Substrate question...

[Savvy19]

I have this Desert Blend Calcium Sand I believe by ESU Reptile. It says it's "a digestible form of calcium. It's light, and pure, and readily breaks down in your reptiles Digestive System, reducing imaction problems." It also states that it "ensures ah hygenic envirmoent... easy clean-up since calcium clumps around wetness, permitting effortless removal with scooping."

Now, I was told sand was a bad substrate for snakes, incase of digestion, because it doesnt digest... but if this is calcium, which is digestible, and isnt anywhere near the feeding area (if fed in same tank), would it still be a problem as a substrate? It says "perfect choice for snakes, lizards, tortoises, and other desert-dwelling reptiles." It comes in a bunch of different colors, and stuff, too. I have it in purple right now, because I used it with my hermit crabs (what I have left over is un-used, and clean...).

I havent tried it, so I was wondering if anyone else has? I'm kind of hesitant, due to the fact that forms of sand were not good substrates, so I thought I'd see what you guys and gals think.

Here's a link to the makers website... it's a direct link to the product, but i figure if you feel the need, you can browse on your own, haha.

http://esuweb.com/cardfile.asp?ItemNumber=00662&IDProductRelationship=151

 

[Teek]

Noooo. Don't trust that stuff as far as you can throw 100 lbs. of it.

Just look at this link from The Reptile Rooms. It speaks for itself: Calci-sand impaction

 

[sbourget]

The problem is that Corn snakes aren't desert dwelling species and a sand substrate will cause problems. They're not adapted to living on sand, but rather on moss, dirt and other semi-tropical type substrates. Below are some problems I can think of:
1) reduced humidity 2) even calcium sand in large enough quantities can cause an impaction. 3) If the grains get under the scales or into the snake's vent it can cause painful inflamations.

 

[Savvy19]

Yeah, I really wasnt planning on actually using it... I thought maybe a little mixed in to the bed-a-beast might not be to bad, but I voted against myself for that, haha. I knew there would be issues, which is why I was hesitant, but I thought I'd bring it up anyways. It's pretty... Maybe I'll get some type of lizzard so I can use it, haha.

 

[DaemoNox]

Dont bother with the calcium sand at all for any reptile; for the few lizards out there in captivityvwho naturally live in inches of loose sand fine grain playsand is the best choice. The fact that it is calcium makes it dangerous, what happens when its injested is that its very hard to digest completely, leaving the particles with jagged edges that become locked together which can build up to a mass that can cause problems; instead of just passing through.

 

[Tracee]

I was advised to use calcium sand by a reptile store (who take good care of their animals and do know their stuff), they'd never had a problem with it for any of their snakes.

Personally I wouldn't take the risk.

 

[BeckyG]

I recently read an article in which the author's lizard (I forget what kind it was) nearly died from an inpaction of that sand. I would't recommend it for anything.

 

[MikeSaw23]

No No

I really would not go with that!
I used to have some and TRUST ME MITES MITES MITES get in that sand!!!
Those mice in that sand are nearly impossilbe to get out also it could also get in your snake's eyes or degestive track which can creat problems. I recommend something else like paper towels. I use paper towels and they are great.

Keep you snake's healthy!!!

 

[danigurrl]

That stuff is more for leopard geckos who purposely eat their substrate. Not the brightest crayons in the box, are they? :grin01:

 

[Savvy19]

Hahaha, It's ok guys, I'm not gonna use it... I never was... I just thought I'd see what others thought. I used it for my hermit crabs, because they ate the sand as part of their diet, and the calcium helped...

I used a combo of bed-a-beast, and newspapers, haha. I have a little bed-a-beast tray to keep it from getting all over the tank, I line the whole tank with newspaper, and I pile a bunch of hand-torn newspaper in the other side. He loves it... I have a bunch of cholla and a climbing tree for him, so he's doing good.

I was basically just asking about it because it said "For snakes" on the package, but I knew, from common sense, and from what you guys have told me, that sand of any form was a bad idea.

 

[Snape]

yeah dont use sand. i lost a beardie due to that calcium sand. and especially for a cornsnake. maybe a hognose, or a sand boa or something but definatley not a corn.