Dangerous pet products that should never be used for pets - Page 5

smy_749 · 04-29-13, 05:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EmbraceCalamity

Same. I used tons of Carefresh for my rat and never had to pick anything out of it. I'd tried some other things, but she really loves it. Now I only use a little just for her bed since she's been moved into a converted bookcase though.How exactly is that inhumane? I don't know anything about hermit crabs, but is it really gonna bother them having something on the outside of their shell?

~Maggot

Its inhumane because its embarrassing. What if the crab is a boy and you sent him to hang out with the other crabs in a pink shell with pom poms?

**Pareeeee** · 04-29-13, 07:23 AM

I just hope kids don't try gluing them on the crab's body

possum · 05-22-13, 07:15 PM

Ok I'll add one: never use any kind of tape to hold furnishings, probes, thermometers, paper substrates (etc) in place in the cage with a snake. The humidity makes it come unstuck, but for some reason it readily re-sticks to the snake who then lays over the UTH to "permanently" cement it in place.... (I was a noob once upon a time too, LOL)

ErikBush97 · 06-11-13, 11:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StudentoReptile

Expanding on heat rocks....Its funny that the further we (the collective reptile industry) got from what these animals get in the wild, the more we screwed things up. Not only is a heat rock hazardous, its completely redundant! If you are trying to provide a basking spot for a lizard or snake, or even a small tortoise, just use a REAL flat rock placed directly underneath the basking lights. This more naturally replicates what the reptile is going to experience in the wild, the rock or slate will heat up just as much, but there's no cords running into the enclosure, no concerns about a real rock overheating or short-circuiting.
----------

5.) Compact Fluorescent Bulbs for UVA/UVB (spiral-shaped, coil-shaped, etc.)
- These bulbs are basically an answer to hobbyists who wanted a UV bulb that would mount into an incandescent fixture. However, many reptile keepers (notably in the tortoise & bearded dragon communities) have claimed that these bulbs are too bright & intense, causing blindness in their animals. One thing to note is that these bulbs are designed to be mounted sideways in a horizontal fixture, NOT a standard dome fixture that points the bulb straight down. This could be a factor in some of the blindness cases, yet many keepers state that even when mounted correctly, the bulbs still cause blindness. Official studies on these bulbs are pending, but it is the general consensus of the herp community to avoid them. Stick to the traditional tube florescent bulbs or mercury vapor bulbs.

I use a Fluker's 5.0 UVB bulb for my Ball Python. It's spiral shaped, as you specified. Is this safe? The bulb in this picture isn't the same as mine. Just found it on Google to use as an example. The wattage is different

Lankyrob · 06-12-13, 05:54 AM

You dont need a uv bulb for a ball python?

smy_749 · 06-12-13, 06:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lankyrob

You dont need a uv bulb for a ball python?

Thats correct. Thanks for asking lol

Concept9 · 06-12-13, 06:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BarelyBreathing

I'm getting very frustrated with the amount of threads I see all over the internet about issues. It starts with something along the lines of "what's wrong with my pet"? and upon digging further, I see some of the most dreadful things they use in their enclosures for their reptiles. So, let's make a list of products marketed towards reptiles that should never actually be used. I'll start:

1: Calci-sand- This innocent enough looking bag of substrate may actually be the number one cause of non-health related impaction (meaning the animal is otherwise completely healthy). It even comes in fun colors! Why is it dangerous? First and foremost, Calci-sand is made of calcium. When an animal is low on calcium, it will be tempted to actually eat the substrate. Secondly, even if an animal is completely healthy, an animal will in some point of its life accidentally ingest its substrate. This can happen when it's hunting, eating greens, drinking, digging, or even just walking around. Calci-sand binds when it gets wet. Basically, it turns to glue in your animal's digestive tract. If your animal ingests this substrate, unless emergency medical care is sought soon after, it is likely that your animal will die an extremely painful death.

2: Heat rocks- Heat rocks are marketed as a great way to achieve a source for belly heat. Why are they dangerous? In the past, and even sometimes presently, they experience internal wiring shortages. When this occurs, instead of shutting off, the heat rocks will get so hot that they have actually been documented as causing third degree burns on reptiles.

3: Care fresh/ pet fresh/ recycled newspaper pellet bedding- These products are made for ease of cre when cleaning your pet's enclosures. They were made for animals that make large messes, such as rabbits, ferrets, hamsters, girbils, mice, and rats. Unfortunately, some of this bedding ends up in the reptile side of the pet hobby as well. To be honest, I'm not even a fan of using it for mammals. Why is is dangerous? Similarly to the first substrate, this type of bedding is ultra absorbant (exactly as it's advertised to be). If it's ingested, and it will be if you use it as a substrate with no barrier in between, it will actually absorb digestive fluids while in the digestive tract, causing impaction. This substrate also sucks humidity straight out of the environment, and can actually suck humidity out of your pet through skin contact if your pet is directly exposed to it for long enough periods.

4: Excavator Sand- Now this product is actually quite cool if used correctly. It's basically a molding sand. Get it wet, and you can build some very intricate landscapes. Why is it dangerous? Exactly the same reason that makes it so cool. If the slightest amount of water comes in contact with this sand, it will stick itself to whatever is wet. For example, if you use it for your bearded dragon and your bearded dragon walks through its water bowl and then walks onto the substrate, he will have a thick layer of Excavator Sand coating his feet and toes. There are documented incidents of this happening and the reptile involved will have open sores that can get infected, and in some cases lose limbs. This product should ONLY be used on the few desert reptiles that never need water bowls provided to them in their enclosures, such as uromastyx.

Alright folks, add your own dangerous pet product.

I agree with this entirely. But regarding heat rocks, Zoo Med has changed there's so if they short or fail they now do so in the off position.

FYI.

ErikBush97 · 06-12-13, 11:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lankyrob

You dont need a uv bulb for a ball python?

You don't NEED one, but it is good for them.

KORBIN5895 · 06-13-13, 03:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ErikBush97

You don't NEED one, but it is good for them.

No it's not. Do you know anything about their habits in nature.

Lankyrob · 06-13-13, 05:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ErikBush97

You don't NEED one, but it is good for them.

Am interested in this, can you show me how it is good for them?

infernalis · 06-13-13, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ErikBush97

You don't NEED one, but it is good for them.

??? for a nocturnal snake?? how so??

ErikBush97 · 06-14-13, 01:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lankyrob

Am interested in this, can you show me how it is good for them?

It provides vitamin D. As I said. It's not needed but it is good for them.

brandonh · 06-14-13, 01:25 AM

why would vitamin D help a nocturnal snake ? i don't know thats why i am asking

ErikBush97 · 06-14-13, 01:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by infernalis

??? for a nocturnal snake?? how so??

My Ball is active 50-80% of the day. he's anything but nocturnal. And even if he's asleep, he still benefits from the Vitamins and UV Rays that are put out by the UVB. I don't know why everything needs to turn into an argument on this forum.

ErikBush97 · 06-14-13, 01:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brandonh

why would vitamin D help a nocturnal snake ? i don't know thats why i am asking

Even if the snake is asleep during the day, he will benefit from vitamin D and UV rays. Give ANY animal some extra vitamin D and it'll improve their health.

Edit: My snake hardly sits still.. or lays still I should say

So I don't see how he's nocturnal! I mean... If it's a fact, it's a fact. My Ball just doesn't stay still long enough for me to think he's asleep. Also... If the snake is nocturnal, the UV rays/light from the UVB could help the snake to sleep if you think about it... To a nocturnal snake, light = sleep - dark = no sleepy sleepy. so as long as I turn that light off when I go to bed, the snake has a guide line as to when it's bed time.