Snake bedding question

[ChrisNCT]

Okay herp keepers...I have a question for you regarding bedding issues.

I love to use Aspen bedding but have to use newspaper. The reason I use it is because everytime I use Aspen the snakes get intop their water dishes and flood the cage. Then the Aspen stinks really bad after being wet.

Anyone else have this problem?

 

[Beardo]

I also like to use Aspen for colubrids and other burrowing species....the way you can prevent it from getting into the water dish is to use a deli-cup with a hole cut into the lid, so that the snake can still access the water, but its much harder to tip over and get substrate into the cup.

Also, when using Aspen, I always make sure to feed the snakes in a seperate container, so that they do not ingest any of the substrate or get it stuck in their mouths.

 

[MindUtopia]

I've never had any trouble with Aspen smelling when wet, but my first thoughts would be just to not fill the water so high that your snakes can overflow it when soaking and maybe just to spot pick regularly to get the wet stuff out.

 

[Barbedwirecat]

I love using yesterdays news and rabbit food pellets, I've never had a problem with either and also have used the deli cup trick too. Ditto about the not feeding in the same container tho unless you have venomous and then well....thats your dime

 

[Schlyne]

Are you using the aspen sani chips or the regular aspen? I noticed that the sani chips seemed to be more "moisture resistant". I never noticed a smell from the aspen. I went back to newspaper though, as I didn't feel like vacuuming up loose substrate every single time I opened a cage to do something.

 

[Mechanical-Mind]

I think MindUtopia's got it. Your bowls shouldn't be filled so high that when they climb in water is displaced to the point of overflow. Sometimes purchasing a larger, or wider, bowl is necessary.

Best regards,
-Matt