anyone else agree

[MrPower]

hey everyone,
i have been wondering somthing about the choice of using newspaper for substrate.
I have been keeping reptiles for quite some time, and i am a person who enjoys a natural looking viv. So i usially use different types of bark and mulch, somtimes reptil carpet or turf.

but i see lots of people using newspaper. and maybe im thinking in the wrong direction, but first thing that comes to my mind, is if you read a newspaper, after your done you have black fingertips wich is the toxic ink comming off. Since alot of reptiles absorb things threw thier skin, woulnt in be wrong to think that newspaper is not harmfull in long term affect to most reptiles. but yet i have never ever herd of anyone else say likewise on any forum or in person. personally if i was the type of person who didnt take the time to carfully select types of more naturally looking substrates in a way to not harm the animal or rhave high risk of impaction, and i just wanted an easy clean route. i would choose paper towel over ink filled newspaper.

just wondering what you guys think, i always wanted to ask others this and see if im thinking wrong here.
thanks

[CDN_Blood]

I've been using newspaper for certain animals for 25 years and those which are one it have never suffered any ill effects. Their scales are made of keratin, the same as our fingernails, so it's not an issue.

Newspaper is very sterile, it's easy clean-up for large messes and it's available on any street corner, but it's not suitable for every snake and some don't like it at all, so it really depends on the individual animal's needs and likes/dislikes.

I think anyone who's seen my snakes will attest that they're kinda healthy looking - even those which I keep on newsprint :)

I also think you'd find paper towel rather ineffective. It takes a lot to make a snake comfortable.

[UwabamiReptiles]

I use newspaper for all my snakes and I've never had an issue with it. I like it because you can take all the waste out when you clean the cage. I feel like sometimes you don't get everything when you use a substrate that you spot clean. I have not heard any stories of any snakes being harmed by using newspaper. And I'm pretty sure Dave and Tracy Barker of VPI have been using newspaper exclusively for many years for all their snakes with no ill effect.

[MrPower]

thats cool to know, you have kept snakes on newspaper for a long time. There scales are good for preotection yes.
I wasnt really talking about snakes, i thought this was a general lizard enclosure section.
I was mostly concern about reptiles like crested geckos and other geckos that i have seen on newsprint. I have seen reptiles that do have absorbent skin on newsprint in pictures in forums and other sites. and i have seen it in person.
I would never use paper product anyways, i find reptiles more happy in thier natural substrate where they can dig and borrow. they just not ment to be on paper towel or print.
thanks for the reply.

[Skits]

I think it depends on which reptile. I keep my leopard geckos on reptile carpet or paper towels. I would never think of using newspaper for a crested gecko because of the humidity. There's certain reptiles who can get impaction from loose substrates, but certain reptiles who need to burrow I know that. I've used newspaper for my boa and never had problems, but now I use eco earth and she prefers it.

But anyway, I don't think it would affect them much. I know lots of companies moved to safer, less toxic ink as well.

[buffcoat]

I'm a printer. I print newspapers for a living. The ink used today is 99.9% non-toxic and safe. Its almost all soy based ink. You can eat it if you want. The paper is really absorbent as well. We use it instead of towels or rags to dry off with instead of paper towels.

I'm with you though mate, I enjoy a "natural" looking viv for my guys and gals. But, newspaper is 100% safe to use for reptiles. If you are worried about the ink you can always call your local paper and they will usually sell you end or butt rolls. They have nothing printed on it and you can cut it to length.

[shaunyboy]

hey everyone,
i have been wondering somthing about the choice of using newspaper for substrate.
I have been keeping reptiles for quite some time, and i am a person who enjoys a natural looking viv. So i usially use different types of bark and mulch, somtimes reptil carpet or turf.

but i see lots of people using newspaper. and maybe im thinking in the wrong direction, but first thing that comes to my mind, is if you read a newspaper, after your done you have black fingertips wich is the toxic ink comming off. Since alot of reptiles absorb things threw thier skin, woulnt in be wrong to think that newspaper is not harmfull in long term affect to most reptiles. but yet i have never ever herd of anyone else say likewise on any forum or in person. personally if i was the type of person who didnt take the time to carfully select types of more naturally looking substrates in a way to not harm the animal or rhave high risk of impaction, and i just wanted an easy clean route. i would choose paper towel over ink filled newspaper.

just wondering what you guys think, i always wanted to ask others this and see if im thinking wrong here.
thanks

they must be crap at making newspapers in canada mate

i switched to newspaper after the dust in aspen,gave some of my carpet pythons mild respiritory symptoms

i have NEVER seen any ink come out a news paper,be it soaked with a tipped water bowl,soaked in eurates, (especially not after just reading it)

so imo,theres NO problem in using newspaper,especially when i have NOT heard of 1 case,where a reptile has got ink from a news paper on its body

white paper towels,i assume get bleached with some type of bleaching/whitening agent

i've not heard of any one having problems with white paper towels,merely pointing out just because somethings white,it don't mean its pure and chemical free

as said i know of no problems using either method mate

cheers shaun

[exwizard]

I use newspaper exclusively. Not only is it clean and dust free, but its also very easy to know right away when they soiled it and as a result it can get changed right away. I have never had any health issues from it and am completely sold on it.

[CDN_Blood]

...i switched to newspaper after the dust in aspen,gave some of my carpet pythons mild respiratory symptoms...

Bingo. There's not enough money in the world to convince me to ever use that stuff ;)

[MrPower]

thats a cool fact that the ink is not toxic, i just assumed in that was used would be toxic. I Try to train my geckos to eat out of my hand to stop the chance of impaction. If i do train them to do so as young, i set them up a nice natural viv. not only does in reduce the chances of impaction but it also helps the gecko trust you and like you. they see you as a friendly owner offering food. when i first kept leapard geckos i fend from a dish. they would come out middle of night to eat and soon as i came by ran to hide. now that i feed by hand, my geckos come out to me when i arrive and even crawl onto my hand by themselves to be handles, total trust me. I do have a crested gecko thatwell take it from my hand somtimes if hes pretty hungry but most times have to hunt threw his cage for a couple cricketsi place in over night. for reptiles like that i set up repti carpet. so they dont get a mouth full of substrate if he misses a cricket. humidity is high in canada anyway so repti carpet and regular misting is fine for cresteds and other tropical type reptiles.

I cant emagine not setting up natural vivs though, if the time is took to eliminate risks its awording. i like to share with you guys how i set up my best leopard gecko enclosure. its a 30 gall. leos come from pakistan as most know, where they live in desert areas around the forest edge. so i set the warm side with heat pad and lamp up with sand and a desert scene. but for the cool and i had the sand fade to repti bark, and logs and plants to be the cool forest edge to take refuge juring the hotter days. he loves it. and a great looking tank.

but thanks to all for the newsprint info, not that i plan on using it. i just wanted to know why everyone put thier animals on ink filled paper when i though it was toxic.