Preference is an interesting word to use because I prefer aspen, but use newspaper. I prefer aspen because it looks better, the snakes can burrow, and they probably feel more secure. I haven't had any problems since I've switched to newspaper, but I have noticed that no matter how tightly the paper is against the bottom of the tanks, they do everything they can to get under there, and sometimes prefer to stay there rather than in their hides.

My problem with aspen is that I never feel like I really get the cage clean. I used aspen for a long time, and whenever it was time to clean the whole cage out and replace the substrate, I'd always find some old dried feces somewhere in the aspen. You just can't get it all by spot cleaning. Also, there's a lot of liquid expelled, and it just soaks into the aspen, and then the snake crawls around in it for two months until the substrate gets replaced. I know there are a lot of successful keepers who have exemplary animals, and who have many more animals than I do, and who use aspen. But, if only for my peace of mind, so I know the cages are as clean as I can get them, I switched to newspaper and plan to continue using it. You just take it out, wipe off the glass, put new newspaper in, and you're done. It's fifty cents for a few months worth. Also, as Tim mentioned, no aspen shavings on the floor or following you around.

That said, I have a very small collection -- two corns and a black rat. I use glass tanks.

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