Vermiculite as a substrate

[Booger]

Is vermiculite a safe substrate to use? Thanks

 

[mattsnake]

I'd just go with mulch or paper towels. Use vermiculate for incubating eggs.

 

[Missymonkey]

good luck finding it, it's been banned around here because they say it causes cancer. I'm still using my last bag for my eggs after that's gone I will probably just use spaghnum moss. I use newspaper and shredded office paper as my substrate, cheap and effective but still smelly.

 

[moreptiles]

Based on my experience using vermiculite in my incubator with hatchlings, I would think that it would be very dirty for use as a substrate; expecially when it gets wet or if the snake is wet.
Mark

 

[Alicia]

good luck finding it, it's been banned around here because they say it causes cancer.

I just heard about that today. Something about asbestous???
I've been trying to find out more but have not been very successful. I sure would like to know more about it if someone has a link to some info.

I guess it's just moss or Pearlite next year.

 

[Booger]

I'm not concerned about how dirty it is, but whether or not it is safe for me or my snakes. Personally I like vermiculite, but I did not know about the asbestos. I found this link if it will help concerning the asbestos:

http://www.vermiculiteinstitute.org/tvi-verm-asb.htm

 

[Alicia]

Thanks

That was a helpful link.

I'm glad I won't have to give up the vermiculite for incubating the eggs

 

[Booger]

I have been using bark, but I hate the stuff because if you try to keep it a little moist, bugs with start to grow. Thats fine because you're supposed to replace the substrate anyhow, but Reptibark and stuff like that are a little expensive. Paper towels are, in my opinion, a pain because everything has to be moved in order to change it. I like vermiculite because I can keep it somewhat damp and pack it with my hands. It also absorbs very well and nothing in it will rot (inorganic).

All I want to know is whether or not it is safe in case on accidental ingestion or something like that.

 

[Alicia]

I would have to say that in the case of ingestion it could be bad. It's pretty sticky stuff when it gets wet and that would concern me if they were to ingest any. The size of the vermiculite is also important. The smaller fine stuff gets between their scales and that can't be very comfortable. I try to use the course stuff for my eggs. Even then when they hatch and crawl through the stuff it sticks to them, yuk. I clean them off before I transfer them to their deli cups. This is all just my opinion

The ReptiBark is a bit expensive but you can clean it and reuse it. I use it in my Pythons cages and I clean and reuse it with no problems.

 

[Missymonkey]

From what I have heard Vermiculite is made from subjecting a mineral called mica to intense heat which then makes it expand into a sponge like rock. So if your corn eats it, essensially it's eating rocks that hold moisture. I don't like the idea of a rock sitting inside my corn sucking up moisture, but I ate sand when I was little and I am pretty fine now.

I wouldn't use vermiculite just because there are so many other options which are less risky, but that's just me.