Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I understand that using softwood shavings (pine not cedar) for rodent bedding can have negative consequences in the form of elevated enzyme levels in the liver and also possible respiratory problems.

However, it is not clear to me that there are, or are not, negative consequences of feeding rodents that have been raised on softwood shavings to my boa constrictors. I have been using kiln dried softwood shavings without visible affects to the rodents.

I typical freeze and thaw as required although sometime I go directly from CO2 euthanasia to feeding (fresh killed).

Can those of you knowledgeable in this area tell me if there would be a possible negative consequence to my snakes if I continue with this practice?

Thanks
GooberDog

...........by softwood shavings? aspen,pine and cedar are all softwoods.of coarse cedar is never to be used,i use pine for my rats with no apparent problems.on my snakes i use aspen and newspaper.what is the wood species that you call softwood shavings? have fun!

Aspen is a Hardwood. Though it isn't as hard as say oak or maple, it is still considered a hardwood. Balsa wood is also a hardwood. Pine and cedar are softwoods and contain phenos (the smell they give off) which can irritate mice/rats and other rodents. I do not think having rodents on the pine (kiln dried is the best pine to use in the softwoods) and feeding them to snakes and other reptiles will cause any harm to them. Putting the snake/reptile on cedar shavings would be harmful though.

damned,it is considered a hardwood.i live in the upper penninsula of michigan and the main industry here is forestry products,namely aspen (called poplar here)that supplies paper mills.it is almost thought of as a weed as it can be harvested every 30 years or so.it's so light and loose fibered i assumed it was a softwood.thanks for the correction.have fun!

No problem Though poplar is a kind of tree as well. We have alot of them up here in Canada. Aspen is a completely different tree than poplar. There is a kind of poplar which, I beleive, is called American Poplar which grows about 5-8 feet a season, perhaps this is the kind you are referring to. It's a 'hardwood' as well. If I am correct, coniferous trees (ie cone bearing, like pine trees) are softwood, deciferous trees are hardwood.

..........information on the net:"quaking aspen (populus tremuloides) is in the poplar family,and they are the most widely distributed tree in north america." makes me wonder why aspen is so much more expensive than pine.have fun!

Thanks for your feedback. That is what I was hoping to hear. I keep my snakes on newspaper liners......would never consider pine or cedar shavings for them. Just wanted to be sure I would not do them harm by feeding rodents that were raised on kiln dried pine shavings.

My availability to Aspen is limited and when I can get it is 3 times as expensive as the kiln dried pine. Sooooo looks like thr rodents will continue to live in the pine shavings.

Thanks.......and Merry Christmas