Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I really love the sand substrate... it has less odor, looks better, uro's like to burrow in it, etc. HOWEVER, with millet bird seed, the odor is also low, looks ok, and can be burrowed in. I've heard good and bad about sand substrate and I was wondering what everyone's opinion about sand substrate health concerns there might be regarding uro's. I know in my uro's "treasures" there is a considerable amount of substrate, and with sand, i would worry about impaction. SHould i be this concerned bc i would really love to go to playsand rather than the seed. INFO PLEASE,

tara
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bird seed is ideal, but so expensive. i took the suggestion of lindsay pike and started using pool filtration sand. a 50 lb bag is $5 and it doesn't take too many bags to totally fill even a big uro cage. my uros have had no real problems with it, they dig plenty and kick the stuff all over. i'm sure they eat some but it hasn't harmed them from what i can see.
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1.2 Mali Uromastyx (Ricky, Quinn, Anna)
1.1 Yellow Ackies (Eddie, Roxie)
1.0 Timor (Zealot)

Emily
www.egomantra.com/npoh

Well, I have always just used birdseed because I dont have to worry about impaction or adding seed to each feeding. Although, I would love to use sand (much easier to sift, and looks alot better IMO), I don't really want the extra hassle in my day, going around adding seed each feeding. Granted, it wouldn't be a huge deal, but I would much rather have my day simplified.

Anywho, that's my $0.2
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1.0 Uromastyx maliensis (gulaktig), 2.5 Eublepharis macularius, 3.2 Cichlasoma nigrofasciatum, 1.1 Hemichromis bimaculatus, 1.4 Xiphophorus maculatus, 5.12 Poecilia reticulata.

I would use sand, itseasy to sift, looks good, and with rocks portrays their natural enviroment. I haven't had a problem with impaction and most of the time it is younger uros that have this problem. Rico drags his food through the sand, even then he hasn't had an issue. it's all a personal descision however.
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Lauren
1.1 Saharan Uromastyx (Rico-orange, ?????-yellow, and a new one soon!)
Cozmo-Hannovarian/Trakehner Gelding
Chip-Dutch Warmblood Gelding
Ck-Hannovarian Gelding
Cruiser-Irish Sporthorse Gelding
Opal-Persian Cat
Dude-Jack Russel Terrier
From: New Jersey

I use sand as well. I think the choice of sand or birdseed is more dependant on the uro itself. If you have a uro that is finicky about having sand on his food and tries to eat around it then sand would be ok. But if a uro is a total glutton and will eat everything in sight, whether it has sand on it or not, birdseed might be a better choice. Lucky for me Ra is a picky eater

By the way, I've found a brand of birdseed that contains almost entirely millet and no sunflower seeds. It's a Pet Valu brand Finch Seed Mix.
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1 Mali Uromastyx named Ra

These guys live in the desert...
There is lots of sand...
Thus wouldn't they be ingesting some anyway?

I suppose they might eat less sand since they are tearing off bits of live plants (not something lying on the ground)...hmmmm...

Just exactly how far do these guys drag their food? Couldn't putting the food on a large flat rock reduce food dragging through the sand?

First, in answer to your question about using a rock. I tried that, but they still managed to drag it off the rock first before eating it lol. But I have heard it works for some. Mine basically just stick their front feet in the dish an throw it about digging down to what they want to eat.

As far as sand vs seed---I rotate using both. Good points--the sand does sift a little easier, it does seem more natural as far as thier normal environment and its cheap. Bad part--it also seemed to make alot of dust when I did this (and really irritates my nose)and is hard to dispose of (at least for me it is). I also feel it does leave a bit of odor.

Seed--bonuses--still nice looking, can be sifted as well, not as much dust, and they can snack on it as they wish. Also can be disposed of easier by throwing it in my yard for the birds to enjoy. Bad part--little more expensive, and kinda can be a pain taking out any sunflower seeds (I've had some bags that had it in it).

Either one can work just fine. Its more just a personal preference. But both are ok.

Renee

I think I'm going to stick to the birdseed; I mean, i have about 5 bags in my freezer right now. just a little FYI- Hartz makes a great millet bird seed (it has one other ingredient that I can't remember off the top of my head, not sunflower tho) that you can find at walmart. Its really cheap too.

I would LOVE to use the sand, but kameko (my mali) is a really picky eater and tends to sort out what he likes before choosing what to eat. Since he does this, I'm gonna stick with the seed, and envy the rest who can use the sand! LOL.

Thanks again,

tara
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