Reptile & Amphibian Forums

OK...This seems to be a highly argued subject everywhere I read so I will ask for some experiences and opinions. My wife and I currently keep our Uros(Niger and Mali) on crushed walnut as substrate. I have only had them a short time but they seem to like it and I have experienced no problems up to now. But I have heard some people say this can cause blockages...well I also read the same thing about everything except newspaper. So what is the deal? What has worked the best for all of you?

The main concern with crushed walnut substrate is that the pieces, if swallowed (usually by accident), have sharp edges that will tear up the gastrointestinal tract of your uro. This is usually fatal. Other substrates have a *risk* of impaction but generally not tearage. Please consider changing your uro's substrate to a less hazardous one.

Hope this clears up some of the confusion
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1 Mali Uromastyx named Ra

just think of it this way, what might cause more of a problem if swallowed? sand particle, dirt piece, or jagged nut shell? so please do change to a less hazardous substrate.

hope this helps

Walnut shreds will cause not only blockage but digestive track tears. It can take a while for the problem to surface. Blockage isn't as much fo a problem as the tears are. Yes, you do hear about blockage with almost all the other substrates, but if your husbandry is good, impaction risks are minimal.
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April
1.0 Mali Uromastyx- Embrodak
1.0 Mountain Horned Dragon- Beren
4.2 Hermit Crabs- Strong Sad, Nahatsayana, Pigwidgeon, Trogdor, Hedwig, Penelope
0.1 Five lined Skink- Leela
2.0 Bettas-Nuala &Lucien

Uro-Sailor,

Everyone seems to be ignoring your actual question.

Red and White millet seed works best for me. I had tried several other substrates in the past but changed to seed about three years ago and have been there ever since. I buy a good quality seed from a specialty feed store and store it in the freezer until I am ready to use it. None of my uros see the substrate as a primary food source and only a few occasionally snack at it. If the seed is ingested uncracked, it passes right through their system without harm. The seed also immediately encases the droppings almost like glue which makes for easy removal from the enclosure. I clean the enclosures daily and change the substrate every two months.

Although I use seed exlusively in my adult enclosures, I do not use seed as substrate on uros less than 6". I use 40# brown Kraft paper for those enclosures.

I've been keeping the majority of mine on washed play sand. It's readily available at most lumber yards..Lowes, Home Depot, and others. It's inexpensive (about $2.50 for 50lbs), easily cleaned (cat scooper will do), and has not shown to be a health risk to sub-adults or adults. Hatchling may be better kept in a paper towel/ shredded "un-used" (no print) news paper stock. As far as hacthlings.. I hope to find out in the coming months.
with my 2 cent... you should be up to...8 or so
Good Luck and I Hope This Helps
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JDBlackdog
2.1 MALI
1.1 YELLOW GEYRI
0.2 SOMOLIAN
1.1 ORNATE
0.1 ROTTWEILER

Wow...you have 9 Uros? Do you keep them all in one big enclosure or do you have separate housings?

I keep these in 1.1 pairs--- Geyri,Mali,Ornate. My large male mali(330 grams) is housed by himself. The 2 female somalian are housed together (had a male but passed away from "Bad Shipping"!) This pic is home for my Ornates.

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JDBlackdog
2.1 MALI
1.1 YELLOW GEYRI
0.2 SOMOLIAN
1.1 ORNATE
0.1 ROTTWEILER

I currently use millet seed which is nice for me, though I think less nice for the uros. I used to use playsand, which the uros seemed to like somewhat better, but the dust was awful. It's cheaper than millet, too. Both are acceptable options.

Some people use ceramic tiles placed upside down in the cage with good success - they also have a thorough tunnel system for the uros to play and hide in.

I would like to try a "burrowable" soil substrate soon - as soon as I can get a test container and extra lighting supplies. I was skeptical at first, but more and more people (the ones who seem to be doing it right, anyway) seem happy with it.

Best of luck! Anything will be a better choice than the walnut.
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Torey
1.1 Uromastyx Geyri (Joe and Arthur)
1.1 Anolis Carolinensis (Bowser and Leeloo)
1.0 Betta Splendens (Mr. Miagi)
0.0.2 Sunset Dwarf Gourami (Gimpy and Sideshow)
0.0.6 Bloodfin Tetras (including the one-eyed Captain Morgan)
0.0.1 False Spotted Corydoras (Spot)
0.0.2 African Dwarf Frogs
1.1 Felis Domesticus (Roscolux and Jenny)