warning....

[gixxerrobballs]

i found this on KS....

Posted by: meeker at Wed Feb 25 13:53:19 2009
I am writing this to let you all know about my experiences with the product “Cell-SOB Plus®”. I first saw Cell-SOB Plus® at a local reptile shop this past July noting that the package labeling listed its safe use for reptiles. After making an inquiry about the store’s experience with the substrate, I decided to try it. In the past, I have used paper towels, newspaper, and Care Fresh® with no problems.

I initially tried Cell-SOB Plus® because I liked its density. I felt it would hold heat better than Care Fresh®. To be honest, I also felt it had looked better in the cages than the latter substrate as well. I maintain well over 150 enclosures and decided to change over to the new substrate on a need-to-be cleaned basis. By late November, all of the cages were filled with Cell-SOB Plus®.

Unfortunately, by this time period, I also started to notice a larger-than-usual die off of animals. For the past 15 years, on average, I would lose about one to two animals per year (around 1% of my collection). Most of these deaths could be attributed to old age, egg retention, etc. By the time I was finished using Cell-SOB Plus®, I had lost close to 15 animals, mainly young and old animals. I=2 lost my first animal, a Gray-banded King snake in September. Since it was only one animal, I did not think the substrate was to blame. I started brunting animals during early November and by late December had a massive die off. Animals would die an excruciating death, often dying in agony with their mouths open. I concurrently noticed many animals have extremely worn eye spectacles and head scouts (see image).

At this time, I felt the substrate was causing problems and changed over all animals back to Care Fresh® or paper toweling and turned on the cage heaters. Animals with severe scale damage were placed on damp paper towels on heat. Although not as numerous, I still had a few animals die after being placed on a different substrate. These animals were for the most part pretty scuffed up from the Cell-SOB Plus®.



Three of my animals that died have been necropsy. I received the results from all three this past week. These animals died due to severe sepsis. Of particular concern is the final paragraph of one of the results reading: “ There are multi focal areas of acute inflammatory lesions such as within the sections of skin and liver. This suggests a possible antitoxin. Damage to the superficial epithelium may have permitted a bacterial infection and subsequent antitoxin.”

Furthermore, the lungs on one animal were filled with pertinacious fluid. Likewise, various organs and systems had this pertinacious fluid in them. Cultures run of the lungs a nd guts revealed three different strains of bacteria in the gut; fluids from the lungs did not culture anything. The animals that still seem to be afflicted are being treated with a round of Tremulously drugs; the latter was chosen by my veterinarian based on the culture results.

At first, the veterinarian felt that I had overdosed the animals with liquid Vitamin D. One of the animals had what appeared to be visceral gout in the mouth. Later, it was uncovered that what appeared to be gout was actually a severe bacterial infection. I do want to repeat that the only factor consistent with ALL animals dying was that their cage was lined with Cell-SOB Plus®. I feel that this product is not satisfactory for use with Gray-banded King snakes and Sonora Mountain King snakes; in fact, it may cause severe problems such as the ones I experienced in my collection.

I also want to point out that I have heard from several others that have experienced problems with their collections that were similar to mine. In addition, the reptile specialty store where I first saw the product no longer uses Cell-SOB Plus® in their cages.

Now, I don’t want to say that Cell-SOB Plus® is selling tainted substrate laden with bacteria. Rather, I think that the animals became severely abraded and stressed. In this situation, bacteria overwhelmed the animal and the snakes eventually died. Cell-SOB Plus® is too rough to be used with animals such as Gray-banded King snakes and Sonora Moue Tani King snakes. The tendency of these animals to burrow into the substrate may cause damage to the superficial epithelium allowing bacteria to invade the animal.

Finally, I did attempt to contact the company manufacturing Cell-SOB Plus®, once by email and once by telephone. Neither time did anyone but the secretary talk to me. I explained my situation to the secretary and she stated that this was the first time they ever heard of anyone having problems with Cell-SOB Plus®. I feel the latter is the company by-line for denial BECAUSE I know for a fact that at least two other people have contacted them regarding problems using Cell-SOB Plus®.

Thanks to all for reading this; any suggestions or ideas would be greatly appreciated.

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just in case you've been considering the stuff...

[gixxerrobballs]

i use to use this stuff not anymore...here's what my bag looks like.....

and on the back it's says for reptiles....

[Slim]

Wow!

[Melicious]

Wow. That must have been devastating. O_o

[llovelace]

Oh my, I'll stick to aspen & paper

[TooManyToys]

Never lost an animal due to newspaper or paper towels.

[JeffJ]

isnt it Cell-SORB Plus®? and just to play the other side of the fence. maybe he let it stay soiled for longer then normal given the claims of the substrates amazing ability to absorb feces and kill odour? He could have even thought it was unsoiled if it does what it says and absorbs odour. Urates and Urin wouldn't smell causing them to be overlooked rather then cleaned, especially if the urates were able the drop to the bottom of the substrate like there add claims.

[gixxerrobballs]

isnt it Cell-SORB Plus®? and just to play the other side of the fence. maybe he let it stay soiled for longer then normal given the claims of the substrates amazing ability to absorb feces and kill odour? He could have even thought it was unsoiled if it does what it says and absorbs odour. Urates and Urin wouldn't smell causing them to be overlooked rather then cleaned, especially if the urates were able the drop to the bottom of the substrate like there add claims.

good point never looked at it that way...either way i'm done....

[JeffJ]

good point never looked at it that way...either way i'm done....

all i got to say is good ol' aspen.

[ARamos8]

I'm really sorry you had to endure that. Good'ol paper for me.