Savannah Monitor Bedding

[RaiderWin16]

What is the best bedding for a savannah monitor? Right now I have her on some calcium sand but read somewhere recently (can't remember the website) that the calcium sand isn't as good as once thought. So I'm asking what is the best choice, cost is not a problem.

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[ring]

Umm the pet store had recommended either the calcium sand or the lizard bark or the astroturff. I would talk to your pet store or vet to see what they would recommend. I use astroturf cause its easily cleaned and can be reused.

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[savannah_babe]

well, first off..how big is your savannah? babies shouldnt be kept on sand. causes impaction. if it is larger..sand is fine.. and, dont use calci sand..lol..you can buy 50lbs of play sand at your lowes or home depot for 3 bucks

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[NicoleRussell]

well there are some who feel sand is a terrible substrate for monitors..it will not hold a burrow and instead will cave in on the animal. It's also drying and will not aid the animal with it's sheds.
Also with playsand you have the lung disorder problems (unless you are lucky enough to find silica free play sand where you live).
Go to PROEXOTICS.com and read about substrates for monitors.
One substrate that is non forming, inexpensive but still pretty good is cypress.

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[RaiderWin16]

I've narrowed it down to either the cypress mulch or this stuff I saw at http://www.petpourri.com/repshop.html called ESU lizard bedding. It is made from plant fiber and doesn't contain bark or wood. Is this stuff good or should I stay away from it? And how many lbs./cu. feet/quarts would I need to cover 8 sq. feet in 1 inch of bedding?[/url]

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[NicoleRussell]

I've never used it and it's hard to say without seeing it.
The thing is what you would consider now is different from what you might consider later as the animal gets large and you need alot of substrate.
I would at this point stick with cypress unless you can get your hands on some of that decomposed granite that robin talks about at proexotics.

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[RaiderWin16]

OK thanks I'll go with the cypress, I just need to know how much to buy.

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[haroldo359]

i'd go with cypress. you can get a 2.2 cubic ft bag at home depot or lowes for like 2 and a half bucks.

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[NicoleRussell]

ditto

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[zenix]

whats a good bedding that can hold a burrow right now im using a kind of litter thats like green pellets and makes the mess very easy to clean up but i want him to be able to make a burrow if he wants any ideas?

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[JuliusSqueezer]

whats a good bedding that can hold a burrow right now im using a kind of litter thats like green pellets and makes the mess very easy to clean up but i want him to be able to make a burrow if he wants any ideas?

plain old dirt. BUT if you have a microscope, float a little dirt from your flower bed in some sodium nitrate sometime and look at all the tapeworms. It's quite scarey. Hey Nicole...is there a source for clean dirt anywhere? or a way to clean it without making mud or bricks?

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[NicoleRussell]

clean dirt LOL
Robyn at PE's recomends decomposed granite--and he gets that at a place were sand/rock/dirt is sold. I seriously doubt it's really free of pests though.
Brett at breeding facilities like agama or all the other outdoor places----dirt, fallen leaves, and other natural substrates are used all the time. And for decades with no problems--I would have to think that somehow the animals are ok with this type of stuff.....
I will be looking into a microscope when I move--so I'll be asking you for all sorts fo advice on supplies and setup....I have a vetmed catalog---doyou use them? They have slide etc

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[natas]

Just a quick chime in here;

Some Home Depots carry a type of Sand called "Southdown" sand. This sand is Silicate free. Heh I only know this because I use it in my saltwater reef tank, and using Silicate based sands in a Reef Tank is a no no. The stuff is cheap. I bought 5 bags of it. Used 3 for my Reef Tank, and one for my Bearded Dragon. I left the other on the side to replace dirty sand in the dragons cage

[NicoleRussell]

yeah silica free is the way to go with any playsand. The only thing is with sand used alone for monitors it doesn't allow them the create burrows...it caves unless you add water (which causes bacterial problems) or soil.

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[StevenLeeAugust]

Are pre-constructed hide boxes no good? Must it be a dug up burrow?

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[LdyDrgn]

We use a 50/50 mix of Cypress mulch and top soil. It works great.

Steven, hide boxes work great, but the monitors' instinct is to dig. Allowing them a substrate where they can burrow is good for their overall well-being.

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[zenix]

does the granate hold a burrow?

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[NicoleRussell]

according to robyn it holds a burrow better then anything else. If you read his site under any monitor caresheet you will see he used soil/sand, soil, cypress and some others and the decomposed granite is the best. Of course I haven't tried it. I use so much cypress for most of the animals it's just better for me to use it as much as possible.
But I think I would trust his opinion because of his ears of breeding healthy monitors

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[zenix]

got a link?

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[NicoleRussell]

yup here you go:
http://www.proexotics.com/FAQ_answer..._soil_mix.html
make sure to read the update at the bottom

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