Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I went to go and buy playsand at home depot today and they are out and won't be getting any in till april at the earliest. I went to the pet store to see how much the zoomed sand was and I almost crapped my pants when I saw the price. An 18kg(40 lb) bag of playsand costs me $5 Canadian and the zoomed sand was $15 for a 4.5kg(10lb) bag.

Anyway they also had this esu lizard litter which was somewhat reasonably price but still more than the sand. I would only be using the stuff till they got more sand in.

I don't know much about lizard substrates...but I know you could put down newspapers or paper towels until you can get some sand. Not as pretty, but definitely safe!

Judy
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1.0 red cape gopher (Caesar)

seems so i can recall hearing that ground walnut shells are really bad for beardies. can anybody back me up on this?

i like to keep my beardies on alfalfa pellets. you can get a 5 lb bag in the pet store for 6 bucks or you can go to place that carries blue seal products and get a 50 lb bag for 10 bucks. i love it--it make it super easy to scoop the poop and it looks quite nice and you don't have to worry abou them getting impacted if they eat it cause it is completely digestable.

amanda

Yep, walnut are bad, bad, bad...
Maybe try a garden supply store.
Or try Shelfliner till spring.
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www.classylizard.com

Impactions and mold! Just what every dragon needs!
I have cussed and fought with countless herpers who have used that junk for their dragons.
I have gone so far as to refuse to sell to stores who use and promote the use of "lizard litter".
Federal regulations do not control "truth in advertising" for pet products like they do for people. This enables companies to sell products that are harmful to your herps without the danger of being sued for false advertising.
USE PAPER TOWEL OR NEWSPAPER ... they are cheap, disposable, sterile and won't kill your baby.
DK Reptile

I agree. The lizard litter is also hard for your reptile to get any traction while walking. I have a friend that rescued a dragon that had been kept on that crap for so long it couldn't walk right. Alfalfa pellets are digestable, however it tends to grow mold if it gets wet, & who needs all that unhealthy bacteria growing in the cage. I would recommend paper towels, shelf liner, or even linoleum cut to fit.
Cricket

You know I'm glad you mentioned the bacteria and mold that occurs when Alfalfa pellets get wet. It seems to me people ignore this fact.
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0.0.2 Bearded Dragons(Ziggy and Stardust)

I hate to admit it, but I learned this from personal experience. My beardies also enjoy an occasional mist. A definite NO NO for those kept on the pellets.
Cricket

Wow. Yeah I've read a few articles and at least one popular Bearded Dragon care book that talks about how many Vets believe there's a higher incidence of respiratory disease in lizards housed on alfalfa and rabbit pellets. The lizards inhale the mold spores from wet pellets and this sets them up for respiratory infection.

To me it seems like a better chance of that than impaction from certain sands. But again, people ignore the mold and bacteria issue with pellets and become zealous haters of any type of sand.
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0.0.2 Bearded Dragons(Ziggy and Stardust)