You would think they'd stop selling it.

[Jay_Bunny]

Everytime I go into a petstore I see crushed walnut shells available as a substrate for reptiles. With all the negative reviews its getting, you would think they would pull it off the shelves, right? I mean, think people. This stuff is causing deaths, much more than the other substrates. That should tell you something.

My mom, against my warnings, got my bearded dragon Tyke the crushed walnut substrate. I was furious, but I didn't have any money to get him something else. I begged my mother to get something else and by the time she said she would, it was too late. Two weeks on that substrate and Tyke got impacted. For over a week, I stayed at home with him, giving him warm baths, giving him oil and giving him water from my fingers. He died in December on the day I got Zim.

It is a horrible way for a reptile to die. I was devestated when Tyke passed away. And it really irritates me when petstores still sell this stuff. I'm thinking of making little cards with info about the substrate and how dangerous it is, and pinning them to the bags.

[elevatethis]

Pet stores can't make money telling people to use newspaper, re-usable carpet substrate, etc....its a lot better to be able to sell a bag of walnut shell to customers month after month. $ comes first, the animals come fourth or fifth or tenth.

[Jay_Bunny]

If I ever ran a petstore, I would tell people what they should be using, and not looking to make a buck by selling them something that could potentially kill thier animal. I would rather make money selling them the right things than the wrong things.

Like when I go into some petstores, they have these "snake kits" which have dial thermometers, a small water dish, and feeding tongs. The water dish in that "kit" is no where near big enough. I could make more money off selling them a larger dish and better thermometers, and just lose a few dollars by not selling them the crap substrate.

[littleindiangirl]

i guess i've never heard that you cant use walnut shells. honestly i've never seen them there, but it is because of the oils or something thats harmful to the animal?

[Pork Chops N' Corn Bread]

i guess i've never heard that you cant use walnut shells. honestly i've never seen them there, but it is because of the oils or something thats harmful to the animal?

It has more to do with they cause impactions(internal plugs) in the animals that accidently ingest them

[Snakeman]

i guess i've never heard that you cant use walnut shells. honestly i've never seen them there, but it is because of the oils or something thats harmful to the animal?

they can be swallowed by the animal and can cause them to choke and be killed.if swallowed, they can get stuck in their digestive system and can kill them.

[Snakeman]

Pet stores can't make money telling people to use newspaper, re-usable carpet substrate, etc....its a lot better to be able to sell a bag of walnut shell to customers month after month. $ comes first, the animals come fourth or fifth or tenth.

after working at petco for some time, i realized this exact thing. $$ comes first and the animals are the last of their worries.

[Ginevive]

I would think that they could make more money off of selling cypress mulch in bags, off-season. I can NOT find it anywhere all winter! I would probably be the one who'd pay $10 a square foot for it
But I use newspaper now.

[Pork Chops N' Corn Bread]

I would think that they could make more money off of selling cypress mulch in bags, off-season. I can NOT find it anywhere all winter! I would probably be the one who'd pay $10 a square foot for it
But I use newspaper now.

lol Its the herp keepers that are looking for seasonal items all year round and buying them in bulk. The people at walmart better know I don't have 10 christmas trees to strore in June!!! lol

[jglass38]

The problem with crushed Walnut is the process used to crush them leaves every piece with sharp, jagged edges. If ingested, they are more likely to cause severe internal damage than impaction.