Sand substrate?

[laura]

I have three newt tanks set up, all with large-gravel substrates. I read, when I was new (ten years ago), that many newts can suck sand into their mouths when they eat from the bottom of the tank, and that you shouldn't use sand for that reason.

Now, I'm looking through the forum for the first time in about a year, and I'm seeing a LOT people posting about sand-bottom tanks and posting pictures of them.

Is this sand-sucking thing not as much of an issue as I was led to believe? I'd much rather use sand than gravel. Is it safe?

(I have two each Taricha granulosa and Pleurodeles Something-or-other (the 3" ones, not the larger ones), and one Japanese Firebelly - each species in its own tank, of course).

(Message edited by s1ren on February 13, 2006)

 

[jennifer]

Large gravel is good, and FINE sand is good. The problems come when small gravel is used. (Some people use the word "sand" to mean small gravel, so it gets confusing.) Fine sand does get ingested, but it goes through the digestive tract without harm. Gravel can cause impaction. It is not a common problem with newts, but there are stories every day on the axolotl forum about axolotls sick or dead from gravel impaction.

I have fine sand in several of my tanks and I like it quite a bit. It is best to keep it to a thin layer.

 

[katie]

what is considered large gravel?....i use some aquarium gravel that i bought at walmart. Its the kind that they make in every color know to man!....is this alright?....I have C.O. by the way....

 

[joan]

It's usually not an issue with non-ambystomatid caudates (read: anything other than axolotls). Ambystomatids eat by sucking food into their mouth, occasionally bringing sand and gravel in with it. As far as I know, most other caudates just kind of chomp down on their food. I've never had a problem with gravel (but have never used it in my axolotl tanks).

 

[ali]

Joan, I've been contemplating going to sand for a long time (I *think* my largest t. gran may have eaten a piece of gravel soon...and I've been freaking out. And advice on this, btw?)

The filters that I use (Whisper 10i) say that they aren't for use with sand? Does anyone else use these with sand anyway without problem? What kind of filter do I need?

 

[s1ren]

That's good to hear, Jennifer, Joan. I think I may switch to fine sand in the next couple of months. It looks so much better, and I get the impression from the forums that it's easier to keep clean, as well.

Katie, the aquarium gravel they sell at most fish places (Mal-Wart included) usually comes in small (pea-sized) and larger pieces (lima-bean sized, up to 1/4"). I wouldn't use the smaller ones - those fit in newt-mouths, and can't pass out the other direction. The gravel I use is the larger size.

 

[katie]

Thanks...

I have to smaller size, I will have to get the larger ones....

 

[s1ren]

I was reading this thread today: http://www.caudata.org/forum/messages/793/57237.html?1144768680#POST92365

And Jon mentioned a need to stir the sand substrate to prevent these "anaerobic pockets" from forming.

Can anyone give more information about this issue? Anaerobic is "no air/oxygen", right? Does this mean that the sand gets stagnant or rotten unless you stir it up from time to time?

I'm going to be switching to sand in a couple of months, and I'd like to know what I'm doing when I do!

 

[jennifer]

Right, anaerobic pockets are places where there is not enough oxygen, so you get "swamp-like" decay processes instead of healthy breakdown of wastes. If you want a thick layer of sand, then it is something to consider. It depends on the type of sand, but I think if you have less than an inch thickness it's not a concern.

 

[s1ren]

Ah, ok. I found another post about this elsewhere, too, right after I posted this.

I was thinking of doing as thin a sand layer as I could get away with, actually - 1/2" or less. I'll watch out, though.

Thank you

 

[mike]

<blockquote><hr size=0><!-quote-!><font size=1>Quoting Joan S. on Tuesday 14 February 2006 - 13:22 (#POST85481):</font>

It's usually not an issue with non-ambystomatid caudates (read: anything other than axolotls). Ambystomatids eat by sucking food into their mouth, occasionally bringing sand and gravel in with it. As far as I know, most other caudates just kind of chomp down on their food. I've never had a problem with gravel (but have never used it in my axolotl tanks).<!-/quote-!><hr size=0></blockquote>

I can tell you for sure that my Chinise firebelly's eat by sucking. I watch them vaccume up blackworms all the time.

 

[benjamin]

I watched one of my chinese fire bellies eat a piece of gravel this big -> O. I was worried but weeks passed with no problems and he seems to be as good and healthy and as much of a pig as ever!

 

[jameswei]

Big is usually defined by whether or not your newt can possibly swallow it. If it can then there is cause for concern.

 

[katelyn]

sorry for another gravel question but, my fire-bellied newt swallowed a piece of gravel maybe a little bigger than a tic-tac. she is about this big-> ________________________not including her tail. do you think is there a chance that she can pass it? she seems fine and wants to still eat but this only happened today.

 

[jennifer]

It's possible for the newt to pass it out. Let's hope she does! Let us know what happens.

 

[katelyn]

thank you i will let you know for sure!