Calci-sand?

Has anyone used this stuff or believe that it really is 100% digestible?
http://www.petco.com/Shop/Product.as...le-_-2dofftrex
i was thinking of getting it for my two leps who are both about 3-4 inches long. dont have a sclae yet to weigh them.
please give me all your opinions.
thanks

I have never used it, but have heard so many bad things about it. The bad thing about it is, if it is indeed totally digestable, my worry would be the risk of ingesting too much calcium since you would not be able to control how much they are actually taking in.

true. i dont really think my leps would have trouble with that because i watch them eat most of the time and they get the cricket or mealie pretty much clean (without really touching the paper towel) but that could change if it is on this stuff. what about a finer granule sand?

I have my fat tails on play sand, however, there is still risk, but I think less as far as risk of ingesting more claium than what really good for them... I think logically, the risk of impaction is about the same really. I have had my female fat tail on playground sand for over 8 yrs, with no problems. And my male for over 2 yrs now. With no problems either. But I would not put little tiny geckos on it. Wait until they are much bigger please.

okay. i just dont like the look of papertowels as a substrate, but i will use that over taking the risk of harming my leps. thanks.

Leopards are one of the CLEANEST herps you can get if you let them- sand is messy, go with reptile carpet or the hardware store equivalent. I promise, solid substrate is so much easier with these guys. Carpet allows me to place a paper towel in the corner of the enclosure where they poop, and it basically serves as a litterbox and is easily replaced when soiled. Hell, I haven't had to strip down and sanitize that cage in months.

I use papertowels myself. The few times I've seen calci sand used in a tank, the sand crystals always look sharp to me. I've also heard about problems with it.

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Originally Posted by Jeanne

I have never used it, but have heard so many bad things about it. The bad thing about it is, if it is indeed totally digestable, my worry would be the risk of ingesting too much calcium since you would not be able to control how much they are actually taking in.

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In no way do I advocate using sand be it calcium, play or any other loose substrate, I would like to comment on something here Jeanne, and try to put your mind to ease regarding them "ingesting too much calcium". Any calcium they take in and their body doesn't convert will be passed naturally. There is a far greater chance that the substrate will cause an impaction than an overdose of calcium. :)
-Sam

I asked a pet store about that sand stuff and the people working there highly recomend that you dont use the sand products because some times the sand gets in between scales and causes irritation

Do they make repti-carpets in other colors besides green? I would think for a lizard, a sand colored carpet would look so much nicer...just curious if anyone has ever seen them in other colors?

Repti-Carpet it also available in grey I believe. You should be able to special order it.

That sounds nice - there you go, Cody! Might look nicer than paper towels and without the worry of sand type substrates. =)

Repti-carpet looks nice, until the first time you see a gecko who missed a cricket and is twisting around trying to get his tooth unstuck from the carpet, or one who has hooked a toe nail into the carpet and is thrashing about trying to get free.

Sorry that I'm being such a doom and gloomer in this thread. :(

I just feel that the animals well being should come before an owners desire to have a "cool" looking set-up.;)

Ouch! That doesn't sound good...I'll just shut up now and leave the advice to the experts! Thanks for pointing out the shortcomings of the carpet. =)

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Originally Posted by Gecko Den

Sorry that I'm being such a doom and gloomer in this thread. :(

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No worries man! You brought up some valid points that I had not considered either. And they are good reasons not to use the carpet.

playsand is an alternative... it's what we use. ;) calcisand unfortunately turns to a hard lump and can cause impaction.

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Originally Posted by Gecko Den

I just feel that the animals well being should come before an owners desire to have a "cool" looking set-up.;)

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i agree

Quick question as I'm trying to learn about the proper husbandry with an eye to someday owning some leopard gecko's. I think I saw somewhere online a guy that had his enclosure set up with slate fitted in the tank bottom as a substrate (as well as some cave type structures and fake plants, etc....I remember this is was quite attractive). Is slate a viable option as far as safety, cleanliness, ability to heat using a UTH, etc.?



~~Jo~~