TragicallyHerc
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- Sep 8, 2007
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Hey everyone, I was at the Pet Store today looking to buy substrate for my salamander. Usually I go with that shredded coconut bark stuff that comes in bricks. Today the guy there seemed certain that what I needed was this stuff called Calci-Sand. I looked at it and was skeptical. It looks like rough beach sand, with large chunks that I am sure would get accidentaly eaten. After explaining to me that it is good stuff and that it is like what they have in the wild (I have never seen a forest with beach sand mind you ) I decided I might try it. I bought 1 5lb bag, instead of the four that he said I should get to fill the bottom of the tank. I was still really skeptical but hey, I could always return the bag. I guess I don't really believe a word out of pet shop employees mouths after some very shoddy information led to my brothers frog dying.
So reading the bag of the bag it says substrate for snakes, lizards, tortoises and turtles. No salamanders there. So I did a little reading on the internet and reception to this Calci-Sand seems to be less than enthuisiastic. Some claim it to be downright dangerous.
(I should throw a disclaimer that this link does have a dead and cut open gecko, so if you don't wanna see it, don't look) http://www.petzoo.co.uk/extra_info_pages.php?pages_id=29
Right there is a picture and description of what many people had been saying to watch out for.
I am pretty sure I am going to return it and not use it. Never had problems with the bark bricks. No sense in risking this.
What are your thoughts on this Calci-Sand? Also, what would you reccomend as a substrate? Soil (no vermiticulites (spelling?)) or that coconut bark bricks?
So reading the bag of the bag it says substrate for snakes, lizards, tortoises and turtles. No salamanders there. So I did a little reading on the internet and reception to this Calci-Sand seems to be less than enthuisiastic. Some claim it to be downright dangerous.
(I should throw a disclaimer that this link does have a dead and cut open gecko, so if you don't wanna see it, don't look) http://www.petzoo.co.uk/extra_info_pages.php?pages_id=29
Right there is a picture and description of what many people had been saying to watch out for.
I am pretty sure I am going to return it and not use it. Never had problems with the bark bricks. No sense in risking this.
What are your thoughts on this Calci-Sand? Also, what would you reccomend as a substrate? Soil (no vermiticulites (spelling?)) or that coconut bark bricks?