Safe Substrates.

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
S

snakefin

Candiru
MFK Member
May 31, 2010
786
2
48
Random Location.
I'm just wondering which substrates are safe, as far as I know, most of the products are crap, and now I'm wondering whether zoo med's is too.
So can anyone help to list down safe substrates for...
A) Forest species
B) Desert species
 
Never pine or cedar.
Aspen, walnut, eco earth, cypress, repti-bark, sand. Most commercially available substrates are fine but they all have their own issues. Any substrate can be ingested (including paper towels and even news paper if your animals are that talented) but most of it will pass without problems if it's not in great amounts and if the temps are correct.
Pretty much the only "substrate" I adamantly advise against is repti-carpet.... i hate that stuff....
I have been researching calci-sand recently as well and it would appear that it can actually be dangerous because it is made of calcium carbonate, which neutralizes stomach acid... so if something eats enough of it it will almost certainly cause impaction... however... calcium carbonate is the main ingredient in calcium supplements as well... so until I find something explaining exactly how it is metabolized and how much it takes to be a problem I can't exactly say it is risky.... but i do still hate it... .regular sanitized play sand is much better.
 
Go to a garden center, buy topsoil, playground sand, and perlite. Simply mix and go as you will. The wetter you want it, the more topsoil you use.

Avoid calci-sand, regardless of what you might read it is not safe.

You just have to decide how naturalistic you're going. Paper towel works wonders and makes more easy cleaning but it looks terrible. A natural display looks awesome but can be hell to clean. Your call.

What animal are you housing anyhow?
 
I'm just doing a general list, no exactly housing anything new other than the leopard geckos I have had for the past year or so. I don't think walnut or bark chips are recommended at all. Repti-sand from zoomed? Safe?
 
the best substrates in the world are found in hardware stores and garden centers. Cypress mulch for anything that needs humidity and play sand for for anything dessert like. I also use peat moss and will sometimes mix the three together to make a nice substrate for plants most plants and something that will hold small burrows.
 
Don't forget tile! Tile has become one of my favorites for a dessert set up. You can find designs that are very natural looking, or very unnatural but stylish if thats what you want. It is pretty cheap, easy to clean, safe, and you can cut it and grout it to any size you want.
 
hermeticcharm;4424652; said:
Don't forget tile! Tile has become one of my favorites for a dessert set up. You can find designs that are very natural looking, or very unnatural but stylish if thats what you want. It is pretty cheap, easy to clean, safe, and you can cut it and grout it to any size you want.
Click to expand...
it also absorbs and retains heat very well.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom