Aspen allergy, substitute substrate questions

[Spindown]

My boyfriend has managed to develop an allergy to Aspen that is borderline life-threatening...and I'm starting to develop respiratory issues when I am around it as well. I've been told this is not a terribly uncommon allergy, and that it is linked to the dust usually. Not surprising as I have always had issues with dust & allergies.

My question is, most substrates have some dust to them it seems, and my first idea was to go to Carefresh...and then I heard how it was also dusty! I've tried Eco-earth, and it drives me nuts with how much upkeep it needs to stay the right level of moistness, and plain newspaper usually gets pooped UNDER!

I have thought about switching to something like Sani-chips, but am unsure if this would trigger the allergy or not.

I have tried to find Cypress mulch around here, but have not had any luck.

Other thoughts or ideas would be GREATLY appreciated. I'm getting rid of all my aspen as soon as I possibly can, without leaving the skinky's on just newspaper. Although if I have to leave on newspaper, I will until I can get something for them.

[Richard.C]

Washed playsand or reptile carpet type substrate comes to mind if dust is a serious issue alot of mulches ect contan it

[Dakota]

Get rid of the bf.

[Scincoides]

Sani chips don't seem to be very dusty. I have used them for years on my Kenyan sand boas, and I don't remember ever seeing any dust. I use a 50/50 mix of peat moss and Cyprus for allot of my reptiles, including a few bts. I know you don't have access to Cyprus, but I would assume peat would work ok on its own, but you would likely face the same humidity regulation issues as you did with the Eco Earth.

[Spindown]

LOL Dakota, we've been together almost 8 years now. Not going to happen Also, I'm developing the allergy myself. I cant get rid of myself!

I will have to try the chips and just cross my fingers its the dust! Although I'm sure I'll find out quickly if its dust or aspen X_X
Reptile carpet is an interesting idea, I've debated trying it but it isnt quite as sanitary as I normally prefer, but not a bad option if the chips fail. I mostly want a substrate they can still burrow in as they LOVE to burrow <3

[Susann]

As far as reptile carpet and sanitary; I don't think it's bad at all. I use it for both my snake and geckos. It can get a little expensive, but I have several to change out with. Neither the snake nor the geckos make messes as big or as fast as BTS, but after several spot-cleanings, about once a month or so, I'll shake off the worst of the dried stuff and throw the carpets through a wash cycle on the hottest setting (no soap).

Letting them have stuff to burrow in is of course ideal, but there are options.
While my females are on paper towels waiting on possible little ones, I lay down a layer of sheets all over, add a bunch of possible hides, then cut a bunch of paper towels into strips and bunch them up inside all the hides.
I've heard no complaints so far!

[Spindown]

Some of that sounds like what I do for my Hedgehog. Thanks for the ideas guys! If you have more, keep 'em coming!

[Coomassie]

I can't really help because we are an all cypress house. Are you near any reptile expos? We have to go to expos get get bedding and we just load up on cypress a couple of times a year.

[Richard.C]

With carpet type substrates,if u can provide low tight fitting hides they like that enough to not try digging and getting under carpet,some still do though,my king skinks have actually dug the corners right out of the carpet,even with tight hides,so they now are on sugarcane mulch

Hide boxes filled with shredded newspaper could be an option,giving them the feeling they are burrowing into something

Hopefully for your otherhalfs sake theres some options you could also try,incase its not just a dust thing

[Spindown]

Thats good to know RIchard, about the burrowing options with the carpet. I am starting to think it may be better than I originally thought.

The only expos around my area are normally reallllllllly boring, and there isnt much selection. I've never been able to find Cypress even at expos. Lots of aspen though X_X

[cdass]

I am totally new to this but what about something like Yesterdays News? Its a cat litter made completely made from recycled newspaper and is dust free

You could also use something like pieces of fleece in place of newspaper or reptile carpet. You could then just wash the fleece every time you want to clean the cage. They might be able to use it to burrow to as it is soft and does scrunch up.

[Richard.C]

One good plus of carpet to,is its very easy to see when its pooped on,in a sense making it easier to keep clean as u just swap it over to a previosly cleaned one,whilst u clean new one in readiness for next change over,buggers love to poop as soon as u add new substrate,lol so sometimes having 3 on the go is a good idea,it looks alot better than newspaper,plus lets them get a better foot hold

[tiliqua38]

I used to use Aspen. Now I line the bottom of the enclosure with flat pieces of newspaper, and I put a layer of shredded paper from my paper shredder on top of that.

[Spindown]

I line the bottom of mine with newspaper too, I worry about the newspaper shredded becoming soggy with spilt water etc. How does your shredded paper hold up?

[Bumblebat]

Cake frosting. That's what I would want to be kept on.
Jk (kind of)
If you're worried about dust, a lot of substrates can be rinsed pretty thoroughly. A pillow case helps. You could try spaghnum moss so long as you didn't let it get too humid.

[tiliqua38]

I line the bottom of mine with newspaper too, I worry about the newspaper shredded becoming soggy with spilt water etc. How does your shredded paper hold up?

The shredded paper is not newspaper, it is the mail that I put through the paper shredder. So a little sturdier I guess. Bubba's bowl is not very shallow, and Bubba is pretty old so he doesn't really spill his. I haven't had any problems.

[chelsea716]

Play sand can be washed with a hose until it runs clean. It removes all dust. I washed many bags of sand for hermit crabs, and trust me, washing until its clean removes ALL dust.