better substrate

[Vinser]

I am now using yesterday's new, which is pretty good. The only problem is the pellets is still too big, and crixs will easily hide and take out those left crixs is somewhat frastrating. I saw Kaytee Reptile Substrate in Petsmart, sounds promising and the size is smaller and should be good for preventing from crixs digging. So my question is, is there anyone who use it? Is it safe and good for baby dragons? These days you just ca't believe what manufacturer said, everyone claims there products are safe, while everybody knows it's NOT always true!

Here is some description found :


Kaytee Reptile Bedding

Kaytee Reptile Bedding is the absolute best and safest bedding you can provide for your reptiles. Kaytee Reptile Bedding can be safely consumed because it is made from natural alfalfa and a passable component for reptiles. Contains a bacteriostatic agent to help reduce germs and bacterial growth.

[krrc]

I will give my veiws on this only because it may help you out other wise there is just too much controvercy over this topic. I use childerns play sand, easy to clean and minamal impaction risk in mature bd's

Note: descriptions on packages are all but useless you must make a desition yourself and take the description with a big box of salt :)

[Vinser]

Well, I am sure play sand is something I will use later, it's ok for adults I believe, but mine is baby, about 8 weeks old only. I think the consensus here is sand is no good to small ones.

[Skink Keeper]

i use paper towel for my babies, i don't like to take any risks. Mine are about 9 or 10 weeks and there still on paper towel. Just my opinion though.

[eyespy]

I've flushed so much sand out of the digestive tracts of adult beardies that I don't recommend sand for any of them. They don't tend to develop the sudden blockages that quickly kill them off, but the accumulation of sand in their gut interferes with nutrient absorption and they start to waste away.

I'm not familiar with that brand of substrate, does it give actual contents as to the bacteristatic agent? Some of those can build up in the livers over time and cause toxicity issues. Alfalfa can often harbor mycotoxins which can cause respiratory and digestive system infections. I don't like it in beardie cages personally.

http://homepage.mac.com/mattocks/morfz/myco.html

[Kappa]

I keep my beardies on desert sand, is the impaction risk lowered since i feed them crickets in another tank that has repti turf as substrate? The only food they get on desert sand is salad and worms(in a dish of course) Any views?

[LISA127]

If it is 100% alfalfa pellets, it is safe if ingested. However, if it gets wet it will get moldy and icky, I don't care what the bag says. I suppose the only reptile I would keep on alfalfa pellets is uromastyx since the environment is so dry. By the way, rabbit food would be a much cheaper form of alfalfa pellets as bedding.

[eyespy]

There's always an impaction risk with sand because they tongue-flick so much and dry sand grains stick to the tongue, get swallowed, and then stick to the insides of the intestines. That's actually worse then when they swallow sand when eating. At least then there is food passing through as well so there's some chance the sand will stick to that and keep on passing through. When it enters the gut alone it is far more likely to cling. They swallow considerably less at any one time, but it's far more likely to stay put. The finer the sand, the higher the risk of clinging.

Here's the sand safety test, wet your hand and bury it in the sand. If you cannot easily shake it all off, then the beardie has no good chance of dislodging it from all those little nooks and crannies inside the intestines. Sometimes you can fine landscaping sands that pass that test, but it's pretty rare.

[Kappa]

what would u recommend on using eyespy? i dont want newpaper or paper towel cuz of my under tank heater.

[eyespy]

Ground coconut husk substrate like Bed a beast and Eco Earth dissolves completely in 5% hydrochloric acid and so is probably completely digestable. I've never tested oat or wheat bran because I don't have a feed store near me but they are probably equally safe.

If you do get coconut husk, only buy the kind that's dehydrated and pressed into a brick, then sealed in plastic. That's been heat processed at high enough temps to kill off any bacteria or fungus and then protected from contamination as long as the package is not ripped open. The stuff sold loose and mossy-looking in bags can harbor all sorts of pathogens as it's never been sanitized at high temperatures.

If you buy bran that is not human food grade and sold in sealed packages, thoroughly freeze it then let it come back to room temperature before use to kill off any insect eggs. It tends to hatch out all sorts of critters otherwise.

Why are you using a UTH for a beardie, though? They are heliotherms designed to absorb infrared and ultraviolet radiation into the bony armor plating along their backs. Without radiant heat from above it's tough for them to properly thermoregulate. UTH will keep the belly warm and stimulate digestion, but not thoroughly warm bones, muscles, brain, etc. Heat from a light source is best for any basking species of reptile.