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...I suppose with nicer weather everyone is hanging out doing yard work? At least that's my excuse.

I have been using cypress mulch as substrate for all my brb's. I'm strongly considering swithching to newspaper or newsprint stock. It seems it comes in sheets or rolls that are 24" x 36" which is the exact size of half of my enclosures. I really don't think I would be able to obtain enough regular newspaper to always have enough for cleaning...even if I stop reading the paper at work and subscribe. I was wondering how many sheets thick it needs to be to not just mush up and slide around the cage when exposed to the humidity levels in brb cages and if it would be able to be rolled up and tossed out or if it just falls apart and is scooted to a central area to be picked up. Does that even make sense? I use a rigid dustpan to scoop out the mulch in bigger cages and dump out the smaller ones and rinse them outside now. By the time I'm done, I fill up trash can after trash can and make 3 or 4 trips to the dumpster each time I clean, and no matter how careful I am, I drop it on the floor and have to sweep afterwards. When I had one pair of snakes it was no big deal. Now I have many more and it is more time consuming than I'd like it to be, when there are other options. Ity would also save extra work by being able to feed them in their enclosures where they are singly housed. I think I could save at least 3 hours a week by switching to newsprint. The Barr's cages hold humidity so well that I should probably drill more holes in them so the mulch is somewhat obsolete for those enclosures.

Please tell me the drawbacks of newspaper...there must be some, but I beginning to think they're less than that of cypress mulch.

Linda

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"There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all arguments and which cannot fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance- that principle is contempt prior to investigation." Herbert Spencer

Draw back number one...it's not pretty.
#2. it stains albinos (or at least printed newspaper does)
#3. .....can't think of any other draw backs.

I don't use it exclusively, but almost. With a subscription to our local rag I almost never run out, but, if I do I know I can drive down to Kroger and buy several weeks worth of substrate for a few dollars.

Chris O
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www.chrisolsonreptiles.com
Naked I see the camp of those who desire nothing

>>...I suppose with nicer weather everyone is hanging out doing yard work? At least that's my excuse.
>>
>>I have been using cypress mulch as substrate for all my brb's. I'm strongly considering swithching to newspaper or newsprint stock. It seems it comes in sheets or rolls that are 24" x 36" which is the exact size of half of my enclosures. I really don't think I would be able to obtain enough regular newspaper to always have enough for cleaning...even if I stop reading the paper at work and subscribe. I was wondering how many sheets thick it needs to be to not just mush up and slide around the cage when exposed to the humidity levels in brb cages and if it would be able to be rolled up and tossed out or if it just falls apart and is scooted to a central area to be picked up. Does that even make sense? I use a rigid dustpan to scoop out the mulch in bigger cages and dump out the smaller ones and rinse them outside now. By the time I'm done, I fill up trash can after trash can and make 3 or 4 trips to the dumpster each time I clean, and no matter how careful I am, I drop it on the floor and have to sweep afterwards. When I had one pair of snakes it was no big deal. Now I have many more and it is more time consuming than I'd like it to be, when there are other options. Ity would also save extra work by being able to feed them in their enclosures where they are singly housed. I think I could save at least 3 hours a week by switching to newsprint. The Barr's cages hold humidity so well that I should probably drill more holes in them so the mulch is somewhat obsolete for those enclosures.
>>
>>Please tell me the drawbacks of newspaper...there must be some, but I beginning to think they're less than that of cypress mulch.
>>
>>Linda
>>
>>
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>>"There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all arguments and which cannot fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance- that principle is contempt prior to investigation." Herbert Spencer

I use paper in all my cages (ranging from shop towels- the kind that come in a box at the hardware store, to the heavy brown craft paper). I purchased pre-cut craft paper cage liners for the larger cages because I've got 4 plastic cages with the same foot print. It is by far the easiest substrate for me to use. Usually I can just roll it up in the cage, do a quick wipe down with Nolvasan and lay the new sheet in (takes 3 minutes). I feed all my snakes in the cage and have no worries about them accidentally consuming substrate with their meals.

I've tried aspen and other chip type products and ran into the same problem you mentioned- I always had to sweep or vacuum up afterwards. They're very bulky, and I've got limited storage space in my snake room. Also, I've never been very good at spot cleaning, and with paper, I replace the whole sheet once a week to two weeks depending on the snake's "output". I know it's clean when I'm done cleaning. I can have plenty of fun sifting for hidden treasure in the cat's litter boxes ...

I've also used newsprint in the past, and like the other poster mentioned, the ink rubs off and can stain the snakes. I've got my rainbows on the brown craft paper and it's working very well. I can basically just pour water on it to increase the humidity in the cages. The rainbows do spend a lot of time under it rather than in their hides.

The only drawback for me with paper is appearance. I made the decision that ease and thoroughness of cleaning was more of a priority.

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Lora