Reptile & Amphibian Forums

n/p
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Chris

1.2.0 Bearded Dragons
1.2.0 Green Basilisks
1.1.0 Crested Geckos
1.2.0 Veiled Chameleons
1.1.0 Corn Snakes
1.0.0 Tokay Geckos
0.0.1 California Kingsnakes
2.5.1 Leopard Geckos

As I mentioned before: pine shavings are easier for most reptiles to spit out or digest than sand...It's comfy for the beardies especially and it's and easy to maintain and inexpensive substrate.

ALSO---If you are actually going to use pine shavinge...you must let them air out first...the sometimes strong smell will dissapate after about a day or so...BUT>>>

The main concern is that you can NEVER mist pine shavings or get is overly wet is an area...otherwise the wet shavings must be removed and replaced...water reacts with the shavings to create a very stong smell...since we've started using pine shavings we've had no problems but I'm always willing to try new things so.....

Where might I obtain a bail or aspen shavings???
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Chris

1.2.0 Bearded Dragons
1.2.0 Green Basilisks
1.1.0 Crested Geckos
1.2.0 Veiled Chameleons
1.1.0 Corn Snakes
1.0.0 Tokay Geckos
0.0.1 California Kingsnakes
2.5.1 Leopard Geckos

As I mentioned before: pine shavings are easier for most reptiles to spit out or digest than sand...It's comfy for the beardies especially and it's and easy to maintain and inexpensive substrate.

Do you anything special for the spit area and how far can they spit?

ALSO---If you are actually going to use pine shavinge...you must let them air out first...the sometimes strong smell will dissapate after about a day or so...BUT>>>

Oh, but it keeps the bugs down as they can't live breathing it! But then you do get the bacteria to replace it when it drys and how do you keep it from getting damp with mistings that the dragon needs and doesn't it get wet when they poo?

The main concern is that you can NEVER mist pine shavings or get is overly wet is an area...otherwise the wet shavings must be removed and replaced...water reacts with the shavings to create a very stong smell...

Aww... okay that explains it!

since we've started using pine shavings we've had no problems but I'm always willing to try new things so.....

So your going to add the water and see?

Where might I obtain a bail

Yellow pages under bondsmen
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www.reptilerooms.com

the "chain" or is he yanking other things? defendant held without bond.... (smakcing gavel and grinning evily)

Robert Wood

my one dragon died from ingesting sani chips which is an aspen bedding, sure she passed them, but they damaged her so badly internally she died, she was on them at the breeders.

>>As I mentioned before: pine shavings are easier for most reptiles to spit out or digest than sand...It's comfy for the beardies especially and it's and easy to maintain and inexpensive substrate.
>>
>>ALSO---If you are actually going to use pine shavinge...you must let them air out first...the sometimes strong smell will dissapate after about a day or so...BUT>>>
>>
>>The main concern is that you can NEVER mist pine shavings or get is overly wet is an area...otherwise the wet shavings must be removed and replaced...water reacts with the shavings to create a very stong smell...since we've started using pine shavings we've had no problems but I'm always willing to try new things so.....
>>
>>Where might I obtain a bail or aspen shavings???
>>-----
>>Chris
>>
>>1.2.0 Bearded Dragons
>>1.2.0 Green Basilisks
>>1.1.0 Crested Geckos
>>1.2.0 Veiled Chameleons
>>1.1.0 Corn Snakes
>>1.0.0 Tokay Geckos
>>0.0.1 California Kingsnakes
>>2.5.1 Leopard Geckos
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reiko
photos

Gee, spent 10 minutes last night at the petstore watching the monitors injesting alarming amounts of repti-bark while chasing crickets. I didn't see them spit out any bark at all. Some may have fell out of their mouths while they swollowed but not enough to make me confident to put any form of bark in my dragon's cage.

As for aspen itself, from what I read on several snake forums, most recommend not feeding snakes on aspen because of the dangers of injesting it and other wood substrates. Those that do use wood substrates feed in separate containers.

Though I never swollowed aspen wood, I have had problems with splinters off cinnamin flavoured tooth picks imbedding themselves in my gums and cheeks just by sucking on them and lightly chewing. I also heard of people having perferated intestines because of swollowing bits of the toothpick or even sunflower seed shells.

With all these possible risks (impaction etc isn't a guarentee to happen when using wood substrates, just a higher risk), why take the risk with your dragon's health? Better to not use any substrate and use shelf liner or plastic table clothe. Heck, linoleum cut to fit the cage would be better, sealed down with silicon sealer or non toxic ahesive would work too and look nice.

"With all these possible risks (impaction etc isn't a guarentee to happen when using wood substrates, just a higher risk), why take the risk with your dragon's health? Better to not use any substrate and use shelf liner or plastic table clothe. Heck, linoleum cut to fit the cage would be better, sealed down with silicon sealer or non toxic ahesive would work too and look nice."

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reiko
photos

I just can't understand why anyone wouldn't want to try shelf liner. Everyone who uses it swears by it, including myself. Absolutely no hazzards or what-ifs, and easier to clean than anything else!

And ze dragons, zey luv it!

I don't use shelf liner (yet) because i have a tall tank (about 24' tall) so I need tall branches, and sand is the only way to make them secure without using some sort of wires or something to try to attach them to the rim of the tank (don't think it would work with my tank).

I might switch over this summer though. I had an idea to build a basking platform and then cover the top with cork bark and some sort of gang plank style thing to get up onto it. I just haven't had any problems with sand. He doesn't eat on it, and I haven't seen him lick it since the first day I put him on it. I'm still considering the switch though.

Any sort of wood chips are a definate no no though.