So one thing I have learned since I have started my new found interest is sand is bad. I talked to some of the reptile people at the store I work and they all say that sand is bad and even though the store manager wants sand with some of the animals we try and use calisand in order to help with the problem. So my question is does calcium sand work? Is it as good as they say or is it just a con and can harm the animals?

To be perfectly honest with you, pet stores make it their business to make a sale. From what I hear, calcisand is very abrasive and larger than play sand. Playsand is also cleaned for use in sandboxes....I use newspaper for all my reptiles only because even playsand can cause impactions. IF there is a chance, then it isnt worth using. Good luck. Lyn

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Warmest Regards from Lyn

The anti-sand folks usually say calcisand is 10 times worse than regular sand so you might not be "helping with the problem" but making it worse.

A recent member say he's using a sand by Namiba Terra that becomes hard when misted. Logic tells me that if I eat a spoon of it, it will become a rock in my stomach but since I read some good and bad things about this but not as bad as calcisand, I would say that it's worth your time.

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Wish list: Blue Tongue Skinks and Uruplatus =)

Seeing this post I can see your worries in the use of any sand. In a dry state the Namiba Terra sand would be just as bad as any other. I think that a amount of clay is added to the sand to make it forum a hard surface after drying. With little to no loose particals the chance of impaction is little to non. It's not yet being sold in the outside of eroupe. If your intrested you could try http://www.reptilica.de I think they ship woldwide, they have an english site, though the majority of the information is in German.

Hey Titus, can you provide a link to the product page in reptilica or in the namiba terra site? I searched for Savanna and I didn't found any sand substrate with that name.

Thanks =)

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Wish list: Blue Tongue Skinks and Uruplatus =)

Link http://www.reptilica.de/shop/product...rman/index.htm
theres no product information in english so I've included a translation of the german text they have change the packaging since the photo was taken for the site the new package says "Savanna Red" or "Savanna Orange" as the color the "Original Red sand" sold not be used as it is a loose sand.

Translation of German Text
Namiba Terra of red Terrariensand is a desert sand, which is suitable particularly due to its condition for wild and savanna-inhabiting reptiles, scorpions and small rodents. The remarkable red decorative colouring of this sand offers above all large kinds of reptile e.g. Kragenechsen, Bartagamen and Waranen, in addition, small Bodengeckos promotes a natural environment, thus a kind-typical behavior Terrarium and offers good conditions for digging. This red Terrariensand is filled up damp into the PolyBag and should be able to dry first, before the respective reptiles are Placed there. To dig with the dry this sand hard and makes possible excavate-building reptiles, with appropriate sand height (at least 10cm) courses and caves into sand.

I am against calcisand,,,when it gets wet it clumps together and this is what happens lizards eat it and they become impacted. Regular play sand does not do this. Like Lyn said,,,stores are only in it for the all mighty dollar.

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MARSHA

:D I'm smiling because I have no idea whats going on!

I too am against calci sand, or any type of sand substrate.

I see after reading this what do you guys think of eco-earth? thanks guys!

It depends what herps you want to use the eco-earth for. It's not generally used in desert set ups, and even then i've heard nasty things about it causing eye infections.
For a more 'natural' look you can use slate tiles, they work great and keep lizard nails nice and short.

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~*~Lacey~*~

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