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SUBSTRATES ~ PROS VS. CONS
WRITTEN BY: JEROME BAILEY
There are many so called 'safe' substrates such as playsand but with these there are still risks involved with them here are the pro's and con's of the different substrates:
PLAYSAND AND OTHER SANDS
excluding excavator sand/clay and calcium sand(which I will cover later) :
pros:
- its cheap
- it looks nice
- is easy to clean
- good for digging species
- low risk of impaction
- Theres still a risk of impaction
- can harbour pathogens
- can make a horrible noise in the runners of glass doors
- it can be unnnatural to some species
pros:
- excellent for digging/burrowing species
- low impaction risk
- looks nice
- can be a more natural substrate to species such a leopard geckos or bearded dragons that live of hardpan in the wild
- May stain skin or decor
- not very good when wet
- may harbour pathogens
- doesnt conduct heat very well so heatmats are useless meaning species such as leopard geckos which heatmats are usualy used have to be heated from above by a ceramic or the likes (which isnt a particuarly bad thing and is more natural but is inconvieneint to some keepers)
- It is quite exspensive
pros:
- can look natural(if sandstone or slate tiles are used)
- risk free from impaction
- some tiles can be good conductors of heat
- last pretty much forever
- cheap in the long run
- may be iniataly exspensive to buy
- some tiles are poor conductors of heat and might not be safe to use with heatmats
- hard surface so do not cushion landings
- if stuck in are difficult to get back out
- not very good for digging/burrowing species
pros:
- easy to clean
- doesnt harbour bacteria
- usualy cheap
- lasts a long time
- risk free of impaction
- most looks unnatural
- doesnt cushion landings
- smooth surface which may make it difficult for some species to grip the surface which can cause leg issues
- If stuck down may be difficult to remove and the adhesive should be left to fully cure and all fumes should be gone before any inhabitants should be introduced
- not good for digging/burrowing species
pros:
- naturalistic
- plants can be grown in it
- holds humidity well
- good for false bottom vivs and bio active vivs
- small amounts may bedigested so is quite safe impactionwise
- comes in small blocks making it ideal for storage
- looks nice
- is quite cheap
- can be effectivley mixed with other substrates such as orchid bark, moss or even sand to make it more natural
- cushions landings of inhabitants
- theres still an impaction risk
- may becomewaterlogged if not used with a false bottom or layer of leca(lightly expanded clay aggregate)
- can harbour bacteria
- it doesnt hold burrows very well
(I will cover pine and other normal wood chip)
pros:
- holds humidity well
- can make a nice looking and naturalistic viv when mixed with substrates such as eco earth
- can be used with a false bottom viv and is good for bio vivs
- cheap
- nice looking
- higher impaction risk than other substrates
- doesnt hold burrows
- can harbour bacteria
- if used on its own crickets can hide underneath pieces
pros:
- holds humidity very well
- can look nice when mixed
- comes in compact blocks which are ideal for storage
- can be natural for some species when mixed
- good in humid hides for shedding lizards
- cheap
- can harbour pathogens
- impaction risk as some may eat it
- doesnt hold burrows
pros:
- can look nice
- quite cheap
- easy to spot clean
- higher impaction risk than other substrates
- unnatural
- can harbour bacteria
pros:
- can be digested in small amounts
- will hold humidity quite well
- can be quite easy to spot clean
- cheap
- comes in compressed blocks which are ideal for storage
- if large amounts are ingested can still cause impaction
- unnatural
- an harbour bacteria crickets can hide amongst it
pros:
- looks nice
- easy to spot clean
- encourages lizards to eat it due having calcium in it
- contrary to what it says its not digestable so is likely to cause impactionCalci Sand - Not Digestable, Can Be Fatal £0 - Pet Zoo Online Reptile Shop & Exotic Pet Store
- can harbour bacteria
(including pine and cedar):
pros:
- can look nice in some set ups
- easy to spot clean
- it absorbs water
- hold some humidity
- cheap
- some have toxic sap(pine and cedar)
- if ingested is highly likely to cause impaction
- harbours bacteria
- crickets can hide amongst it
pros:
- natural
- holds humidity
- easy to spot clean
- can look nice
- cheap
- may contain dangerous pesticides or fertilizers
- harbours bacteria
- higher impaction risk than other substrates
pros:
- cheap
- lasts a long time
- easy to spot clean
- easy to clean as it can be soaked and reused
- looks nice
- unnatural
- claws/toes can get stuck in it and be damaged
- harbours bacteria if not cleaned regularly
PAPER
(kitchen roll,wall paper etc):
pros:
- very low impaction risk
- easy to spot clean
- easy to clean(disposable)
- cheap
- can cause impaction(only if is tron up by claws etc it verys unlikely that it happens though)
- can harbour bacteria
- needs replacing reguarly
- looks unnatural
Overall there is many substrates that are 'low' risk they all have different problems but the safest from impaction are tiles and lino followed by paper. For more sterile enviroment such as for quarantine or for hatchlings/juvies I recommend lino. Imo (in my opinion) more dangerous substrates such as calci sand or wood chip(not orchid bark) should not be used as they are too 'high' risk.
With appreciation to the many participating in writing this site.
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