Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Vita-Sand by ZooMed
http://www.zoomed.com/html/vitasand.html

ReptiLite Calcium Carbonate Substrate
http://www.carib-sea.com/Carib1.htm

I personally do not like to use any of those products. They all claim to help with calcium etc, but you have to way to judge just how much they are getting. Meanwhile, other nutrients aren't being ingested or cannot be absorbed b/c of the stuff in the sand.

My personal opinion is to go with a washed playsand for like $4 tops for a 50 lb bag. Or you can get straight millet seed (no sunflower seeds) of which they can safely snack on and it works well too.
Just my opinions from my experiences
Renee

i would go with the playsand or with zoomed repti-sand its real desert sand real fine, it is expesive though, its like a dollar a pound, a 10lb bag is like 9 -11 dollars, i use zoomed repti-sand and in my opinion its better then playand its alot finer and dust free

Now my question is this - if choosing between Repti Sand and the Vita Sand (both by Zoomed) why wouldn't the Vita Sand be better? I mean if by some chance your little one did injest any sand, wouldn't the Vita Sand be better? Or are there concerns with getting too much calcium, etc?

I'm just curious and trying to understand.

Thanks for your replies!

clcium sands DO NOT give lizards calcium. it does not dissovle. if you put some in water for DAYS or weeks it will not dissovle. by then the lizard would ahve passed it anyways. i have never had a problem with impactions using sand either. however this sand is good because it is much finer than regular play sand thus easier to pass when they do take some in. also, it doesnt have any small rocks or pebbles in it like playsand does. overall much better because it is finer. but do not let it lead you to believe it is a calcium source i haev tried this and doesnt work.
if you cant to pay extra buy the sand it is safer due to its size and shape, go for vita sand it is better it is morerounded for partical size rather than sharp edges of calcium sand.
Good luck, i migth get bashed for this but really try it calcium does dissolve normally with water, or stomach acid, sand doesnt dissovle.
Sorry if i offened anyone but it is generally better i think!

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Lauren
Leos and Uros

I have to agree. Calcium sand etc. is just a marketing gimmick designed to make you pay more for what is essentially just sand. Get playsand. It's a lot cheaper and every bit as good as the other garbage

calcium sand isn't good just get the repti-sand its real desert sand, real fine, its finer then calcium sand alot finer, it is expensive but well worth it for me, safer is better for me,its alot finer then playsand

My opinion on these products is....garbage. They are just another gimmick to make money. If you are looking for a sand type substrate just use plain old childrens playsand. If the tiny pebbles bug you then just sift them out through some screen or mesh. Plus cost wise it will be about $4 compared to about $20 for the zoomed stuff.

well can go either way, i just know that the zoomed repti-sand is alot finer then the playsand , i know i used both, and it is alot finer then playsand and is dust free, unlike the playsand with all that dust

I just use millet seed. That's what Douglas Dix of Deer Fern Farms uses. It's like $15 for a 50 pound bag at a feed store. You should check it out. It's completely harmless if they eat it. In fact, if they do eat it, it really helps with their digestion.

Check out www.deerfernfarms.com for more info.

Veronica
Beautiful Dragons

I have been considering the seed. But I've been wondering, how easy/hard is it to find and pick out feces, etc?