shreaded paper as bedding?

[dia]

I've read in a few places people suggesting paper products as bedding for corns - would shreaded paper work just as well?
There's so much paper going through the home office that I'd love to find another use for it. Because of the ink it doesn't even work for crafty things like paper making. Boo.

It's got ink from a lazer printer on it - so if I kept it out of the water dish there should be any problems, correct?

[Simon]

Yup
shreaded paper would work fine too~

just make sure that you pick up the mass of pop from the corns~
I have used shreaded paper long time ago, but I just find it a bit too much work for myself (have to clean it up more frequently than aspen or chips)

but paper is fine

[dia]

How is it more work? Have to shift through it a little more to find the poops?
I'm using chips right now in my 30gal but I'm setting up a 110gal and really didn't want to buy that maybe bags of wood chips.

[Nicki]

Hi, just noticed the thread. I asked this before myself, as bedding for snakes. I was told that it's probably too dusty and that could cause respiratory problems.

Not sure if it's true, but I took a look at the sheer amount of dust the comes off the shredded papers and decided not to risk it.

Nicki

[vanderkm]

I tried it but found the shredded office paper wasn't as absorbant as aspen or even as newspaper - except when it went in the water dish - and that was one of the biggest problems with it - always in the water dish. I found shredded paper just too fluffy - snakes would move through it and it would never pack down - always piled up and especially around the water bowl - then wicked the water out into the rest of the cage. Too bad because we have so much of it - seemed like a waste not to use it. Just our experience - may still be worth a try,

mary v.

[lisa marie]

I've used it as well. It sure saves money over buying the aspen I usually buy. But I too found I like the aspen better. For the same reasons as others. The shredded paper doesn't pack down so it's always in the water dish. And I personally think the snakes were happier on the aspen. I also tried the shredded paper for my blue tongued skink. He seemed to really like crawling through it and "playing" in it, but it kept getting in his water dish too.

[dia]

I'm going to try a few tests, like spraying the paper with water, letting it clump a bit then seeing if it compacts more...
This might just be in vain because I want to find another use for <I>all this paper!</i> I've got the tank filled with it now and I'll see how it goes. I've put the water bowl on a wooden box that lifts it out of the bedding.. maybe that will stop it from getting in? I'll update on failure/progress as it unfolds.