Grreat Choice (Petsmart) Aspen in Millipede Enclosures

[MrCrackerpants]

I have used Grreat Choice (Petsmart) aspen wood shavings 2 cubic ft. (56.6 L) for awhile in my millipede enclosures. It has always had minimal odor when wet and decaying for a while. I bought a new bag and it smells more fruity but to me it does not smell like pine or cedar. I am concerned that it is contaminated with a coniferous species. Some people say it smells this way based on the way it was kiln dried. Maybe the two bags were kiln dried in different ways? For longer time periods? Maybe it is a different species of aspen? I believe there are two aspen species in the US and maybe the older bags were a different species? Not sure... The millipedes seem fine after a couple months. I took the bag back and removed all of the aspen from the enclosures. I then got a newer bag to see if it does the same thing and added this to the enclosures. Does anyone use aspen and if so does it have a bit of a fruity odor to it? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Mastigoproctus]

Never really smells fruity to me but I never buy it from petsmart and am not familiar with that brand. Could be some additive to reduce rodent smells? I'm guessing that's what that brand is marketed towards. Did the bag list anything on the back implying such?

 

[ErinM31]

I do not have experience with using aspen as substrate, but I would recommend that you try Josh's Frogs aspen substrate because they make quality products (in my estimation) and I prefer to support local stores and online dealers that take care of their animals than big chains that do not (not that I have personally witnessed such -- I have not been to a Petsmart in a looooong time -- but going by what others have reported here on the conditions of herps and tarantulas at the big chains ).

 

[MrCrackerpants]

Never really smells fruity to me but I never buy it from petsmart and am not familiar with that brand. Could be some additive to reduce rodent smells? I'm guessing that's what that brand is marketed towards. Did the bag list anything on the back implying such?

It just says aspen. I have used it for years and never had a problem. I noticed the new bag does not smell this way so I am wondering if they just got another type of broad leaf tree in the old bag. We shall see. Thanks for the comment!

 

[MrCrackerpants]

I do not have experience with using aspen as substrate, but I would recommend that you try Josh's Frogs aspen substrate because they make quality products (in my estimation) and I prefer to support local stores and online dealers that take care of their animals than big chains that do not (not that I have personally witnessed such -- I have not been to a Petsmart in a looooong time -- but going by what others have reported here on the conditions of herps and tarantulas at the big chains ).

Thanks! I am going to have to check that out. My local Petsmart takes really good care of their reptiles but their tarantula help is very funny and so wrong. lol Thanks for the comment!

 

[MrCrackerpants]

So after having the aspen in the enclosure and moist for a few days I have noticed the new shavings do not smell like the old ones.

 

[ErinM31]

So after having the aspen in the enclosure and moist for a few days I have noticed the new shavings do not smell like the old ones.

Glad to hear that your Petsmart takes good care of their tarantulas despite a lack of knowledge!

By "not smelling like the old" do you mean they aren't fruity like the last batch? Or do you mean the old old -- what you'd gotten before? I'm guessing the former but it is my nature to overthink things.

 

[MrCrackerpants]

Glad to hear that your Petsmart takes good care of their tarantulas despite a lack of knowledge!

By "not smelling like the old" do you mean they aren't fruity like the last batch? Or do you mean the old old -- what you'd gotten before? I'm guessing the former but it is my nature to overthink thibgs.

Yes, not fruity like the last batch. Sorry for not being very clear. Again, I am thinking they just put another broad leaf tree in with the aspen. The millipedes were REALLY chowing down on the "fruity aspen". I am even wondering if they would eat a coniferous wood. I am assuming they would just avoid it but I do not know for sure. If they would avoid all coniferous woods (e.g., pine, juniper, cedar, etc.) then the wood that smells "fruity" must just have another broad leaf tree in with it. They good thing is that I have not had any deaths and the wood was in there for about 2-3 months.

 

[ErinM31]

Yes, not fruity like the last batch. Sorry for not being very clear. Again, I am thinking they just put another broad leaf tree in with the aspen. The millipedes were REALLY chowing down on the "fruity aspen". I am even wondering if they would eat a coniferous wood. I am assuming they would just avoid it but I do not know for sure. If they would avoid all coniferous woods (e.g., pine, juniper, cedar, etc.) then the wood that smells "fruity" must just have another broad leaf tree in with it. They good thing is that I have not had any deaths and the wood was in there for about 2-3 months.

Hopefully they would avoid any wood that was bad for them and the previous aspen was contaminated by another deciduous tree species or something else hamless -- your millipedes seem to have enjoyed the variety in their diet and since they still seem in fine health, maybe it wasn't a bad think afterall.

 

[Praxibetelix]

I wonder if the "fruity" smell was Sassafras...

According to the National Forestry Service..."At the northern edge of its range, sassafras is found in the understory of aspen (Populus spp.)..." http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/silvics_manual/volume_2/sassafras/albidum.htm

If you have never smelled it, sassafras smells just like Froot Loops cereal.

 

[MrCrackerpants]

Hopefully they would avoid any wood that was bad for them and the previous aspen was contaminated by another deciduous tree species or something else hamless -- your millipedes seem to have enjoyed the variety in their diet and since they still seem in fine health, maybe it wasn't a bad think afterall.

Yes! That is what I am hoping. No deaths so far.

 

[MrCrackerpants]

I wonder if the "fruity" smell was Sassafras...

According to the National Forestry Service..."At the northern edge of its range, sassafras is found in the understory of aspen (Populus spp.)..." http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/silvics_manual/volume_2/sassafras/albidum.htm

If you have never smelled it, sassafras smells just like Froot Loops cereal.

Oh man!! You might be right. I grew up digging up sassafras root but it did not smell like this. I love the way the root smells. I am not sure what sassafras wood smells like. Hummm....just like Froot Loops cereal...it does kind of smell like that. That might be it! Thanks! Maybe you solved the mystery. I called Petsmart at the corporate level and they said I was the first to call with this issue. They were like "Your doing WHAT with the wood?!!?!?" lol