, Louisiana
SURINAMBOAS.COM
kaiyudsai@SURINAMBOAS.COM

>>I notice they never move around the cage when on paper.... there is nothing for their scutes to catch on.....

That is the same reason why I moved all my adults from newspaper to single face corrugated cardboard sheets. All the ridges allow the boas to move a lot easier and I did see quite a nice increase in general activity since the switch. I had noticed one of my females would arch her body up trying to get off the newspaper and now she seems much more content and moves around normally.

I do like the look of Aspen. Just don't like how it gets everywhere, the worry of possible impaction and sometimes missing something when spot cleaning.

Nice discussion!
-April
-----
'There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."' -Rainshadow

I don't care for aspen too much, some of the pieces are too sharp and I've had to pull them out of my snakes before. Don't know if they pushed up against them while cruising the side of the cage or what but it's been a pain for me. Currently I am using screened saw dust that I purchase from The Vivarium in Berkeley, Ca. I have to say this stuff is VERY messy and gets everywhere.....but it clumps great, absorbs good, and it's easy to clean up with a shop vac. Just my 2 cents.
-----
If you don't stand behind our troops, please, feel free to stand in front of them!

www.rezendesreptiles.com