Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Some time ago I mentioned that I trying several different substrates in an attempt to find the perfect substrate for indigos. After trying many including aspen bedding, carefresh, cypress, and dirt/sand/peat mix, in the end, I have come to the conclusion that good old fashioned newspaper still reigns supreme. No other substrate ensures a high level of cleanliness/hygiene like paper (when its dirty, you change the entire substrate....with other particulate types of substrates, you spot clean but still miss some of the urates that seap through the layers that go undetected and begin bacterial growth). Newspaper is cheap and is already heat sanitized. Placing several thick layers in a cage allows the indigo to use its natural burrowing tendencies. There is no chance for accidental ingestion with paper. there is no dust associated with paper unlike other substrates like aspen and cypress. Although it may not look the best, it serves my indigo's needs perfectly well. Our indigo that is on exhibit is kept on a mix of dirt/sand/peat/leaf litter which looks great and is probably my second favorite due to the aesthetic appeal....but you must be diligent when it comes to cleaning on a daily basis (and when you have 8 adult indigos at home, that becomes a real chore). In the end, everyone must do what they feel is best for their indigo but for me, I am sticking with newspaper. Rob

Rob Carmichael, Curator
The Wildlife Discovery Center at Elawa Farm
City of Lake Forest Parks & Recreation (IL)

Interestingly, newspaper is the material of choice if you ever have to help a pregnant woman deliver, and you're in the middle of nowhere. The ink actually has antibacterial properties and is recommended over towels/rags...
One little tidbit (albeit, almost useless) I picked up in med school.

How does that work?

I always worried about the ink...

As long as we are on this topic (I use newspaper also) I have heard that the colored ink is not good for the animals so I throw away a lot of paper, anyone know more then hearsay on that?

As you were told, only the black ink has that property, as far as I know. Again, this information is with humans, and often times this doesn't correlate with other species. I personally avoid the color ink too for my herps.

Yes, newsprint ink supposedly has bacteriostatic properties. I think it probably looses some effectiveness when a 7 foot Indigo poops a cow flop and then pours half it's water bowl over it, but I'm sure it helps some before that happens (in the first 10 minutes after you clean the cage).

I think the only difference between the color ink and the black ink is the pigments...I don't think the color ink is particularly bad.

I think newspaper looks so unprofessional and is such an eye sore! I use aspen for my erebennus and cypress for my other dry's. No problem with smell, and I prefer to spot clean. With newspaper, they always defecate on the floor of the cage whihc is a pain to clean.
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Anthony Chodan

www.gradeareptiles.com

This is one of those things that is hashed out over and over and over through the years. I remember going through this same thing 30 years ago. What's best, newspaper or wood shavings? Crushed corn cobs or natural dirt (bad choice)? Sand or.....

Over the years I have tried a BUNCH of different things. Some worked OK, some were terrible. So far, I have always gone back to newspaper. One other thing that I did try once that was easy and worked well was buying big rolls of meat wrapping paper and using that. Newspaper is cheaper, though.

Yes, newspaper is ugly but practical. I have found that it can be disguised to some extent by spreading hay over it.This works well for my low maintenance Borneo blood pythons. As I don't have any Drymarchon (yet!) I don't know if it would work for such active creatures, but I could imagine they might enjoy rooting around in it.