Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have my mali on shelf liner now but ive heard him digging at night in his cage. Should i have a substrate?what kind? what about impaction?Stress factors?
Thanx
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0.1.0. Green Iguana (Ziggy)
0.1.0. Bearded Dragon (Dina)
1.0.0. Mali Uromastyx (unnamed)
1.0.0. Crested Gecko (Ilik)
1.0.0. Leopard Gecko (unnammed)
1.0.0. Veiled Chameleon (Bonzaii)
0.0.1. Eastern Painted Turtle (Piccasso)
0.0.1. Common Snapping Turtle (Spike)
0.0.11. Hermit Crabs (unnamed)
0.0.2. Goldfish
0.0.2. African Dwarf Frogs (unnamed)
0.0.8. Assorted Tropical Fish
0.2.0. Dogs(Brandie & Molly)
1.1.1. Birds

PLz help!
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0.1.0. Green Iguana (Ziggy)
0.1.0. Bearded Dragon (Dina)
1.0.0. Mali Uromastyx (unnamed)
1.0.0. Crested Gecko (Ilik)
1.0.0. Leopard Gecko (unnammed)
1.0.0. Veiled Chameleon (Bonzaii)
0.0.1. Eastern Painted Turtle (Piccasso)
0.0.1. Common Snapping Turtle (Spike)
0.0.11. Hermit Crabs (unnamed)
0.0.2. Goldfish
0.0.2. African Dwarf Frogs (unnamed)
0.0.8. Assorted Tropical Fish
0.2.0. Dogs(Brandie & Molly)
1.1.1. Birds

I don't have any uro's, but do a search, there is tons of information on substrates. I think you will find everything from sand, dirt, seed. Try doing a search though, that should give you a good idea.

right now helga cannot be on substrate, she has feet problems, and i always hear her digging on her paper towels. she has started to shred them and actually pushes the pieces up to "close the door" on her hide spot. i feel bad and wish she could be on substrate. i personally feel, and others are free to disagree, that if an animal is healthy, then they should have some kind of substrate in their cage because they would have it in nature. i think the three biggies on here are washed playsand, a soil/sand mix or bird seed. read up on all the facts of all three and see if one of them suits your lizard over the other. try the links at the top of the uro main page. they have some good stuff on there and try searching the old posts on the forum
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vonnie
***There is no pleasure in having nothing to do; the fun is in having lots to do and not doing it. Mary Wilson Little ***

hi...i have a mali and i use washed play sand from toys r us its 5 bucks for 50 pounds he loves digging in it ...make sure its at least 2 to 3 inches deep and impaction is not a factor if hes fed properly and is healthy... the sand will pass through him

Fed from bowl but sometimes he gets it everywhere just afraid he might eat sand coated veggies
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0.1.0. Green Iguana (Ziggy)
0.1.0. Bearded Dragon (Dina)
1.0.0. Mali Uromastyx (unnamed)
1.0.0. Crested Gecko (Ilik)
1.0.0. Leopard Gecko (unnammed)
1.0.0. Veiled Chameleon (Bonzaii)
0.0.1. Eastern Painted Turtle (Piccasso)
0.0.1. Common Snapping Turtle (Spike)
0.0.11. Hermit Crabs (unnamed)
0.0.2. Goldfish
0.0.2. African Dwarf Frogs (unnamed)
0.0.8. Assorted Tropical Fish
0.2.0. Dogs(Brandie & Molly)
1.1.1. Birds

i didnt mean if hes fed in a bowl i meant if hes fed the proper diet impaction is not a problem even if they do ingest it...feed assorted greens dusted with some veggies and some fruit some crix also if young..ive used sand for years and never had 1 problem and ive found the sand at toys r us is the best