Hello,

I just took the time to read this thread, and the deleted posts from this thread (I can see what has been deleted). I have to say, I am less than impressed by how some of you have handled yourselves.

Substrate debates do not make one person "right" or "wrong". It's all about experience, research, and the route that each keeper decides to take.

Particulate substrates come with risk. Everyone that keeps reptiles and has read about them online is aware of this.

Certain species are more supseptible to impaction and complications when kept on certain substrates. While there may be risk with all substrates, it is the keepers decision whether they choose to use them or not. All anyone else can do is try to share what they have learned.

The title of this thread is "Calci-sand?". Calci-sand, in my opinion, is one of the absolute worst substrates on the market. Anyone who wishes to use sand in their enclosures should avoid calci-sand and stick with normal, small grained, washed playsand.

Calci-sand is vastly composed of calcium carbonate. Calcium carbonate is the active ingredient in many antacids. When consumed, it can and will neutralize the acid content in the stomach. With reptiles, this is dangerous. Seeing as accidental consumption is likely, they could easily consume enough of this substrate to make their stomach acids ineffective at digesting even additional calci-sand. The problem though is that it can impair the ability to digest food adequately. It is also worthy of noting that calci-sand includes a "dust". This dust can cause eye irritation. The dyes used to color the sand is also noted as staining the skin.

__________________

here here marsha I do not use sand with my Leopard Geckos or Bearded Dragons I only use sand in my fishtank and my fish never get impacted so im going to go with if you want sand use it you can always feed in a different container and in the case with a uromastyx they dont eat bugs often so they mostly eat out of a dish mine never drags his out of the dish so I feel theres little to worry about and if you are grab a slate tile and put it under his dish on top of the sand. as a food stand
my 2 cents
(BTW my uro is on repti carpet and when he wants to dig he just goes under neath for cover)

__________________
0.0.1 Iguana Pickle
0-1-0 Bearded Dragon Honey
1-1-0 Red Tail Boa Libby&Dogma
1-0-0 Cat Rajha
0-0-1 Charcoal Corn Snake Strider
1-1-0 Chinese Water Dragons Isis & Osiris
1-1-0 Cockitiles Hawk&Ashley
1-0-0 Tangerine Leopard Gecko 9erz
0-1-0 Leopard gecko Jets
1-0-0 Mali Uromastyx Uri
0-0-2 Betas Holly & Go (kids fish)
0-0-1 Red Eared Slider Shelly
R.I.P hamster hamtaro
R.I.P Wolf Lab Cross Kenya

You must have not listened either MoogleBass...I did not say you did not do research and I stated that with a uro I'm not familar with their backgrounds so I do not know but I...which means me...myself...would go with something different. Not trying to rip you MoongleBass just wanted to let people be aware that it isn't safe for everything and just because someone uses it and says it safe is doesn't mean it is. They should always do research themselves instead of listening to strangers on the internet. I did not say all who use sand are in the wrong for doing it, you did.

I know a lot of people feel attacked every time the sand thing comes up when they're using it and there are people who freak out about using it with anything because they've seen geckos die from it and I do understand that there are things that naturally live on it and would be a lot happier to have a natural environment. I'm not attacking people using sand I'm stating that be aware of what your about to do (not you MoogleBass...people who haven't researched it).

You had no reason to say anything like that to me or claim anything about me. I have no problems with people using sand as long as they actually clean it and its with something that belongs on it.

I think my posts were the ones mostly deleted for getting a little out of hand. But I'm sure you know, when you try to explain something to someone and they are too thick to understand, it gets a bit frustrating.

I don't really have any view on either substrate, I just would rather not risk anything with any sort of sand so I use paper towel and newspaper. I have even read that Uromastyx can be kept semi-humid and also given a water dish. I haven't had much luck with any humidity when I tried, the water evaporated too fast. If you are interested in learning about it go to www.proexotics.com and loo under their care information for their Uromastyx...

Alex

__________________
Beauty is 'Normal'

There was enough rudeness and lack of civility to go around on ALL parts! And none of it was required to have a discussion even with opposing viewpoints. Thats why I removed ALL of the posts!
When you have been doing this as long as I have you will also learn that as soon as that type of dialog begins the discussion is over and no one is going to learn anything!
Not even something that just might make someone reconsider THEIR side of the argument and possibly result in better care for EVERYONE'S animal.

And isn't that the goal?

__________________
Merlin,
What's Life Without A Little Magic!

__________________

Zane Neher.

The great and strong man is one who bears within his character many contradictions.
Crocodilian care.

The way your post came off JK is that it was directed to me. Cause you said your geckos. I said what I said to make my point known. I knew the second I said, "I use sand" there would be some to say something. See heres the thing I was defending my point and my care for my animals,I was poked, so I poked back. I know sand is generaly a bad idea for most things. Thats why they make Google, its a wonderful tool. Use it.

__________________

I hate Google. It never gives me answers for questions I truely have. It's good for common situations, I guess, but I like to just make stuff up.

__________________

Zane Neher.

The great and strong man is one who bears within his character many contradictions.
Crocodilian care.

MoogleBass I'm sorry you took it that way and that you thought I was "poking" someone I really wasn't. There was no need for you to "poke" me back. But when your making a post on a forum...hmm...let me rephrase that...But when me you or somebody else, as in a human being is making their own post on any forum a lot of the time when said *human being* is posting that *human being* will refer to the group the *human being* is typing to as "you", as in the general audience. There of course, the general audience were those who were thinking about putting something on sand without doing research. Sorry again that you took it the wrong way. I never mean to attack anyone unless there is a reason (people who come on asking for help and everyone gives the same answer and they refuse to take it...mainly people coming on forums to make people upset). Once again, I have no problems with people using sand, and that quote was not directed at you

Iggy if I where u I would use reptilite sand it is a much finer grained substrate and easily passes through the digestive system. I've had my Bearded Dragon on it for 4 years and never had a problem.