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Pine shavings?

Groenslang

Groenslang

New member
Hey all!

Ive been going through several threads and have noticed that you all advocate the use of aspen shavings! Here in S.A aspen shavings gets a blank stare because it is so rare! Just thought I'd ask your opinions on the use of pine shavings (not dust, but 40mm shavings).

Lemme know whot ye be pondering! :duck:
 
Opinion seems to be changing on pine shavings.

Used to be that we'd avoid anything to do with pine or other softwoods, as they were poisonous to Corns. However, I've seen some views recently that have said it's OK to use shavings from the heartwood and that it's only the bark and sapwood which are hazardous. Hopefully there will be others along soon to clarify.

Aspen still isn't that easy to find in the UK either. Personally, I use bark chips sourced from my local reptile shop that are guaranteed reptile-safe. If you don't have access to that sort of seller, try local garden centres and see if you can get some UNTREATED bags of hardwood bark chips that might be used as mulch. They might need drying out and baking before use (they can carry bugs that tend to hatch out when put into a nice warm tank!) but my Corns seem to love them.

The "untreated" aspect is very important. When I asked at my local garden centre/DIY store, they told me that all of their bark chips were treated with pesticide and weedkiller - both of which would be highly toxic to Corns.

On the other hand if looks aren't important, many people get on well with newspaper as a substrate. I used it for years.
 
Pine shavings are used extensively in the race horse industry. Horses are very sensitive to respiratory problems much like mice. When a million dollar Kentucky Derby candidate can be housed on pine shavings I think it’s ok for my mice.

I have used pine shavings for 20 plus years. I have never seen any kind of a problem with it.
 
There are strong opinions on both sides of this argument. I have easy access to cheap aspen, so I stick to that, but I've worked in places that kept herps on pine and I've never seen any problems from it.
 
I’ve heard lots of strong opinions on both sides. People will get angry about it and want to hurt you for using the wrong kind.

What I have never heard is someone that says yeah, I used it and my mice died. I used product a and everyone got sick.

There is one study that shows that the oils in pine caused liver damage in mice. My mice almost always die at around 8 months of age. If there is any damage it is not apparent at that age. I keep my breeders for 6 to 8 months. There is no apparent damage at that age.

Aspen is difficult for me to get where I live. Pine is plentiful. I have never heard anything more persuasive than opinion on why I should change.
 
I've been using pine since before most of you were gleams in your daddy's eye.

I have kept thousands of snakes on it.

I still use it and I still have no problem.

I produce a goodly number of rats on pine as well.
 
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