Question about aspen bedding

[MantisFTW]

I'm just a bargain shopper here looking for good deals. My question is- is there an important difference between snake aspen bedding and aspen bedding for hamsters?
The only difference that I see visually is that the hamster aspen bedding has larger shavings, while the snake aspen is much more shredded. Could this cause any harm or health risk at all to a corn snake hatchling/adult? Has anyone ever used hamster aspen bedding for snakes successfully?
The reason I ask is for the extreme economical difference in the two beddings. You'll see why. These are all Petco items and prices. Take notice of the shaving size difference as well:

Planet Petco Aspen Wood Bedding for Small Animals
8.2 liters- 4.99
56.6 liters- 12.99

Zoo Med Aspen Snake Bedding
8 quarts- 10.49
24 quarts- 20.99


In conclusion, the small animal aspen shavings are a MUCH better buy while the shredded bedding for snakes seems like a near rip-off... But is the hamster bedding ok for snakes?

 

[Nythain]

Assuming other purpose variants are free from any extra toxins, they're perfectly fine to use. I've seen shredded, shaved, and chipped all used for snakes. I know at least a few people who will actually get theirs from lawn and garden stores because it's cheaper and there's less risk of contracting mites.

 

[NH93]

HUGE DIFFERENCE!.......... Price.

For other burrowing reptiles (thinking blue tongued skinks, as I've recently been researching them quite a bit) animals it is said to be better to use the small animal bedding so the pieces won't have as much a chance to get lodged in the nose of the animal. For snakes I'm sure either is fine. I actually find the snake bedding to be dusty.

Either works. I'll always go with the small animal bedding in bulk though

All the best!

 

[ratsncorns]

I would never buy the snake specific bedding, just because of the price. The snakes dont care which bedding I have used. I have tried Harlan shredded aspen, and Harlen Sani Chips (which is also aspen but in tiny pieces) and you can find those easily at expos. But I usually buy the large planet petco bags and it lasts forever. The snakes can still burrow in it just fine.

 

[cornsnakeforsale_com]

I'm gonna disagree here. If you are going to use that be careful at feeding time. They could ingest the substrate and if it's large enough it will get stuck inside and never digest and the snake will eventually die. There are reasons the "snake" stuff is better for snakes. You can get big bags at the shows of the good stuff for pretty cheap as well. For babies, I love sanichips.

 

[hypnoctopus]

Walmart has large bags of aspen bedding for about 3 dollars that I use. It's not specifically for any type of animal, but it's not as finely shredded as snake aspen. I've been using it for a few years and have had no issues.

Actually, as a matter of fact, when I was using snake aspen, one of the little skinny pieces somehow got stuck inside one of my snakes' hemipenes and it was quite an ordeal getting it out.

 

[MantisFTW]

I'm gonna disagree here. If you are going to use that be careful at feeding time. They could ingest the substrate and if it's large enough it will get stuck inside and never digest and the snake will eventually die. There are reasons the "snake" stuff is better for snakes. You can get big bags at the shows of the good stuff for pretty cheap as well. For babies, I love sanichips.

What if I were to use a feeding box? That was my initial plan anyway. Ive heard that by using a feeding box, you snake is a little less likely to strike at you from inside of its tank when you go to pick it up, and this method of feeding also eliminates the risk of impaction. Ive also heard that its unnecessary though. Whats your opinion on that?

 

[Popcorn715]

Walmart has large bags of aspen bedding for about 3 dollars that I use. It's not specifically for any type of animal, but it's not as finely shredded as snake aspen. I've been using it for a few years and have had no issues.....

We've been using the Walmart aspen as well. There have been some really big pieces that I picked out, but otherwise, it seems just fine. The $3 bag has filled our 20L 3 times so far and still looks to be enough for at least 1 if not two more refills.

We've been feeding in a separate box so there are zero ingestion concerns.

 

[cornsnakeforsale_com]

A separate feeding area helps, but in my experience the bigger chips are an added risk.

 

[hypnoctopus]

If you feed outside the tank, then there should be no impaction risk at all, unless there's some freak accident where your snake eats aspen when he's not being fed, but I just don't see that occurring. My aspen pieces are so large that I don't think even my adult snakes could easily eat a piece (although I feed outside the tank so that's not a risk anyway).

 

[NH93]

I also don't think the small aspen is any better for impaction and ingestion. The small pieces are thicker than the large, flakey ones. It seems all the same to me. Not to mention, I've watched my ball python tussle around with the rat in the aspen at feeding time, and the larger flakes fall right off (unless the rat is soaking wet, but I warm it up inside a baggy). I'm sure my snake(s) have eaten the shavings before, and I'm not going to stick my finger in there and pull them off the rat during a feed!

 

[smigon]

I'm sure my snake(s) have eaten the shavings before, and I'm not going to stick my finger in there and pull them off the rat during a feed!

Chicken. :laugh:

 

[NH93]

Chicken. :laugh:

LOL!
Funny story. My skink (whom I got a week ago) eats blueberries from my fingers, but s/he takes them and SHAKES THEM like a terrier with a rodent... and aspen gets stuck to it. I tried to pull a piece off today and s/he was having none of it. Every time I got near her face, he pulled back. Needless to say, the skink ate the aspen.