Reptile & Amphibian Forums

We finally got the tank for our hardwicki, and now comes the task of setting it up. The hardwicki we are getting is a juvie, and I understand that the suggested substrate is paper (due to impaction issues with other substrates). When I picked up all my hardware for the uro, the pet store owner gave me Eco Earth. It comes in a brick shape, and you soak it (to make it expand) and then let it dry. Would this be a suitable substrate for a juvie? The pet store owner suggested that I use it instead of sand until the uro is grown. Has anyone had experience with this substrate, and would they reccomend it for a juvie?

When Ra was a juvie, I kept him on washed playsand and he's done just fine. I have him on a soil/sand mix now, he seems to like it better than just plain sand.
Keep in mind that uros are desert animals that are used to diggable soil and rocky outcrops for hiding and basking. Eco Earth doesn't sound like something they would be familiar with, plus you want to be leery of anything that will expand when exposed to water (if your uro swallows some, it could swell inside his stomach and possibly kill him). I would recommend the paper towels (although I prefer newspaper myself, gives them something to read ).

I hope this helps.
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1.1 Mali Uromastyx (Ra and Isis)

I thought I heard something about expanding substrate causing problems if swallowed. Thank you for the info. I think I will go with the newspaper. It's cost effective and more interesting than plan old paper towels.

Just a note about newspaper - your uro will get really messy from all the ink smudges. I've also *heard* (cannot verify truthfulness) that some newspaper ink is bad because some chemical or other absorbs into the skin. Unprinted newspaper is available, but I think that would kill the cost effectiveness.
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Torey
Salem, Oregon, USA
1.1 Uromastyx Geyri (Joe and Arthur)
1.0.1 Uromastyx Dispar Maliensis (Tank and Turtle)
1.1 Anolis Carolinensis (Bowser and Leeloo)
1.1.1 African Dwarf Frogs (Bruce and Sheila)
1.0 Betta Splendens (Mr. Miagi)
1.1 Felis Domesticus (Roscolux and Jenny)

well long time since i was last time here, Sunfox!
how are your Uros doing?
well i must say u have quite big cage there!
you should see my Amon how much he put on weight an size!!
i'll take a picture of him and post it as soon as possible!
he's about 17 cm long!
hey,can you please suggest best possible substrate for him!i've noticed you already posted but i need more detailed info!!!
thx Samo
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1.0.0 Ball python (Oz)
0.0.1 Hardwicki Uro (Amon)
0.1.0 Black cat (Tomika)

I've not had a baby uro so I don't know about them.

My Mali uro downstairs is on washed playsand.

My saharan uro's are on bird seed (I give them seperate seed apart from the stuff they are on. they seem to be very good in their bathroom behavior they dug up an area in the corner and go to the bathroom over there).

I also have reptile carpeting in with my bearded and my leopard gecko. They seem to like it.

I've read about newspaper, paper towels and regular towels.

Try any of those.

I've had the expandable bed a beast stuff, my frog ate some, he died because of it . So I wouldn't recomend it.
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Couldn't find anything online about it, other than how is selling it. There was a post here at forum.kingsnake.com/dragon/messages/17209.html which I didn't read through the entire thread. Just do a bit of research and see if there's anything unsafe. Couldn't find any bad reviews.

Jim
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2.1 - Rocky, Runako, and RoxyIII (my care sheets)