Calci-sand substrate-good?

[Dusty]

I am in the process of putting together a habitat for my first snake, which will probably be a Colombian Redtail Boa. I was wondering if any one has used the Bone-Aid Calci-sand substrate product from T-Rex? The company indicates that the product is completely harmless if ingested (perhaps even beneficial) and it looks good too. I like the texture and look of sand that it provides and it supposed to be more sanitary than many other products, but I want to be sure that my snake is pleased with it more than anything. I know all snakes are different, but do most snakes like the sand-type products or would they much rather prefer a bark-type substrate?

Thanks for any help you guys can give a rookie!

[Red]

Re: Calci-sand substrate-good?

Well I would personly not use sand for a boa but it will not hurt the snake... In fact they don't seem to hate any type of substrate... If you use the sand then you will want to use some other type of heating device then a uth... The sand will/can restrict the heat flow from the pad and cause it to heat up real fast.. This can cause a burn on your new pet... I don't like to say what is better when it comes to substrate... I personly like coconut bark... It is real costly like $20 for a bag that if it was aspen would cost you like $7-8 Most people do not spend that much... I only have 4 snakes one on sand(rosy boa) three on coconut bark mixed with aspen...(two boas, 1corn snake) Most of the rep. world I think seem's to use good old new's paper... It works real good.. It has all the good thing's that you are look'in for when you are going to throw somthing away.. cheap, cheap, cheap, and cheap.. I think caly still use's new's paper with kitty litter under it.. It work's great.. bed-a-beast is good if you get it real dry after the soaking.. I use it to spot clean in the cages and when they get a couple spots with bed-a-beast I change the hole thing.... Don't and I repeat DON'T use pine or ceder.. In fact I think that as for wood chips go aspen is the only one that is good.... in my opion corn cob, alfalfa, and astro turff suck... They all have bad traits that I personly think suck... corn cob absorb too much and can real easly in the heat of a boas cage sturn in to a pile of mold.. I have had it happen over night.... alfalfa just becomes a mess and astro turff is a pain because you have to clean it all the time.... and if they get under it and you have a uth it can cause a burn real easy... Well that is all I can think of right now... so have fun
Eric aka...Red

[Guest]

Re: Calci-sand substrate-good?

I would rather take  a few minutes to clean astro-turff then spend more and more money on substrate you have to keep buying bag after bag of.

I use astro-turff.  And no I am not talking about that crap the pet stores sell either. I'm talking about the kind of astro-turff you can buy at stores like Lowes.  It is the exact same thing the pet stores sell except it is alot cheaper so you can get more for your $.

Using astro-turff isn't that hard.  You simply cut 2 pieces so you have a clean piece when the other is soiled.  When the animal goes to the bathroom you take out the stuff in the enclosure remove the soiled turf, clean any thing that has been soiled, get the 2nd peice of turf you cut that is clean and put the stuff back in.

To clean a turf you simply wash it in a bucket or something filled with water and a few drops of cleaner like Cheer. Scrub the soiled area real good with a wash rag until it is cleaned. Set it out on the fence or somewhere to dry.  Though the turff will drip alot until it is dried.

Besides Snakes can't accidentally swallow astro-turff while eating unlike other substrates.

And no, cheer hasn't harmed my boa one bit.  You only use a little bit of cheer to clean the turff.

[king_ding_a_ling]

Re: Calci-sand substrate-good?

;DI use good ol Bark.Fur Bark in fact.Iv used the sand before and my boa wouldnt go over to the sand side...Very Picky i guess......

[Red]

Re: Calci-sand substrate-good?

Well I don't feed in my cage.... So there is no chance of my snakes eating the bark... and I can show you a pic. of a snake that eat a heating pad... and If I am not misstaken lori can show you one of a towl being eaten by a boa... So don't count the atro turff out.. The astro turff is probley my second choice though.. In fact I have 4 pieces for evey cage I own but that is just for when I am being broke and can't pay for new stuff... well have a good one... My snakes just like to burrow too much for me to take it away from them...
Eric aka...Red

[SaKSTa]

Re: Calci-sand substrate-good?

I use Aspen bark, it looks nice, easy to clean, and my snake seems to love it. Its also not that expensive, 18 bucks for a huge HUGE bag thats last a year for me. I mean the bag must weigh close to thirty pounds, or more. I wouldnt use sand cause I would think it would be like sand paper to the snakes belly scales, and plus when the snake craps some of the sand might get takin in... if you know what I mean.

[scottysrm]

Re:Calci-sand substrate-good?

I use the calcisand for my kingsnake. Does anyone know if that is a good bedding for that type snake?

[woodman]

Re:Calci-sand substrate-good?

[quote author=scottysrm link=board=8;threadid=1212;start=msg32765#msg32765 date=1069123330]
I use the calcisand for my kingsnake. Does anyone know if that is a good bedding for that type snake?
[/quote]

I'm using Vita-sand (almost the same as Calci but smaller grain size) for my corns which suits them fine. I tried it for my snow Cal King but he likes to burrow during hybernation so I swithed him over to Care Fresh (a recycled newspaper product) which he loves. He immediately buried himself and is having a fun time playing hie and seek.
Miles

[___LEE___]

Re:Calci-sand substrate-good?

i would not use calci sand for any snake except sand boas if you ask me.
i feel if you use sand it can get stuck under the belly scales and you would never know it and possibly cause a infection of some sort being it can irritate the snake everytime it moves and cause abbrasions of some sort...after all that is what sand paper is made of and look at what we use sandpaper for.....

Lee

[BadBoyJay]

Re:Calci-sand substrate-good?

Sand can also get into there respratory tracts and cause infection or RI. I'm in agreement with Lee, I wouldn't use sand for anythingother than a sand boa. Stick with newspaper, recycled newspaper substrate, aspen or cypress mulch. :

Jay :shades: