Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have been using sanichips for babies and I have tried newspaper and im not thrilled with either due to ingestion and just going under the newspaper. Are rabbit pellets ok for babies as it seems to be for adults or is there some other alternative?

Are rabbit pellets ok for babies as it seems to be for adults or is there some other alternative?

I use rabbit pellets for both my adult and baby hognose with no problem whatsoever and have been for many years.

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Troy Rexroth
Rextiles

Hi Troy-
What are the beneficiaries of using rabbit pellets?(in your exp.)
Definatly not questioning,,just curious.
I use viva paper towels or charmin tp for my baby's and then straight to Aspen.
I have never explored the option of anything else.
Thanks sir-

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**Joe Schmidt-
3rdroomreptiles.com

Hi Joe,

I've addressed my usage of rabbit pellets several times in the past including the pros and cons of them. Instead of rewriting all of that again, I'll simply give you a link here and here.

If you have any other questions or concerns, please feel free to question me, challenge me or whatever. I don't claim what I do or use is the best out there, I just state what works for me.

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Troy Rexroth
Rextiles

I mistakenly posed above as new topic but I am happy using the pellets. They are clean, seem safe and not as hands on as sanichips and paper.

Very cool.
I may have to try this out.
No humidity here in nv.
Good stuff troy thanks-

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**Joe Schmidt-
3rdroomreptiles.com

My pleasure Joe. Please let us know how they work out for you.

While thinking about it, another con to rabbit pellets would be for shipping purposes. I almost always get snakes in containers with sani-chips which makes sense to me. Rabbit pellets, on the other hand, would definitely not be a good shipping substrate as they are heavier and I could imagine a good jolt or two could injure or even crush the animal depending on how the package is being (mis)handled. Food for thought...
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Troy Rexroth
Rextiles

When I ship, I use paper towel. It is the best shipping substrate in my opinion.

I have had a few shipments that had paper towel used as a substrate and I think it had it's pros and a few cons as well. The pros are that it's lightweight, absorbent, cheap, readily available and non-ingestive (unless it's resident is a big snake that has a strange appetite). The only con I ever had with the few baby specimens I received in paper towels was there were about 2 individuals in separate shipments that kinda got wedged in the creases of, in both cases, a single paper towel and it looked like neither had any ability at that point that they could move, but we're talking 4-5 gram specimens that didn't have the kind of strength to wrestle out of the odd predicament they had gotten themselves into. I think that those circumstances were rare at best and could also be circumvented had the paper towels been cut into round sheets instead of one huge piece just folded multiple times to fit.

Having said all of that, I do agree that paper towels are probably the better choice over the sani-chips that are typically used as the pros far outweigh the only con I can think of.

Any other ideas and/or thought out there?
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Troy Rexroth
Rextiles

The substrate used for shipping an animal is not really relevant to what you house the animal in. Obviously if the box is tipped the pellets would go to one side of the container. Paper has the problem when the snakes deficates it doesn't seem to absorb as well as sanichips. Not so much a problem with baby hogs obviously. This isn't a pissing contest just an exchange of ideas. I use sanichips for my babies and have started to use rabbit pellets for my adults with good success so far. This is subject to reading why I should not use them which maybe gregg will say as it doesn't seem like he cares for them. It just seems not great when I see a baby hog downing a pinky with a sanichips sweater on. I respect Gregg from reading his comments on this forum and don't take unfair attacks very well. Must be the attorney in me. Trying to be real. Peace.

The substrate used for shipping an animal is not really relevant to what you house the animal in.

I don't think I nor Gregg made any relation to that. I was merely playing the devil's advocate on all of the pluses and minuses of rabbit pellet usage and Gregg merely stated his opinion on what he uses, paper towels. Since I've been using rabbit pellets for over 17 years almost exclusively with my reptiles, I find it necessary to address any and all problems as well as the benefits for all types of usage. Personally, I don't care what other people choose to use as I'm going to use whatever works best for me and my animals.

Obviously if the box is tipped the pellets would go to one side of the container. Paper has the problem when the snakes deficates it doesn't seem to absorb as well as sanichips.

The last shipment box I received had all of the specimen containers sideways and a lot of the sani-chips had poured through the breathing holes into the rest of the box making a huge mess inside the box as well as creating a very dusty and dirty environment overall. The snakes survived the trip but I think usage of paper towels would have been a little cleaner in this particular instance.

This isn't a pissing contest just an exchange of ideas.

That's absolutely correct! Every post/argument/debate should be an exchange of ideas. Again, I always try to be as factual as I can about these types of topics and never take it personally should someone have something contrary to say about what I've posted. We're all here to learn from each other, at least in theory.

maybe gregg will say as it doesn't seem like he cares for them.

Gregg's going to have his own opinions based on what works for him which doesn't make him right nor wrong. I always take a grain of salt whatever Gregg happens to say knowing that everybody has their own methods and ideologies about keeping animals within artificial environments.
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Troy Rexroth
Rextiles

I agree with what you say. I am actually pleased with the pellets and I am looking forward to getting them at a supply store as they are very expensive at a pet store.

I really like Walnut Shell...it has a great appearance, absorbent, easy to clean, no risk of impaction but it is on the expensive side.

-R

I would not be worried about impaction but I have heard that the sharp edges could cut up their insides. Obviously like most substrate related horror stories, there are no real facts to back up what is said. If you are going to go with particulate substrate, why not give them a nice deep sandy soil?

is...and I've used it for over 15 years.

It's great...I would recommend it to anyone and everyone...for any reptile.

It's the best thing since sliced bread...seriously!

-R

I do not think anyone who actually knows what they are doing would recommend walnut shell substrate for any reptile.

As far as sand/soil not being clean goes, you have a bunch to learn there as well. There is nothing beneficial about keeping reptiles in clinical conditions. The fact is, soil/sand mixtures can be much "cleaner" and healthier for your reptiles.

We have had our varanid collection set up on natural bio-active substrates for many years without doing a single spot cleaning or cage break down. Uneaten food and waste is broken down by good bacterias and a veriety of insect and isopod life living in the soil. I started using it with a couple of pairs of hognose snakes last season and it is working out quite well. This season the pairs are mature enough to breed so it will be cool to see some breeding and egg laying in a natural enclosure.

I do not think anyone who actually knows what they are doing would recommend walnut shell substrate for any reptile.

Then by your opinion...I don't know anything.

You must be one of those guys that have it all figured out...who needs forums with someone of your expertise!?

I'll just forward any reptile question to you from now on!

Hahahaha...

Gregg is absolutely right-I've seen and heard NUMEROUS horriffic experiences with walnut shell. It should never be used as substrate for any reptile. This is based on my own 25 years of experience running and owning a reptile store, as well as my 35 years as a reptile breeder.
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Brad Chambers
WWW.HCU-TX.ORG

Boas, Pythons, Colubrids, Tortoises and Turtles