substrate convert-update

[Pia]

I just received an e-mail from Zoo Med regarding Eco-Earth. Contrary to Bed a beast claims, I was told that it is a low risk for impaction and small amounts would pass through the herps system but if very large amounts were ingested it could cause impaction because the body doesn't break it down. Now I'm confused. Maybe carpet is the best bet after all. I am going to e-mail Bed a beast and will post any feedback I get.

[eyespy]

ANY particulate substrate has the potential to cause impaction and honest companies admit that. Even feces by itself can cause impaction, with no foreign matter included so add bits of cellulose and the risk goes up a slight bit more.

But there's never been a documented case of reptiles with hydrolytic digestion (water, acids, and enzymes) such as bearded dragons getting impacted on coconut husk substrates. I've never even seen undigested particles in feces or the digestive tract of a beardie.

The impactions on the records have all occurred in hindgut fermenters such as green iguanas and sulcata tortoises. The acid content of coconut husk substrates is thought to kill off some of the beneficial bacteria they use for breaking down food. That is not a risk in beardies who don't have a "fermenting" region and who tolerate much higher acid diets. Beardies do have some beneficial bacteria in the large intestine they use for breaking down foods, as do most creatures, but not in a specific chamber where the bacteria colony is vulnerable to pH changes.

I've actually seen several hundred impactions from reptile carpeting. Many folks don't "hem" it and the edges fray over time and their animals eat the "strings". Reptile carpeting is a bigger impaction risk than coconut husk substrate for that reason, although if you carefully inspect it and maintain it that's not a real risk either.

[Pia]

OK, that helped clear things up. I have decided to stick with Eco Earth. Thanks once again for your help.

[Siretsap]

Maybe not for your beardies but one of my leo's did get an impaction on coconut husk substrates. They got impactions on that, sand, crushed walnut shells... THe only thing I found to be good was newspaper.

[eyespy]

Siretsap, you should ask your vet to post that info on Veterinary Information Network and ARAV, as there's still no documented cases of cellulose impaction in leos and they might be very interested in getting the case history.