Does any one use Carefresh?

[ShenziSixaxis]

I'm curious about this. I was holding a lovely rat at Petsmart earlier today (I think I may go back this weekend and pick him up ) and I think I remember hearing that Carefresh is a safe bedding for corns and other snakes. Is this true? Because every time I go to move more than a little bit of the Zoomed aspen, I start sneezing (often times in my corn's water and on her) and my sinuses get itchy. I'll finish off the bag I have, but the supposed "99.99% dust free" just isn't good enough for my sensitive sinuses and asthma.

I know that Carefresh has the potential to be dusty, but there are so many colors and different types of it I'm pretty sure I can find one that is good enough for me and the same price or cheaper than the aspen. And I'm pretty sure I'm okay with the Carefresh because when I was leaning over the cage to pick the rat up, my sinuses were perfectly fine. Whenever I do that at Petsupermarket to check out a reptile they have that's on aspen, I have to hold my breath. And a few years back when I had a pet rat before, I used Carefresh. It was great stuff for him.

So, can anyone with experience with Carefresh tell me how it does for snakes? Can they burrow and such? Also, who is spot cleaning? I have to pick up a lot of aspen around any stool my corn has produced because of how the urates aren't absorbed, and since Carefresh is marketed to rodents and I've used it, I know it more than likely more absorbent than aspen.

 

[KingCrimson<3]

It's certainly more absorbent than aspen, but its sooo dusty. Always makes me sneeze and cough. I've heard there is a dust free version, but as a whole its pretty pricey. I would buy a small bag and test it out before you invest in a lot of it. Good luck.

Chelsea

 

[ShenziSixaxis]

Definitely a good idea.

And now that I think about it, I wouldn't be surprised if I was actually allergic to aspen. Pet Supermarket doesn't even use the same brand of aspen that I'm using for my corn. :/

 

[Three D]

I used carefresh for many years with several kinds of snakes, never had any problems. However, I do think carefresh is fairly dusty. Recently I have used indoor/outdoor carpet and find it somewhat easier to do cleaning. The snakes cant burrow, so I give them several hides. Seems to work well for me.

 

[ceduke]

I did for awhile. SUPER dusty. No thank you! I love newspaper, entire pages or shredded.

 

[ShenziSixaxis]

What kind were you two using? I've been looking on Petco.com and it seems that anyone who has used the normal gray stuff and the white Ultra thinks it's very low on dust or is dust free. I'm gonna get a few small bags of different types, but I'm still curious.

 

[Iguanagirl8662]

My vet uses carefresh for all her snakes, she has a boa, corn and carpet python. She has had no issues but my manager at work has an allergic reaction to carefresh. It's really odd if she touches and accidentally touches her face her eyes great red, blood shot and watery and it only happens with carefresh.

As far as price, carefresh is more expensive than aspen (at least here it is). I would stick with aspen for the snakes, it's cheaper but if you get the rat I would use carefresh for it. I've used aspen and carefresh for my rats and I and the rats prefer the carefresh. It stays cleaner and less smelly then aspen and is nice and soft for them.

Carefresh did come out with a new product that appears to be a mixture of aspen and a little carefesh. I just saw it today and am thinking of trying it.

Also if you get the rat you should get two. Rats need friends they are very social animals. I have five, number six is on the way as soon as she is weaned. They are great little critters.

 

[ShenziSixaxis]

My vet uses carefresh for all her snakes, she has a boa, corn and carpet python. She has had no issues but my manager at work has an allergic reaction to carefresh. It's really odd if she touches and accidentally touches her face her eyes great red, blood shot and watery and it only happens with carefresh.

As far as price, carefresh is more expensive than aspen (at least here it is). I would stick with aspen for the snakes, it's cheaper but if you get the rat I would use carefresh for it. I've used aspen and carefresh for my rats and I and the rats prefer the carefresh. It stays cleaner and less smelly then aspen and is nice and soft for them.

Carefresh did come out with a new product that appears to be a mixture of aspen and a little carefesh. I just saw it today and am thinking of trying it.

Also if you get the rat you should get two. Rats need friends they are very social animals. I have five, number six is on the way as soon as she is weaned. They are great little critters.

:shrugs: I don't react that bad, but like I said; if I move any more aspen than I need to move to get my corn out of her viv, I sneeze and my sinuses and face get itchy.

I used Carefresh a few years ago and it was kind of expensive, but I don't remember the price (and I may be remembering how my younger self though 20 bucks was a lot of money). At Petsmart, 50 liters of Carefresh Ultra is 24 dollars, and it's just under 30 at Petco (but you can order it online for a 20 bucks, and bulk order three 50 liter bags of Carefresh Ultra for 57 dollars online). The 20 buck bag of aspen is only 26 liters.

Hm, I might try that too.

I would get two or three, but I'm not totally sure about it since Petsmart sells males only. I'll PM you.

 

[carnivorouszoo]

You may be allergic to the dust itself then. I get the sneezes on dusting day when we clean around and under everything that normally does not get moved much. I am also allergic to pine, cedar, and corncob bedding, but not corn itself wierd huh?

 

[harm781]

I got a hamster for my older daughter as a reward for being more responsible, he came with the carefresh bedding and whenever I sit next to its cage I can't stop coughing. The package says colors on it but the carefresh itself is grey. I will not be buying it, our other hamster I have always used aspen and never had a problem so I know its the bedding. Maybe try a small bag in one tank and see how it works before bulk ordering that way your not worse off then you are now. Goodluck with the switch.

 

[ceduke]

What kind were you two using? I've been looking on Petco.com and it seems that anyone who has used the normal gray stuff and the white Ultra thinks it's very low on dust or is dust free. I'm gonna get a few small bags of different types, but I'm still curious.

I used the regular ol' grey stuff.

 

[_skittles_]

Do sani-chips affect you guys? I was just thinking about switching over to the sani-chips.

 

[Three D]

What kind were you two using? I've been looking on Petco.com and it seems that anyone who has used the normal gray stuff and the white Ultra thinks it's very low on dust or is dust free. I'm gonna get a few small bags of different types, but I'm still curious


I was using the gray stuff as well.

 

[Three D]

sorry, that last post didn't show that first part as a quote, guess I did not do it right.

 

[PikaBun]

I use the Ultra white CF for all my medium and larger corns and it is much less dusty then shavings. I am allergic to aspen (in a throat closing up sort of way) but I have never had a reaction from the Carefresh. I personally don't like the grey stuff though. It smells weird. The Ultra white has as little smell as paper towel does. Easy to spot clean too.

 

[ShenziSixaxis]

You may be allergic to the dust itself then. I get the sneezes on dusting day when we clean around and under everything that normally does not get moved much. I am also allergic to pine, cedar, and corncob bedding, but not corn itself wierd huh?

:rofl: I may be, or it may just be the aspen. Not sure yet.

I got a hamster for my older daughter as a reward for being more responsible, he came with the carefresh bedding and whenever I sit next to its cage I can't stop coughing. The package says colors on it but the carefresh itself is grey. I will not be buying it, our other hamster I have always used aspen and never had a problem so I know its the bedding. Maybe try a small bag in one tank and see how it works before bulk ordering that way your not worse off then you are now. Goodluck with the switch.

Just what I planned to do.

I used the regular ol' grey stuff.

Alright.

I use the Ultra white CF for all my medium and larger corns and it is much less dusty then shavings. I am allergic to aspen (in a throat closing up sort of way) but I have never had a reaction from the Carefresh. I personally don't like the grey stuff though. It smells weird. The Ultra white has as little smell as paper towel does. Easy to spot clean too.

I don't have a great sense of smell, and I tend to like weird smells. :laugh: And I can imagine that the Ultra is easy to spot clean. XD

 

[Jessicat]

I love newspaper, entire pages or shredded.

Newspaper's great for a layer between the glass/plastic and substrate. As far as shredded newspaper though.. I'd go for just plain newsprint with no ink on it, because I've noticed that the ink can rub off onto the corns if it gets wet!

 

[ceduke]

Newspaper's great for a layer between the glass/plastic and substrate. As far as shredded newspaper though.. I'd go for just plain newsprint with no ink on it, because I've noticed that the ink can rub off onto the corns if it gets wet!

The newspaper I use uses vegetable based ink (I called them to find out) so if a lil gets on my snakes, it doesn't bother me.