Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I recently bought a six month old bp and have fed him thawed mice three seperate times. Each time I fed him a piece of aspen was stuck to the mouse and also eaten. I know this can't be good! Should I switch to newspaper bedding or move him to a different tank? I have had a corn snake for 8 yrs and this has never happened with him.

Not to scare you, but I have heard of bad things regarding the eating of aspen bedding. I guess it can tear the stomach and intestines.
In the future, I'd definately avoid feeding the Bp on aspen. Even if you choose to keep the bedding, you could put newspaper or a piece of plexiglass over it during feeding, to eliminate the threat of swallowing the aspen. Or better yet, switch to newspaper substrate. I tried pretty much every substrate out there, and newspaper is a snap to clean up after a (very) large bowel movement.
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If one did their homework they would see aspen as a substrate when it came to feeding isn't good and the causes of it, this my friends is what ticks me off, even the newest of owners need to ask questions prior to owning an animal including what to put their snake on, whats harmful when digested,size and frequency of feedding etc,even i had to do my homework to make sure my snake didn't get into harms way. Do your dammm reading before purchasing a snake or any other animal. I don't care how old you are, if your old enough to read then do so, if you can't then don't own an animal. GGGGRRRRR
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I couldn't agree with you more AND I did about 6 months of research and reading before I bought my bp. The breeder, 2 books and several different websites recommeded the aspen bedding. I will definately be changing to newspaper.

I think you might have been a bit "hard" on the poster. I can read and have been dealing with reptiles for more than 20 years. To my knowledge, pine shavings, aspen shavings, cypress mulch, etc. all pose the same issues of many shredded substrates - injestion, which can lead to impaction. Most of the time this type of substrate passes without issue.

Have you ever watched the Sutherland's video. Did you notice what they were feeding on? I'd say they can read and might have a clue.

There are many breeders large and small that use these types of substrates, and yes, feed on them as well.

As for the original post, I use newspaper. It's easy to use, clean and not expensive. It also avoids some of the possible complications that come with the substrates mentioned above.
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Jay A. Martin

Show me some proof that aspen is harmful if injested in small quantities. I've had Taipans eat mouthfuls (drug a rat through waterbolw then into aspen) and they are still perfectly fine. I used to try and cause a problem with a pair of Hognose snake that were kept on it, (years later, and they are still fine) by making the food wet, and having aspen stuck all over it EVERYTIME (I'm so mean, but the snakes are happy).

Show some proof please.
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CB

"Maybe the venom has gone to my head"

........................aspen.if your feeding F/T i always thaw in warm water,and then when completly thawed i put in hot water for 5 minutes or less.then dry rodents and the heat from the second thawing will dry the rodents fur,which cuts down aspen sticking.i then put the rodent on a 4 or 6qt. lid to feed.you could skip the first step,i've never seen my snakes digest aspen.newspaper works well also,i just like aspen for spot cleaning.thanks for writing and have fun !!!

I use newspaper, aspen drys my snakes out, but when I did use aspen, it has never caused any problems. The Hognose were test dummys, and I tested it everytime I fed them, and never a problem.
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CB

"Maybe the venom has gone to my head"

I also use aspen, will not use anything else. Got a 20yr. old eastern king, 10yr. old boa, 9yr. old bp. other kings and milks all on aspen. Never had a problem. The first ten years used pine shavings for the e.king but switch to aspen when I heard it could be toxic, I even doubt that one. The bps. sometimes injest small amounts but they are big enough it just passes through. The kings and milks very rarely injest. Don't you think when snakes eat in the wild the injest all sorts of stuff. After 20yrs. of using pine and aspen, if it was harmfull I would have had a problem by now? I agree with bacman show me the prof.

I currently feed 2 of my adult sand boas live food on sanichips (aspen chips). I was wondering if it's better to not feed on aspen when you have young snakes - do you think the risk of impaction is greater? Also wondering, do you guys who have fed on aspen for years use the shredded aspen or aspen chips? Do you have a preference for one or think one is better/worse?

Now that I think about it....I always hear people say don't feed on it for risk of impaction, but I've never heard anyone speak up and say they've had it happen.

And I've also not understood this since we know they must get dirt and what not with their food in the wild. Hmmmm.....

Thanks!

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I think there could be a problem with pinkie eaters because everything sticks to the pinkies and the hatchlings are so small I think ther could be a problem. I have kept hatvhlings on paper towls until they get some size on them. But I have fed pinkie eaters on aspen and had no problems even though aspen was injested. I use sheardded aspen never used the chips. I have never heard of a snake impacting on aspen. The big breeders all use it. I just don't get it, it's a great product.

I don't think you have anything to worry about. It can happen, but I think the chances are immensely low. I have used pine shavings for years and have had no issues.
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Jay A. Martin

Yeah, I just think if it would cause problems, you would hear about it. Sure something out of the ordinary could happen, but I have never heard of it yet, and would be interested in hearing any negative results.

I swear the Hognose I had, ate their weight in aspen every year..LOL. They're as healthy as can be.
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CB

"Maybe the venom has gone to my head"

Aspen bedding is not bad in itself. A lot of professional breeders and keepers use it. In my opinion, it is horrendously messy and unnecessary, but not harmful. Feeding on it, however, is NOT good. I'd think that if the snake "accidentally" ate a piece the first time, its owner should learn from that experience and not let it happen again!
Newspaper: Ugliest, easiets, cheapest and BEST Bp substrate.
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I've always thought aspen made maintenance easier if you have more than a couple of animals to clean on a daily basis.

Just a thought.
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CB

"Maybe the venom has gone to my head"

Agreed. I check my tubs daily and spot clean, takes about 5mins. on all 13 tubs. It's quick and easy. Once every two months I will completly empty all tubs, give them a good cleaning and replace with fresh aspen.