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New Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 9/15/2007 9:42:51 PM
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| hi, i have been looking for good substrates for desert type lizards. Calcium sand sounds like a good idea. It helps herps get nutrients that they need and is supposedly easily digestible as well as it looks nice and natural. I would like to now if anyone uses this sand and how it has worked out for them. I would also like to know if you think there is a better substrate to use instead.
1 Red Eared Slider 1 Painted Turtle 1 Russian Tortoise 1 Mali Uromastyx 1 Ferret
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Senior Member
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Last Login: 2/6/2008 10:29:46 AM
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It's not as great a product as you think. No one really recommends it for baby lizards (usually less than 6-7"), and even then, many people with adult lizards have experienced problems with impaction. It really depends on exactly what species you're planning on using it for and its size. Personally, I would recommend a very fine-grade type of natural sand as opposed to most "calci-sands" out there. But still, never for babies. Another alternative is flat, slate tiles. These are easy to clean and have no risk of getting a lizard impacted.
Ophiuchus' "hot' topics: one's failure to do research before getting a pet herp (and the improper care methods that often ensue), savannah monitor diet, almost anything regarding green iguanas, wild herps taken from the wild to be pets, redundant & meaningless threads posted over & over, and the resurrection of dead threads!
Current Pets
1.0 ball python "Jasper"
0.0.1.hybrid milksnake "Tortilla"
Experience with: Pantherophis genus, Candoia genus, ball pythons, giant hognose snakes, US pond sliders, African sideneck turtles, most gecko species, frilled dragons, glass lizards, blue-tongued skinks, green iguanas ------------
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Starting Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 6/15/2007 10:49:43 AM
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Do calcium sands really have a higher risk of impaction than play sand or any other kind of sand? I've had my beardies on play sand for almost two years now and the only problem I've had was when I first put the female on sand. She "tasted" the sand excessively, and got constipated.(Impacted) She still had movement in all of her legs, but she couldn't uh...go. I soaked her in water for a few minutes everyday, and pretty soon, she went and was fine.
If you don't have any problems with regular sand, and you decide to switch to calcium sand do you increase the risk?
I Am Reptiman
2 beardies (not named yet)
2 leos (Eduardo and Lucy Marie)
1 beta (Deathray)
1 black lab (Max)
1 cat (Tess)
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Senior Member
Group: Banned Members
Last Login: 2/6/2008 10:29:46 AM
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Well, calcium sands have been proven not to be digested very quickly. So like I eluded to earlier, it depends more on the size of sand particles you use; i.e., the larger they are, the higher risk of impaction. Most "play-sand" available is similar in size to most calci-sands, so the risk is near equal. Which is why I suggest finding the finest-grade sand (almost powdery) possible, and using that.
Ophiuchus' "hot' topics: one's failure to do research before getting a pet herp (and the improper care methods that often ensue), savannah monitor diet, almost anything regarding green iguanas, wild herps taken from the wild to be pets, redundant & meaningless threads posted over & over, and the resurrection of dead threads!
Current Pets
1.0 ball python "Jasper"
0.0.1.hybrid milksnake "Tortilla"
Experience with: Pantherophis genus, Candoia genus, ball pythons, giant hognose snakes, US pond sliders, African sideneck turtles, most gecko species, frilled dragons, glass lizards, blue-tongued skinks, green iguanas ------------
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Junior Member
Group: Banned Members
Last Login: 5/19/2008 8:49:29 PM
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When I got my first snake, and did'nt know any better, a pet store's "reptile guy" recomended calci sand. So I mixed black and green sand together, and made a real cool looking setup. Two months later I pitched it. Here's the problems I had; Liquid waste would take forever to be absorbed and clump. It started to stink pretty quick, even with regular spot cleaning. It turned my snakes nose black. Its a pain in the *** to scoop out of the cage. If you want to use a fine grade sand as a substrate, and reduce risk of impaction further, then offer live food in bowls or in a seperate container.
1 Sandiego Gophersnake (Loki}
1 western hognose{Lilith}
1 everglades ratsnake{Gypsy)
1 Children's python {Delilah}
1 Mexican black kingsnake ( Corona)
1 Bull snake (Toro) 2 Crested geckos (Merlin and Jezebell)
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Starting Member
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Last Login: 9/6/2007 3:26:24 PM
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I agree that the "chunky" calci-sand is not really the best choice. My opinion on impaction is there are usually other husbandry issues affecting the animals normal digestion. I raised a beardie and other lizards on sand and never had problems, however it does happen. So if you have a small lizard I would use newspaper or paper towels and if you use sand, I would reccomend fine-grain sand.
1 crestie, 2 frillies, 1 redfoot, 1 forest hinge-back, 3tribbies,2 african sideneck, 2 collards, 1 beardie,1 frog-eye gecko,1cordylus mozambicus, 2 armadillo lizards, 2 stellios, 1 cone-head lizard, 1 white spotted gecko, 4 night lizrd, 1 afr. bullfrog, 1 golden tree frog,2 chubby frog,3 red&blk walking frogs,1 tomato frog, 1 great plains toad, 2 european green toads,1 IRN,1GP [:O]
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New Member
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Last Login: 1/16/2008 4:55:34 PM
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I know im a bit late but I want to chime in. I work in a pet store and i breed as a hobby. I have Bearded dragons and geckos. I have never used calci sand or reptisand. I started all my babies on papertowels and moved them to crushed walnut. I have never had issue with impacted animals. I do know several people who swear by the Calci sand. And to my knowledge they have never had issue.. So I guess its a 50/50 split on calci sand in my book....[ ]
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New Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 11/15/2007 4:23:25 PM
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The original owner of my bearded dragon used it
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have:
1 bearded dragon
1 california kingsnake
________________
had:
1 garter snake
4 sharp- tailed snake
2 ringnecked snakes
1 california kingsnake
lots bluebellys
lots alligator lizards
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New Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 1/14/2009 9:19:21 PM
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| sand is a bad choice. i almost lost one of my leopard geckos to impaction. luckly i caught it early enough and was able to help her pass it with several baths. i use the crushed walnut now, but i still monitor them closely. if i think there impacted they are switched to papertowls. slate tiles are the best choice.
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New Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 11/10/2007 3:53:28 AM
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| I despise calci-sand. Especially for young reptiles. It's no good at all. If you pour abit of water on it, it hardens kinda like concrete...this is sorta the same in your lizard's belly...and young reptiles typically can't handle this and get impacted. Adults can even get impacted on this sand. I vote that is is all around bad. I won't let my babies touch the stuff. I also disagree with sand for the fact that some brands of lizard sand are so fine that the particles and dust from it is breathed in and can cause problems. I don't recommend any sand. In the wild, there isn't really soft fine sand that lizards live on, it's all pretty much compacted for the most part...-Shrug- So I don't find it all that natural. I like reptile carpet, or non adhesive shelf liner. Safest things you can have. The non adhesive shelf liner is really simply to clean too.
`·.¸¸.·*°°*·.¸(¯`·.¸¤ My Reptiles ¤¸.·´¯)¸.·*°°*·.¸¸.·´ 1 Savannah Monitor(Creo) 1 Chinese Water Dragon(Ecko) ------------------------------------------------ Experienced with; Savannah monitors, Water dragons, Bearded dragons, Green Anoles, Red headed agamas, Ball pythons, Iguanas, Leopard geckos, Blue tailed skinks, Veiled Chameleons, and various wild snake species.
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