Reptile & Amphibian Forums

We've kept bp's for many years but mainly as pets in display cages. We're in the process of expanding our breeding programs to include them and are puting the breeder collection in racks (already built). So my question is this, for larger collections (couple hundred) in racks what is your prefered substrate; newspaper, paper towels, cypress mulch, aspen bedding, etc.?

Thanks
Sean
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Heart Mountain Herps

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Jay A. Martin
Jay Martin Reptiles

I would say any of the above are good. I personally like single piece substrates because I think feeding is a bit easier that way. I have heard something wrong with paper towels and I honestly cannot remember what it was. Maybe something to do with bleach. I would like someone else to comment on that because Bounty has some really nice quilted towels now that are very strong. I think cleaning would go a lot easier if I used them and I would not have to deal with ink when they get all wet. Only downfall I see is spot cleaning is a bit more thorough since you are replacing most or all of the substrate each time. You are also likely to get more humidity with vypress mulch. I have never had a problem with humidity in a rack though and I use newspaper. If anything I work to keep it down.

I like newspapper too. If ink is a problem, you can try to go to the newspapper printing press and ask for the butt rolls. We have a press down the road that prints stuff. They just give me the butt rolls for free, others I've gone to wanted a few $$$'s but not much. Look around a little you should be able find some.

Have a good day!

All newspaper products are bleached with chlorine. When wet with urea, etc., a toxin is released. Newspaper may be expedient to use, but I wouldn't use it for any animal.

Mike

>>All newspaper products are bleached with chlorine. When wet with urea, etc., a toxin is released. Newspaper may be expedient to use, but I wouldn't use it for any animal.
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>>Mike

While some may treat their paper stock with chlorine, I would bet most do not. Newsprint has been used for more years than I have been alive without issue. Also, it's a gaseous form if I understand correctly and thus does not permeate the stock. In any event, if you have any proof that it is truly harmful, I'm receptive.
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Jay A. Martin
Jay Martin Reptiles

I'm not too sure about that, I worked in a printting press for about a year, just in shipping, but I had to know what the papper had in it, so I could pull the right papper for the press opt. When they would run the trib, or weekly planet, they would use papper with out bleach.

Just ask them if it has it in it, If it does goto another press.

Have a good day

If it's truly a concern, just ask. However, keep in mind, pet shops and vetinary offices have been using newspaper for years as bedding - even before better methods of production were discovered. Here are two studies that go as far as to state that animals feeding on newspaper isn't unsafe.

http://www.flintink.com/flintinkweb.nsf/GetWeb-GeneralLib/Myths About Using Newspaper Bedding for Livestock?opendocument&subcat=GenLib

and

http://www.cleantechindia.com/eicimage/210602_32/pulp.html

Note the statement "Mechanical pulp can be used without bleaching to make printing papers for applications in which low brightness is acceptable-primarily, newsprint." And " Industry developments demonstrate that total chlorine-free bleaching is feasible for many pulp and paper products but cannot produce certain grades of paper." Obviously, newsprint does not have to be as high quality as a magazine.

I could go on, but you should get the picture.
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Jay A. Martin
Jay Martin Reptiles