Substrate
Avoid substrates such as pine, fir, cedar or other coniferous wood products as they can contain toxic oils. The safest choices are paper towel, ceramic tile, slate, reptile carpet, astroturf, linoleum or other floor tiles. Bark or aspen bedding may be used for snake species, aspen being considered the most ideal as it is hygienic and encourages natural burrowing. Do be careful with bark as there is the potential for mite infestation with this substrate. Below is a quick comparison of some of the available substrates:
Substrate
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Easy to Clean?
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Disease Risk
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Comments
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News
paper |
Yes
|
Low
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Lead in ink can cause irritation and make animals dirty
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Sand
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Relatively frequent scooping, less frequent full changes
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Risk of gut impaction if ingested with food
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Astroturf
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Yes
|
Low
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Not suitable for burrowing species
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Calci-sand
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Yes (see sand)
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Can discolour skin; calcium uptake unknown
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Should not be used as substitute for proper diet
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Corn cobs
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Yes but particles larger so organic waste less easy to scoop thoroughly
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Can harbour chiggers and mites; risk of inappropriate ingestion
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Not recommended
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Wood Chips
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Yes but larger particles make thorough scooping more difficult
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Organic so can harbour chiggers and mites; risk of inappropriate ingestion
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Chippings from aromatic woods such as cedar should not be used as the oils may cause dermal and/or respiratory irritation
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Wood Shavings
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Yes
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As for wood chip; also retains humidity, with increased risk of mould build-up
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Not recommended
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Bark
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Yes; NB particle size
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As above
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Peat Moss
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Harder to see organic waste and remove it thoroughly
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Deep litter system allows microbe build-up
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Need to pay attention to proper cleaning
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Aquarium Gravel
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Yes
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Can cause mechanical irritation to skin; risk of inappropriate ingestion
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Not a very common natural habitat; easy to disinfect
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Earth
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Yes, but can be difficult to see organic waste and remove it properly
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Can import bacteria, fungal spores and ecto/endoparasites
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Not recommended
|
When housing lizards such as Leopard Geckos and Bearded Dragons it is strongly advised to avoid loose substrates including sand, as such substrates poses the threat of impaction. Although Leopard Geckos and Bearded Dragons come from arid environments, they naturally live in areas where the land is hard baked, the ground is not pure sand but a composite of different materials including clay and dirt, making it virtually impossible for the lizard to get a mouth full of sand in the wild as they can in captivity. For this reason these species of reptile have not evolved the appropriate behaviours or adaptations to shift sand from their digestive systems after accidental ingestion, which unfortunately has resulted in many deaths. The reptile may consume the sand by different means including while hunting, general investigation (licking) or intentional ingestion. The reptile will intentionally consume its substrate in an attempt to increase its blood calcium levels if these levels are particularly low - this highlights the importance of correct supplementing. Death is caused by sand clogging up the lizards' intestines and, if severe enough, can rupture the intestinal wall. Some sands claim to be digestible, although sand, no matter how it is prepared is not 100% digestible. Calci-sand is often debated to be one of the worst brands of sand available on the market for reptiles as this form of sand actually encourages the animal to consume it, exponentially increasing the risk of impaction. Play sand is also another brand claiming to be safe but in reality there is no such thing as safe sand. Although there has been some success when using sand as a substrate I would not recommend it for the above reason, nor would I recommend any loose substrate with lizards for that matter, unless it is a requirement for that species and can be provided with minimal risk.
Burrowing species should be provided with a substrate which allows them to express their burrowing behaviours, though with burrowing species avoid the use of an under-tank heater to prevent possible burns if the reptile digs down to it. With large amounts of substrate on top, an under-tank heater would quickly become very hot.
When you are picking out a substrate do not always go for what is recommended from the pet shop as quite often their recommendations are poor and not suitable for the animal. Do consider the animals’ natural behaviours and environment and do also research before purchasing.
Burrowing species should be provided with a substrate which allows them to express their burrowing behaviours, though with burrowing species avoid the use of an under-tank heater to prevent possible burns if the reptile digs down to it. With large amounts of substrate on top, an under-tank heater would quickly become very hot.
When you are picking out a substrate do not always go for what is recommended from the pet shop as quite often their recommendations are poor and not suitable for the animal. Do consider the animals’ natural behaviours and environment and do also research before purchasing.
References
Girling, S. and Raiti, P., 2004. BSAVA Manual of Reptiles (2nd Edition). BSAVA British Small Animal Veterinary Association.
Image sourced from Google.
© 2014 Cat Read
Girling, S. and Raiti, P., 2004. BSAVA Manual of Reptiles (2nd Edition). BSAVA British Small Animal Veterinary Association.
Image sourced from Google.
© 2014 Cat Read