Zoo Med's Excavator Clay Burrowing Substrate

[Herpkid101x]

Today i bought bag of Zoo Med's Excavator Clay. Its a special kind of sand that you put some water in to it before being put into the tank. When the water is in its hard enough that you can shape it into burrows and/or tunnels with it collapsing. But on the back of it in the Warning section it says Not for use with Under Tank Heaters(thick and/or dense substrate may cause excess heat to build-up. Does it mean that if excess heat builded up,the sand wouldn't be able to stay in the posistion it was in or would the heat of the heater mixed with the sand harm the animal?

[reptilenut4sure]

If it is glass tank and heat builds up enough it might crack the glass. And it could also harm the animal if he doen't go there for a while then goes through it, then it could be heated up more than he needs.

[Deej85]

I had been wondering about the type of substrate myself. I am currently using good old paper towel to line my tank, although I am considering getting another type of substrate and thought about this clay kind.

If it isn't conducive to heat mats then I don't think I want it. it must be fairly messy to clean it up anyways.


What is everyone's favorite substrate?

[Herpkid101x]

im dont addin the water to the substrate because im usin this with my leo and i dont think they make burrows and i dont want to clean up that kinda mess!

[Herpkid101x]

and to answer ur question my favs are calcium sand and jungle earth

[Greenlover]

for my beardies i use carpet easy to clean no mess and when i need to clean it i put the spare in tell the other ones done going through the wash...

[BlueClover]

and to answer ur question my favs are calcium sand and jungle earth

Careful with the calcium sand, it's been known to cause impaction.

[Greenlover]

ok i know i should make my own thread but whats the best substrate for a kenyan sand boa? since im picking mine up soon

[BlueClover]

ok i know i should make my own thread but whats the best substrate for a kenyan sand boa? since im picking mine up soon

A few inches of playsand or aspen shavings. Just something they can burrow in.

[BlueClover]

What is everyone's favorite substrate?

I'm currently using Eco-earth for the geckos and the python and will use cypress mulch or equivalent for the corns.

[Greenlover]

thanks im gonna try and find some aspen

[reptilenut4sure]

I used aspen bedding for all my snakes and cal sand for my beardies. They havent had a problem yet. i had a mite infestation a while back so since then ive used newspaper for all my snakes.

And that clay stuff your thinkin about using you can spread it around your tank then get a mister and just make it damp probably would work and it wouldn't be all that messy.

[Joe]

I use sifted play sand for my sand boa's and have never had any issues, I have had colubrids eat there paper towel substrate, I never had an impaction here ever, anything you use, doesnt mater what it is, if eaten in access can pose the possibility of impaction, years ago many people used bird seed as a substrate for uro's, a completely digestible substrate, and i know and have heard from many keepers that this also has caused impactions, maybe we should see if we can keep them in rubber rooms and see what we can figure out for reptile straight jackets!

[Herpkid101x]

i use the kind thats ultra fine(small) so it avoids in impaction

[Aaron_S]

As Joe said every substrate can cause impaction. It's about how much is taken in.

[BlueClover]

As Joe said every substrate can cause impaction. It's about how much is taken in.

I realize this. But calci-sand has had a lot of bad press; mostly because animals have been known to actively eat it if they aren't getting enough calcium in their diet. I didn't say he shouldn't use it, all I said was "Be careful."

[Aaron_S]

Make sure you have enough calcium in the diet? Problem solved!