Reptile Substrate

On Sands and Carpets: What Every Reptile Owner Should Know About Reptile Substrates

There is a wide range of reptile substrates that you can use after building your pet enclosure. However, what works for one reptile might not work on another. So you have to be very careful. If you are unlucky, your pet might end up being able to digest whatever it gulped down, but it would turn out toxic. You don’t have to go overboard and demand that your reptile substrates be examined under the microscope lest it be contaminated by fungi, bacteria or toxins. After all, your pet reptile DOES have an immune system. But of course, there are products that are highly recommended and those that must not be used at all.

Reptile Sand

Using sand collected from the wild should be avoided because it may contain not only harmful organisms, but toxic substances as well. The thing is, if you love your pet, you shouldn’t take the risk and make sure that he gets to live in a safe place.
Playground sand, such as those than can be bought from Home Depot or some toy store is clean and good. It is also a good heat conductor. You may also use sand-free bowls or feeding platters. There is also specialty reptile sand sold in the market such as silica sand. Most aquarium stores also sell fine beach sand. However, the risk for impaction is higher when loose substrate, such as reptile sand, is used. If you absolutely have to use sand, you can try to lessen the risk by feeding your pet in some other tank – one that is sand-free. Pet reptiles, particularly some species of lizards, tend to lick-smell though. Even if you feed them in another tank or on sand-free bowls, they still might ingest sand. You can also use some reptile carpet as a protective layer.

Reptile Carpet

There are many type of reptile carpet. You may use artificial grass for floor covering. Hardware stores usually carry two or more grades, the least expensive of which can be used as reptile carpet. This is easy to clean and does not have to be replaced often because it can be washed and cleaned again and again.

You may also use household carpeting. However, these are more difficult to wash and disinfect. However, it can be used to decorate your vivarium. You may use it to cover slippery branches to create climbers for your pet.

Perhaps the best that you can use is those manufactured by reptile carpet manufacturers since those products were created with the comfort and wellbeing of your pet in mind. Most of these are soft, non-abrasive types. Some are even quite absorbent, so that waste is pulled away from the surface. They would still require regular cleaning though, so it is good to keep a spare handy.

Before you decide about which reptile accessories and reptile substrates are best for your pet, it is best to find out more about your pet’s nature and communicate with other reptile pet owners through online forums or better yet, check out herpetology sites to find out whether your pet can live the product that you intend to get.