substrate?

[krrc]

I just started using aspen pellets insted of cali-sand even though I've known for a wile it's bad :confused: I dont get it eather. :) anyways does anyone else use this? at first I got them confused with alfefa pellets as I've heard some bad stuff about those but it seems to work good enough. my bearie barryed himself in his hide with them and sealed the entrance! (I wish I had pics :) it was very funny)

[Kat]

Honestly, I'd stick with something that he can't ingest in anyway. Either repticarpet, regular carpet, maybe some nice tiles, and of course there's good old fashioned paper towel!!! That's just my opinion!! :)

[krrc]

well with this suff since it's a tree ensentialy (aspen is a tree???)
and not all that small I dont think it would be something they would eat and if they did it would desove since it's organic (I think) I dono make sence in my little world:)

[eyespy]

I've seen a lot of impactions with that stuff, and it doesn't get digested. Organic it might be, but it doesn't digest nearly fast enough. Remember that stomach acids are only in contact with the gut contents for an hour or less, and it takes way longer than that to break down aspen.

The only particulate substrate I've tried yet that passes the acid test for digestibility is ground coconut husk like Bed-A-Beast or Eco-Earth. I've not yet tried wheat bran, though as there isn't a feed store near me.

[Zoe]

You could eat a ton of bark. Just because it's organic doesn't mean it can digested fast enough :]

I like Bed-A-Beast for lizards, myself. Or indoor/outdoor green carpet.

Zoe

[norman]

So that coconut dirt is fully digestable? I was using it but have since switched to paper.

[krrc]

k.. thanks I'll try that next time then

[eyespy]

There's not really any such thing as "fully digestible" when it's a non-food item, but it does pass my acid test. I put half of my hatchling beardies on coconut and half on paper towels last summer and the ones on coconut husk showed slightly increased cellulose levels in their stool samples, meaning they did digest some of it. There were no evidences of impaction, even with ultrasound. Of course, this is just one person's results and not a scientific test by any means. I was also hyper-careful about using tiny crickets so that there wasn't a lot of chitin that could potentially cause problems.

Like all internet advice, take with a grain of salt, read other people's opinions and use your best judgment. But I've had great results with Bed-a-Beast and like using it. You do have to make sure that it is fully dry, though, so you don't have problems with too much humidity.

[critters]

I have read that just regular everyday play sand that you buy for the childrens sand boxes is good to use. I buy mine at Lowe's. There is 50lbs per bag at $3 USD. I don't feed my 3 beardies in their cages I take them out and feed them. I read that the sand is much cleaner and does not have all the "extras".

Critters:p