Reptile & Amphibian Forums

How's it going? I went to hope depot to get some sand substrate for my chinese softshell and they were out of playsand. I asked the kid who worked there if they had anymore in stock and he gave me a bag of quickrete all purpose sand and told me it is the same exact thing. Is this an ok substrate for my softshell? I tried washing it for a few hours and it seems muddy. Any help would be appreciated.
Take care,
Tony

I would've justed bought sand from a pet store. It's what I used for my Softshell. I don't remember what it was called but it had a Softshell Turtle on the front.
Michael Fedzen
EMAIL ME

That sand will be fine. There is no difference between that sand and the sand you buy at the pet store. You will pay two-three times as much at the pet store though! Happy herping, Chris

quickcrete contains silica. (in at least one of the products in the line)...you don't want you or your turtle inhaling it. Its made from grinding up big rocks and silica ends up in the end product. The pet store stuff is probbaly worse than playsand as it forms clumps which may be more likely to cause blockages and impactions. get play sand or sand from a stream if you can.

I replaced the substrate with playsand. Thank you for the heads up. It is a much nicer sand and my softshell seems happy!