Substrate Question

[BooRadleyAMG]

I'm new to Cresties and plan on picking up my first one this weekend, I was just curious on a few options I have as far as natural substrate. I keep reading that ingesting substrate is a common issue with cresties, and the last thing I want is death by impaction. I know its cheaper and easier to go with papertowels or newspaper, But I myself perfer the more natural look.

Does anyone use, or has heard of anyone using, T-Rex Bone Aid Calci-Sand without issues?

Product discription.....

"T-Rex Calci-Sand is a fine granular calciferous sand specially prepared to be the ideal reptile cage substrate for snakes, lizards, tortoises, and turtles.
T-Rex Calci-Sand is the only substrate for reptiles designed to be not only ingestible, but digestible when swallowed. Many reptiles freely eat particles of sand and other substrates in an effort to gain the calcium that they require. T-Rex Calci-Sand allows this process to occur naturally in the vivarium.

T-Rex Calci-Sand (being a mineral) is safe in direct contact with heating elements. It conducts heat well and is suitable for use with heat mats or cables buried under it to a shallow depth. It does not harbor mites nor the growth of molds or fungus.

T-Rex Calci-Sand makes spot cleaning both easy and accurate. It clumps readily to wet waste material, drying it and preventing it from being spread."



Thanks for your time.

[mlededee]

You definitely do NOT want to use any kind of sand with cresteds. I prefer papertowels, but if you want something more natural I would recommend a coconut coir fiber substrate like bed-a-beast. This will hold some humidity (although you don't want it to be wet) and doesn't have large chunks or anything with sharp edges.

If you use a natural substrate you can also teach your crested to eat insects out of a tall cup that the insects cannot get out of to reduce their chances of ingesting substrate, because they will get a mouthful of it hunting on the loose substrate.

[fattielumpkin]

i use the spongy-ish kitchen drawer liner, cut to size and washed thoroghly. it is easy to switch out, it is brown and easy to clean. it also holds humidity fairly well. i know it's not natural, but oh well.

[sweetcheeks]

I also use the coco fiber brown kitchen shelf liner, i have two perfectly fit pieces for my tank, i take one out, put the other in. clean the dirty one with dawn and let dry for the next week to exchange out. i do spot cleanings during the week as well.


it does look alot better than paper towels

[Lucas339]

can you guys post a picture of your setups? crestys maybe in my future and would like to see how this looks.

[sweetcheeks]

[mainbutter]

I know it's already been said, but I have to re-iterate: Don't use sand with cresties. It's a bad idea, and they don't live in sandy places in the wild.

Bed-a-beast is a good choice, as already said, if you absolutely must use a natural substrate. I personally use paper towels though.

The big issue with ingesting substrate really only is eating. If you don't feed crickets on the substrate you don't have much to worry about. Still though, for anything under 6 months of age, you might as well go ahead and have them housed on paper towels, save the natural bedding for your large juvie/adult crestie homes!

[Lucas339]

that kitchen stuff doesn't look half bad. i like that idea. i have an empty exoterra......hmmmmm.

[sweetcheeks]

if its an 18x18x18 or even 18x18x24

the exact size is a 17 inche square

so youll need the longer shelf liner in ordre to keep from having to use two pieces, i just thought id throw that in their.

cause there are two different lengths of the same color.

i also have a 12x12x12 and the exact measure is a 11 inche square.

[DavidG]

Coco-soft makes a super fine substrate mix. I think blue Iguana is the brand name. The fine chip is still too much but the ultra fine might work. Nothing is safer than paper towels. I've said it several times on the board, and many times on others. Don't make yourself happy at the animals expense. Crested geckos grow so rapidly you'll have him on real bedding in a few short months. Plus you really want to see how often he's using the restroom to make sure no impaction has occurred.