Question about substrate!

[Germ]

so i should use sand

If you want a particle substrate, Children's Washed Play Sand is the only one that I would personally recommend providing that your BD is 10+" or larger. It's available at most larger hardware stores or Garden centers for something like $4-$5/50 lb bag. Be sure that it is sand & not gravelly, if there are larger pebbles in it, it must be strained. Keep your BD well Hydrated & your temps up to par & it works just fine. The other alternatives are Non-particle substrates.

 

[Vincent]

Yes, That type of sand is a very high impaction risk, because it clumps or binds together when moistened & can harden like cement as in this pic of a Calci-sand impaction xray.

This X-ray image is probably the most real example that I've ever seen, to make people fully aware that this is a very real and dangerous threat, and not just blown out of proportion.

Photo credit: BD.org

Sorry to hear about your other BD passing

Thankyou so much Germ......................!!...

 

[Vincent]

Hey Germ, do you know where I can find cheap dubia cockroaches at.

 

[Vincent]

where do you get that sand you were talking about from.

 

[Germ]

Hey Germ, do you know where I can find cheap dubia cockroaches at.

I'm in Canada, as you've seen, there a number of ads in the For Sale section for them, in the US I highly recommend http://theroachranch.com/online_store.html , Ian is very personable & helpful to talk to, if I'm not mistaken 20% overcount, guaranteed & free delivery US wide.

 

[Vincent]

you are a great help man!!!

 

[Germ]

where do you get that sand you were talking about from.

Just about any Garden Center, or larger hardware store, Walmart, Home Depot, etc. But stay clear of any colored or dyed sands. It is usually called 'Children's Washed Play Sand' or just 'Washed Play Sand'.

 

[Vincent]

ok thanks alot!!!!

 

[SouthernDissolution]

I preach Ceramic Tile for a reason >.>

 

[Aleena]

I preach Ceramic Tile for a reason >.>

Even newspaper has dye that can rub off on feet, I would imagine.

 

[Vincent]

I preach Ceramic Tile for a reason >.>

I would use sand , because it fits their envirnment

 

[Vincent]

Even newspaper has dye that can rub off on feet, I would imagine.

but thats just me

 

[Aleena]

I would use sand , because it fits their envirment

You just have to be especially careful on the sand you use! We've actually got a ton of leftover children's washed play sand from cleo's recent lay. I think we're gonna see if we like it, it comes in 50 lb bags, I got it for under $5 as well. I was pretty impressed. I could see switching that out once a month. We've been using nothing but newspaper for a long time. The girls'll have a ball.

 

[Germ]

You can switch it out monthly if you like, I don't know anyone that does, I sure don't. With daily waste removal, usually very shortly after it is deposited, I don't change mine for 6-8 months or more. But that is me & not necessarily a recommendation.

 

[Vincent]

Thats good , I DONT believe news paper is a good substract. I think Cleo will love the sand way better than news paper.

 

[Aleena]

You can switch it out monthly if you like, I don't know anyone that does, I sure don't. With daily waste removal, usually very shortly after it is deposited, I don't change mine for 6-8 months or more. But that is me & not necessarily a recommendation.

They're in my room though and sand gets smelly fast.

 

[Vincent]

You can switch it out monthly if you like, I don't know anyone that does, I sure don't. With daily waste removal, usually very shortly after it is deposited, I don't change mine for 6-8 months or more. But that is me & not necessarily a recommendation.

I think it would be a good idea just to take half of the sand out and put NEW FRESH sand in

 

[Aleena]

Thats good , I DONT believe news paper is a good substract. I think Cleo will love the sand way better than news paper.

Newspaper works well enough as a substrate. It keeps them from getting impacted, and is one of the safer substrates out there.

 

[Germ]

They're in my room though and sand gets smelly fast.

I have 4 enclosures, 450 lbs of sand in an 8'x10' room that I have my desk in & spend the majority of my time & don't have an odor problem. Actually I have had visitors on a couple of occasions, that are unfamiliar with reptiles, comment "Oh and they don't smell, I thought they would." If it does start to have an odor, then it gets changed out. It's not like a cat box full of urine.

 

[Aleena]

I have 4 enclosures, 400 lbs of sand in an 8'x10' room that I have my desk in & spend the majority of my time & don't have an odor problem. Actually I have had visitors on a couple of occasions, that are unfamiliar with reptiles, comment "Oh and they don't smell, I thought they would." If it does start to have an odor, then it gets changed out. It's not like a cat box full of urine.

Awesome, because calci sand stunk to high heavens even if you cleaned it regularly.