Aspen is a great substrate for many snakes.

For boas......not so much.

Sonja?

Aspen is a great bedding for boas and I had no problem with aspen bedding for the past two years.  I used that particular brand from zoo med long time ago without problems.  Only problem with aspen is that some brands tend to be dusty, but once it's settled, not much of an issue.  The brand you are using is less dusty than the Harlen product I'm using now.

Snakes are not like rodents which run around alot, so dust shouldn't be a problem.  I'm not sure what makes you think it's respiratory issue, but if there is no bublling around the nose, it should be ok.  I have one of my older boa that huffs when I'm handling due to excessive movement, but inside her cage, her breathing is normal.  I'm no expert at this matter, but check your temps and humidity within the enclosure.  Most respiratory infectionis caused by temps and humidity issues. Typically common boas would need 55% - 65% humidity, hot spot temp 90 and ambient temp around 80.  Good luck.

I'm not saying it can't be used I just don't see how you can get the humidity you need for a boas using aspen. But then again I don't keep boas.......

Once again......Sonja chime in please?

Interestingly I was told by my vet (very much so a herp keeper) that some aspen can cause RIs and she recommends either cypress, newspaper, paper towels, or carefresh.  I use the chip aspen since if any is swallowed it's much smaller and it's not as dusty as some of the other aspen I've used.  Shed can sometimes cause weird breathing sounds, I'd keep an eye on it, after the next shed if you still hear the weird breathing sounds it might be time for a vet trip.

Brittany has a point IMO. Any aspen you get is going to have some level of dust. Chips are less, shavings much more. But anytime you go change a water bowl or clean some poop some dust is going to get kicked up. Every person I personally know that keeps boas keeps them all the things Tiki's vet suggested. But the substrate may not even be the case. If you have a herp vet a trip may be in order.

I do not currently have a herp vet as I've been kind of a nomad, traveling to different seasonal jobs every 3ish months at a time for the last year. However, I am finally moving to the west coast in January where I'll be settled for at least a year and plan on finding a vet in that area asap. Thanks for the substrate ideas! Probably look into cyprus but for now he'll be on newsaper until I figure out exactly what his deal is.

I keep my boas on aspen, and have for the last 10 years, and never had a snake with a respiratory infection - so aspen in and of itself is not a problem.  That said I haven't ever used that brand, so perhaps it's just so dusty it causes RIs.  I use the Kaytee stuff mostly, but have also bought Petco's store brand and Petsmart's Grreat Choice when I had to.  The Kaytee stuff just seems softer and fluffier.  I don't have problems keeping my snakes plenty hydrated on aspen even here in Alaska where the house is heated 12 months of the year - and I don't mist the boas.  I routinely get nice perfect one piece sheds as well.  I don't like aspen for rainbow boas, but for BCI and BCC (and rosys) I think it works great.

It sounds like he possibly was excited by being handled and getting attention and was breathing differently because of that.  You said you haven't seen him in 6 months, so maybe he hasn't been handled much in that time?  If he's used to being left in the cage suddenly somebody taking him out and handling him could excite him, and he could breathe harder - making his breathing sound funny or more noticible.

Is it also possible he's a little dehydrated?  It sounds like you plucked a piece of stuck shed off of his nose, and stuck shed is a sign of not being properly hydrated.  That could also cause funny breathing sounds, but might not be a RI.

He's been handled nearly every day by my boyfriend and family who have been taking care of him for the past 6 months, but as for the dehydration that could be a possibility...maybe. My boyfriend drove from NY to Omaha, NE to visit me, on his way to WA and took all our reptiles with him in the car for the 3 days before seeing me, providing them water during the evenings so it MIGHT be because of dehydration due to the traveling but I'm not totally convinced since I think he shed before leaving NY and I know he was given water everyday.

I've also never experienced any problems with using aspen in the last 3 years but I may just try cypress after newspaper and see if his breathing thing clears up. If not then I will take him to a vet once I am settled in January in a new location. Thanks!

Did the breathing get better / worse?

I currently use paper, but used Aspen in my racks for multiple years for all species, including Boas, without issue. I wouldn't think it to be related to the substrate. I wonder if there is additional retained shed within the nostril that isn't visible to you. I think having your boyfriend switch to paper for the time being is a good idea, though. It it were my animal, I would try soaking in a large tub with enough water where the animal will get it's head under water while it's exploring, and as a result, if it is additional retained shed in the nostril, it possibly will loosen up enough for it to be visible / pushed out??

Scout was switched to newspaper though I think his breathing is a tad bit better, but still kinda sounds 'breathy'. I'll let my boyfriend know to stick him in the tub tonight and see if he can look for any retained shed in his nostrils. Thanks!

Curious - now that you're there, how's your Boa doing?

Scouts doing great! No more nasally breathing after switching him to newspaper. Now his problem is needing a larger tank or tub haha.

This question has had no activity for 14 days and will be closed by an administrator unless the original poster takes action.

Recommended Action: Points awarded

An administrator will select responses and assign points at their discretion.

Original poster, please close this question out and assign points. If you have any further information in the resolution of your problem, please post it here so that others may learn from it.

Hey I just met you. And this is crazy. But award some points. Close this question, maybe?