aspen for hatchlings?

[Bristen]

I've noticed that most people keep hatchlings on paper towel or newspaper.. any reason for that?

I've recently purchased some females (not all have been received yet though), but some are quite small. I have some that are as small as 111g, but most will be over 200g and a few closet o 400g. Is there a minimum size they should be before using shredded aspen?

Just wondering what everybody's opinion is on that subject.. I currently have the smaller ones on newspaper, but would like to move them unto aspen if possible.

Thanks for your opinion!
Bristen.

[morph]

They can all go on aspen at that size without problems

Scott

[Davey312]

I'm pretty sure the reason for newspaper and papertowel is to be able to inspect the fecese... not positive though.

Davey

[sapphire_moon]

yup, and to watch for mites/parasites (when getting or have a new snake)....it is easier to keep an eye on it when they are on paper towel or newspaper.

[timminsreptiles]

another reason for keeping them on paper towel is that when there young like that that they have much smaller organs and problems such as impaction could occur much easier. They are also much more sensitive to anythig there substrate could but out......Lucas

[Jeff_Favelle]

All my hatchlings go on aspen AFTER their first shed.

[Markus Jayne]

Bristen,

Although I use paper towel on all my hatchlings I switch over to shredded aspen asap. I hate paper towel!

I only use paper towel in my lower containers because I hate the way aspen ends up in the water bowl. I use aspen in my higher containers wher I can use a higher water bowl. Not as much aspen in the water problem.

Mark

[Bristen]

I'll be keeping them on newspaper for another week or two since they are new, but I'll be going to aspen afterwards!

Thanks everyone, your input was appreciated!

Bristen.

[Vengeance]

I'm not sure if this has been covered before but why Aspen as opposed to newspaper of paper towel?

[joey]

I used to use aspen but found it to be too messy--shavings ended up everywhere! Now I use a combination of newspaper and paper towels. The snakes seem to be alright with it and they like to hide in the paper towels.

[Bristen]

Originally posted by Vengeance
I'm not sure if this has been covered before but why Aspen as opposed to newspaper of paper towel?

there's a few reasons... the main reason for me is the cleaning workload is cut in half... you can spot clean.. with newspaper (or paper towel, same thing), you have to take the animal out, with water dish and hide boxes.. take the newspaper out... often the tub gets greased up with urates and feces so that has to be cleaned as well.. new newspaper is placed, all furnitute and snake replaced and tub goes back in rack...

With aspen, roll the tub out, see urate or feces, pick it up, throw in garbage, add a bit more aspen if required, roll tub back in rack and you're all done...

A lot less stress for the snake and for the owner!! Overall I'd say shredded dust-free aspen is 5 times better than newspaper for me.. there is only one single thing that I don't like, is that the animals often swallow some of it when eating... VERY large breeders have had their animals on susbtrates like that without any problems for VERY long periods of time, so I don't see this as causing any problems for my animals.

Bristen.

[Bristen]

Originally posted by joey
I used to use aspen but found it to be too messy--shavings ended up everywhere! Now I use a combination of newspaper and paper towels. The snakes seem to be alright with it and they like to hide in the paper towels.

aspen is a little messy, but I have a broom in the snake room and I frequently sweep the floor... I rarely get aspen in the house other than in the snake room. I check my snake room normally 2 to 3 times per day (just in and out without disturbing the animals, checking on temps, humidifier, etc)

Bristen.

[Vengeance]

I used to use carefresh as a particle substrate but I was allways very worried about substrate ingestion, so that's why I switched to newspaper. The cleaning process is a little more involved now but for me I think it is better because it keeps things cleaner. When ever one of the snakes has a boul movment I'm forced to clean the whole cage as opposed to just spot cleaning.

One thing I've been thinking of that I'd like to run by people. I'm in the process of building a rack and I'm going to have quite a bit of spare room for a while. All the cages in the rack will all be the same size any reason why as an example if a snake were to soil it's cage, you'd take the snake out place it in another identical cage in the rack and leave it in their so you have the ability to clean the cage as necessary or would the changing of cages be a source of stress?

[BornboreD]

When I notice feces, sheds, or spilled water but don't have the time right then and there to do a thorough cleaning, I use one of my spare tubs in my racks. Although, normally with a shed or feces you can get away with a spot clean.

I always make sure that my empty spots have a clean tub with fresh aspen in them. That way, I just put the snake, and water dish in the new tub and I'm done. Then when I get a better opportunity, I clean the soiled tub and replace the Aspen (completley if necessary). This way I can switch em back again at a later date when the other gets soiled.

I don't believe it stresses the snakes any. Nothing different, going from tub to tub. Same old tub, aspen, and water dish that's it. :) They probably just think all that happened is that they got picked up for a sec. :)

Colin

[Vengeance]

I figured that, just thought I'd ask as my rack isn't built yet for me to test it out.

[David Kwok]

A couple years back I decided to switch from newspaper to aspen. When I did, with in a week, the whole rack (10) of BPs got RIs. Eight of them recovered and two of them didn't make it. I will never use it again.

However, I know there are lots of ppl out there who keep their animals on aspen with no problems.

Dave

[Markus Jayne]

That is totally bizarre David! What were they (age) and how long had they been in your pocession?

I kkep all my ball pythons on aspen.

mark

[Bristen]

Hey Mark, since you keep all your animals on aspen, where do you get the stuff in such large quantities?

Thanks,
Bristen.

[Bristen]

Originally posted by David Kwok A couple years back I decided to switch from newspaper to aspen. When I did, with in a week, the whole rack (10) of BPs got RIs. Eight of them recovered and two of them didn't make it. I will never use it again.

However, I know there are lots of ppl out there who keep their animals on aspen with no problems.

Dave

Hey Dave,

what kind of aspen were you using? I once bought a large package of aspen shavings (cost me $40.00 at Pets Unlimited). This stuff was VERY dusty and smelly.

The fact that it was very dusty was a problem to begin with.. Also, because it was smelly, I assume it was not very dry and the green wood would smell more... I ended up giving it to my mother for her rat colony (she breeds some rats for me)...

The aspen I use is shredded aspen (Nature's Gold I believe is the manufacter's name). It is practically dust free and has almost no smell to it. The only problem I have is I can only find it in small packages at Wal-Mart :( I'd like to buy it in bulk if I could find it somewheres...

Anyways, perhaps the problems you were having were related to the type of aspen?

Just some thoughts...

Bristen.

[Markus Jayne]

Originally posted by Bristen
Hey Mark, since you keep all your animals on aspen, where do you get the stuff in such large quantities?

Thanks,
Bristen.

I buy my aspen in big bales. I think I pay $11.00 per bag. I get them at Ren's Pet Depot in Oakville.

Mark

[Bristen]

there is a pet supplies wholesaler in the area.. I'll check with them..

Thanks,
Bristen.

[Herpsrus]

I have used aspen in the past. A couple years ago, I changed all of the substrate in my racks and a week later...BAM....I had mites......two weeks later and A LOT of cleaning.....they were on newpaper and feelin fine....I have not had any problem since then. I find newspaper is very clean and its easier for me to inspect things like sheds and feces. Just my experiences....hope this helps!
Mike

[paulsreef]

I kkep all my ball pythons on aspen.


Mark, do you also feed them on the aspen?
Thanks Paul.

[David Kwok]

I don't recall what brand it was, but it came in a large brown bag and cost me around $18.00. I don't recall it being all that dusty either. I have a friend of mine who keeps everything on them; ball pythons, blackheads, boas and he has never had a problem.

My setup was just a sweater box rack with 11" heat tape which covered around 40% of the tub.... The messed up thing is that it happened in the summer time too.... I have room humidifiers running and all that wonderful stuff.... It was the only rack I switched over to aspen! lucky for me.

I heard TSK tried to switch all their balls onto cypress mulch and "it nearly wiped out their whole collection" mmmmm maybe a hyperbole?

I guess its different strokes for different folks.

Dave