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Looking for the best Aspen-shaving alternative substrate...

O

OphidianXIII

New member
I know newsprint is common, but, what about shredded photocopies?

We're setting up in advance of receiving a juvenile corn-snake from the breeder in a few weeks.

I'm curious about whether there may be any dust or toxicity risks with using cross-cut shredded photocopy paper, aside from perhaps metal staple-fragments...

I've heard that Cyprus shavings are okay, but tend to be damp and require more frequent changing... Are there any other good substrate mediums (coconut husk is dusty, and therefore not good for a juvenile corn, right)? I'm all ears...
 
Hi and welcome! :wavey:

I'm assuming someone in the household has an aspen allergy?

If you want to try paper products, I'd look for Kaytee's paper bedding. It's meant for rodents, but I find it's less dusty than Carefresh. It's in shreds instead of chunks like Carefresh, so it's similar to your idea but a little softer and more absorbent. I'm going to be using it to pack babies for shipping this year.

Cypress is fine, especially during the winter if you don't have a humidifier, but in the summer or any time it's humid it can hold a little more moisture than you might want, and the shreds (at least that's how I always see it sold) are typically quite large.
 
It's probably fine. If you have access to copious amounts of shredded documents it's certainly the cheapest option. I don't know if corns are ever susceptible to papercuts? lol
 
I just switched over to Neherp v2 substrate from terra firma mixed with coconut fiber which I had for almost a year. Terra firma compacted too much for my liking, and when it dries out it can become dusty. Never had issues with humidity or shedding as one side of the tank was kept fairly moist. Shedding is always one complete shed. Snake takes food readily every time and enjoys burrowing in it, also seems very active and healthy. I kept aspen and a large Sterlite container as an emergency housing option but never had to use it.

Obviously much more expensive and not worth the frequent maintenance, unless you're like me and have an extreme God complex with control issues.. I mean, it's an option.
 
I used Kaytee's Clean and Cozy for several years. It's dust free, no odor, soft and fluffy so they can still make tunnels in it, and when it gets on the floor/my clothes, it doesn't stab me like the aspen did.

I'm phasing it out because I found a piece of it sticking out of a snake's cloacal scales, presumably stuck to the moist tissue underneath. I tried to pull on the strip very gently and it was stuck. I had to soak the snake for 20 minutes until the paper was wet enough to be removed without taking a few layers of skin with it.

A few months later, another snake had a strip sticking out of its mouth. It had just eaten (I feed in a separate tub, I assume the strip got in there when it was re-adjusting after), so I didn't try to wrestle the strip away from it. A few days later, the strip was gone. Just hoped for the best on that one.

Two times in five years seems pretty good, but I don't want one of my snakies to get some kind of butt infection from having strips of paper adhered to their occasionally-protruding innards.

That's my Kaytee's Clean and Cozy story.
 
Some others I know have suggested that the photocopy paper may be quite dusty after being shredded, and that the toner may be toxic if ingested...
 
OphidianXIII said:
Any opinions on the shredded Office-paper idea?
Click to expand...

I tried it a few years ago, using brown food-grade wrapping paper. I was concerned with inks and dyes from shredded office documents.

It works pretty good, but you need to clean up spilled water bowls promptly. I had some small spills that I didn't catch until it dried - it was like papier maché!

Still, worth a try as an alternative to aspen. I still use it when I'm getting low on aspen, and the Kaytee Clean & Cozy. I haven't experienced what Amanda47 has with the KC&C, but I'll be more diligent now.

Hope this helps!

Kathy
 
I used to go to the local newspaper and buy their end rolls of paper and cut it to fit my hatchling containers. The paper can be shredded to use in larger containers and has no print ink on it. The paper was quite absorbent and relatively cheap. Now I just use paper towels.
 
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