When you
first bring your pet home, paper towels or
newspaper are often the best substrates to use.
This allows you to monitor the animal for mites,
check for loose stools, etc.
Once the animal is
established, there are a number of substrates
available, depending on the species. Young animals
are often best kept on paper towels until they are
older. This eliminates the possibility that they
might ingest some substrate and suffer an
intestinal blockage. As they get older they can be
switched to a different substrate.
Desert species
do well on sterile play sand, as long as all their
food is served in a bowl to keep them from
accidentally eating some. There are some sands
made specifically for reptiles. The finer grain
sands, like Zoo Med’s Repti-sand, are good but
expensive. Calci-sand has actually been known to
cause impaction, and most reptile vets have had
experience with reptiles brought in for just this
reason. Most will recommend not using this brand,
even though it says it is digestible.
Don’t
always trust what the company advertises. For
tropical species, moisture absorbing substrates
work great. Peat moss, sphagnum moss, cypress
mulch, and Bed-a-Beast will hold moisture and keep
the cage humid. Some substrates work well for
desert or tropical species. Bed-a-beast can be
used damp or dry, and is a great substrate. It can
be spot cleaned, and changes completely when
needed.
Care fresh, a bedding made from wood pulp,
is also good but may fall apart if it gets too
wet. Aspen bedding also works well, but
avoid any bedding containing cedar. Cedar contains
substances that are toxic to reptiles. Some
substrates to avoid include Calci-sand, walnut
shells, corn cob, because of the danger of
impaction, and cedar.
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