Choosing the right bedding for your reptile can feel extremely overwhelming. From sand to soil to wood shavings, there are tons of products on the market to research.
The Zoo Med Aspen Snake bedding is a solid contender for one of the best beddings for small to medium-sized snakes, but how does it compare and how will it fare in your enclosure?
If you want to learn more about what you can do to promote a healthier reptile, here is what you need to know about this bedding.
Table of Contents
Do We Recommend Zoo Med Aspen Snake Bedding?
This substrate is easy to use and many people seem to like it for their snakes. It is odorless and free of harmful oils like cedar oil, but it is still a green and renewable bedding option.
It is a little bit dusty and you must feed outside of the enclosure to prevent impaction. If you are okay with these stipulations, then it is a great bedding option for small- to medium-sized reptiles.
However, I tend to prefer natural substrates like the Arcadia Earth Mix Arid that are better suited to all reptiles.
These types of substrates are more diggable, and most reptiles will need to do this to feel happy and secure in their enclosure. Not to mention, lizards will not be able to walk properly on the Aspen Snake bedding.
What is Aspen Snake Bedding Made Of?
This bedding is made of wood from Aspen trees which means that is free of harmful toxic oils that come from other plants like the cedar tree.
It is a completely natural and renewable resource, great for reptile owners who are concerned about maintaining a green enclosure.
Features of the Zoo Med Aspen Snake Bedding
While I still prefer natural substrates, there are some great features of the Zoo Med Aspen Snake bedding for your reptiles.
From maintenance to health, here is what you need to know about this bedding before you make it part of your enclosure.
Odorless
The first thing to note about this bedding is that it is completely odor-free. This makes it easier for you to keep your room smelling fresh.
It might seem like a given that you want an odor-free bedding option for your snake or other reptiles, but it is something that should be noted.
Good for Burrowing
As noted earlier, it is not designed for reptiles who prefer to dig, but those who simply burrow in their substrate will likely enjoy the Aspen Snake bedding. It can easily be used for a makeshift nest.
Dust Factor
While Aspen Snake Bedding is not as dusty as bedding options like the Exo Terra Desert Sand, it definitely contains a bit of sawdust.
When I put the substrate into the test
Ideal for Small Snakes and Reptiles
One thing that you should note about this Aspen Snake bedding is that it is designed for smaller reptiles. Those with larger scales may find pieces of it lodged uncomfortably beneath their scales.
The result is irritation that can make them difficult to handle and may require veterinary attention.
Must Feed Outside of Tank
One very important thing to note is that the manufacturer recommends feeding your reptile outside of the enclosure when you use this type of bedding.
If you feed in the enclosure, there is a chance that your reptile may accidentally consume some of the substrate and get impacted. This doesn’t happen easily, but you should still keep it in mind.
Pros:
- Odor-less
- Free from toxic oils that could harm your reptile (cedar oil, etc.)
- Green material from a renewable resource
- Great for burrowing but not for digging
- Easy to spot clean
Cons:
- Feeding on the material may lead to impaction
- Dust may require some cleanup
- Could become lodged under scales in larger reptiles
- May grow mold with standing water
How To Clean Aspen Snake Bedding
The good news is that this substrate is extremely easy for you to clean.
When the bedding gets wet, it tends to stick together. This makes it simple to spot clean, removing stool and wet parts in just a few minutes.
You should do this daily to ensure that your reptile’s enclosure is a healthy environment, but you will need to replace it if it starts to have an odor.
When To Change Aspen Snake Bedding
Most of the time, you will need to change the Zoo Med Aspen Snake bedding at least once every two to three months.
If your reptile’s enclosure is smelling particularly offensive, then you may need to do so a bit more frequently.
When the odor becomes noticeable even after it has been routinely spot cleaned, it is time to replace the entire substrate with a fresh batch.
We recommend changing it once per month.
How Deep Should Aspen Snake Bedding Be?
The amount of Aspen Snake bedding you should use will depend on the size of your reptile. It is designed mostly for small snakes and will require about 2 inches of depth all over the bottom of the enclosure.
If you do decide to use this for heavier snakes or larger snakes (not advised), you may need about 4 inches in the bottom of the enclosure.
How Big is the 24 Quart Zoo Med Aspen Snake Bedding?
If you intend to purchase your bedding online, you might have a hard time thinking about what 24 quarts looks like.
For the most part, this will be sufficient to cover a 40-gallon
Does Aspen Snake Bedding Have Mites?
I put the bedding on a black mat and used a magnifying glass to see if there were any mites on the substrate. However, I could not find any mites here.
We searched the internet and could not find any cases where people got mites because of this particular bedding.
What If Aspen Snake Bedding Gets Wet?
I filled the test
That being said, if the
The top layer may dry fairly quickly, but the substrate on the bottom may retain moisture and lead to mold.
Final Thoughts on the Zoo Med Aspen Snake Bedding
While this substrate may be okay for small to medium-sized snakes, you may want to think again if you have a larger reptile, one who prefers to dig, or if you prefer to feed in the enclosure.
Lizard owners may find that is not well-suited to their purposes either as it can make walking difficult for these four-legged friends.
Be sure to do your homework before deciding whether the Zoo Med Aspen Snake bedding is the right fit for your enclosure.
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