Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I just got a new cage for my beauty snake and had been using paper towels before, but in the new cage I want something that will allow him to burrow if he wants to, and also that wont slide around. I use aspen with no oils for my other snakes and they have done great, is that an okay option for this one? Eventually I hope to get a tall cage and put in vines and such for him to climb but for now hes doing okay. Thanks for any advice.

I will try and get some pictures up in the next few days

Dale

Aspen is probably fine but for my Beauties [Taiwans and Blues], I use cypress. I find it holds the moisture better and overall just looks better - more natural.
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Matt Campbell
Animal Keeper, Small Mammal/Reptile House
Lincoln Park Zoo Chicago, Illinois

Assistant Curator
Wildlife Discovery Center at Elawa Farm
Lake Forest, Illinois

cypress will hold moisture better, but i use aspen in my blue beauties tank. She's not complaning, shedding fine and all.
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-Chris

The reason mainstream thought is thought of as a stream is because it's so shallow. -George Carlin

A fool doesn't learn. A smart man learns from his mistakes. A wise man learns from the mistakes of others. Which one are you?

My Website
Rat/Corn snake care sheet I wrote

Current snakes:
0.1 Licorice Stick Black Rat (Lola)
1.0 Black Rat (Frankie)
1.1 Texas Bairds (Jose and Rosa)
0.1 Blue Beauty (Brunhilde)
1.0 Green Tree Python (Claudius)... coming soon

I use a thin layer of aspen with my Chinese beauties, also (maybe an inch, or so). You can spray it, especially when first put in, and it will dry in a few days. That will keep the dust down and provide a more humid environment. I usually spray before feeding and while snakes are in the shed cycle, even though my taeni's don't really need it. I believe the spraying stimulates activity and snakes sometimes associate it with feeding also, and the added humidity may help shedding somewhat. Anyway, the aspen has worked well for me, in combination with secure hides and other cage accessories. I have no reactions to it either, unless allowed to become excessively dusty.

TC

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Ratsnake Haven: Calico and hypo Chinese beauty snakes, Mandarin ratsnakes, Chinese twin-spotted ratsnakes, South Korean Dione's ratsnake, Great Plains ratsnakes and corns

I'm not saying aspen not as good as cypress. I think they're both similar, however in my experience cypress is much better at holding humidity longer. Also, if you want enclosures that look somewhat natural aspen just doesn't cut it - too artifical looking. Also, where I live I can get cypress much cheaper than buying aspen [which incidentally my fiance uses with her pet rats].
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Matt Campbell
Animal Keeper, Small Mammal/Reptile House
Lincoln Park Zoo Chicago, Illinois

Assistant Curator
Wildlife Discovery Center at Elawa Farm
Lake Forest, Illinois