walnut shels?

[cole]

I just bought a new tank for my beardie and i wanted a new substrate because I know that sand is bad for them no matter how big they are. Would crushed walnut shells be good for my beardie(shes about 10-11 inches long and only about 3-4 months old).

and also is she the right size for 3-4 months because shes growing like crazy!?:confused:

[Zoe]

I'm not 100% on this, but I am pretty sure that wal-nut shells are a major no-no.

Zoe

[cole]

comon guys let me know if i should get rid of this stuff!

eyespy i know u no if its good or not

Help me out.

[Wuntu Menny]

Personally, I wouldn't touch the stuff with a 10 foot snake hook. I still can't believe the stuff is marketed as herp substrate. I've seen enough impacted leopard geckos from this material to ever consider using it.

WM

[reptilez]

I dont know if we are thinking of the same stuff.
Im soon gunna by a bag of crushed walnut shells. i saw the same stuff called lizard litter. If we are talking about the same stuff i heard it was really good and i will be purchising it.
Happy Herping,
-Reptilez

[Wuntu Menny]

Yep, that's the stuff. The only people I've heard good things from are the ones trying to sell it.

[reptilez]

Interesting, Ill add more to this thread tommorow when i get back from the reptile shop.
-Reptilez

[drewlowe]

I've used lizard litter for my leos and let me tell you as soon as i noticed it i took them off and for 2 weeks they were pooping lizard litter. I personaly will never use it again. As far as i belive walnut shells cause impactation also. If you want a good substrate try bed a beast , eco earth (same thing coconut fibers) or wheat bran.

Jamie

[eyespy]

If I saved all the walnut shells I helped surgeons pick out of herp guts I could open a garden center and mulch all the gardens in town. I just plain hate the stuff.

[cole]

what about lizard litter?

i went to the pet store today and saw it and the guy said it was perfect for bearded dragons, and that if they swallowed it that they could easily digest it.


is that stuff any good?

[eyespy]

Which type of lizard litter? There are a few different companies that market substrate under that name, made from different materials.

The stuff made of kapok, a plant fiber, might be fine. Other brands are made from walnut shells, bark, or other indigestible plant-based materials.

Here's a quick test you can ask the pet store employees to do for you. If a substrate doesn't become soft and mushy after being covered by vinegar for an hour, there's no way a herp is going to digest it.

Walnut shells can sit in acid for days without breaking down.

[cole]

if none of this stuff works then what would be then best thing besides newspaper?

it seems like everything that the pet stores say is good.......isnt

i dont know what to use for her:confused:

[eyespy]

I hope you see I edited my post, I realized that in some areas "Lizard Litter" refers to the kapok stuff, which I can't find near me. In the stores near me the brand name "Lizard Litter" varies in content between walnut shells, mulches and bark chips.

I personally use bed-a-beast or other coconut husk fibers. Wheat or oat bran, reptile carpeting, newspaper and paper towels are other safe choices.

Still, the general rule of thumb is to feed in a separate enclosure whenever a substrate comes in pieces smaller than the animal's head. Even digestible things such as food can cause impaction if too large a mouthful is swallowed at once so any particulate substrate carries a small impaction risk.

[cole]

the brand is Esu Reptile Lizard Litter


it says it contains no bark or wood and can be easily digested.

when it gets wet it gets soft and feels like a sponge

[eyespy]

Does it go totally mushy, like cornflakes sitting too long in milk? That's the texture you want to see. It should literally fall apart when you pick it up and apply very gentle pressure. Otherwise it's an impaction risk.

[cole]

yes thats what its like.

so its ok for her then?

well, thanks for ur help.


i was getting so frusturated with all my local petstores telling me what was good and what wasnt....in the end i found out that they know absolutely nothing about herps :mad:

[drewlowe]

Cole read my first post about lizard litter. It's that same exact brand and it impacted my leos. They were pooping that stuff 2 weeks after being taken off of it and put on paper towel. I personaly would use bed a beast or wheat bran.