The best substrate to use for Savannah\'s?

[BoaBabe]

I have heard so many things, my head is spinning. I read somewhere that sand is not good to use because it can cause impaction. How about Calisand? It advertizes that it's 100% digestible. Please let me know what you think.[addsig]

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[Varanid]

Babe, calci sand is worse than regular sand,calcium carbonate (aka calci sand) bonds together when it gets wet(like in mouths,eyes,nostrils) so i wouldn't use it for anything. you can get all the subtrate you'll ever need for 12.99 or less,just go buy a shovel then take the shovel to your back yard and dig,lol.dirt makes for the best substrate holds tunnels and humidity.when the monitor goes in it you just spot clean it.you don't have to replace the whole cage at every cleaning.the only caution about dirt is make sure it's a pestacide free area

[BoaBabe]

Well, I just saw your post today, and yesterday I put Calisand in. AUGH, what a mess! The sand is coming out today! He went in his water bowl, and then came out, after that he was covered in it! I don't like the idea of using dirt 1) Because I am afraid of bringing in parasites, 2) Won't this stick to him when he gets himself wet also? 3) My landlord won't appriciate me digging up the back yard [img]images/forum/icons/icon_razz.gif[/img] I am thinking of going to Reptibark, or some similar type of substrate. Has anyone here ever tried any of them?[addsig]

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[Varanid]

A dirt covered monitor is a happy monitor,lol. but since you rent there is another option, cypress mulch, it doesn't work as well for the monitor to construct it's home(tunnels) but it will hold humidity well enough, most of the time you can find cypress mulch at home depot or lowes for about 3 or 4 dollars a bag,

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[Varanid]

just notice i only need a few more post to change the label under my name,lol

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[Varanid]

babe ,also go to my web page and check out the care sheets and also visit the Monitor FaQ, it's chok full of information.;p;

[Princenez]

The easiest substrate to use is news paper or brown butcher paper. I use reptibark for my boa and I havent had any problems but I wouldn't feed him directly on it to prevent ingestion. As a side note I keep my beardie on sand (under the advice of my vet) and I havent had any trouble. It is also the cheapest option at 2 dollars for a 50lb bag

[Reptilian]

Yeah I thought the sand deal was a good one too until I had my beardie get impacted with it(no, I do not feed them on it). My vet told me that they will eat their substrate sometimes. Don't know why, maybe trying to get a missing mineral? Anyway I was gonna post about the cypress mulch. I have used it before in my Tegu's cage, and he actually made quite a few tunnels in it. If you put about 8-10 inches of it in then softly pat it down it will hold together pretty well. Just my .02. [img]images/forum/icons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img] [img]images/forum/icons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img] [img]images/forum/icons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img] [img]images/forum/icons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

[faze]

hey boababe go with varanids suggestion i got my savannah on dirt and he absolutely loves it and its not hard to wash off either [img]images/forum/icons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img] [addsig]

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[Varanid]

i don't know anyone that keeps monitors on paper,and if i did it would only take a few minutes to change their minds,lol., as far as price goes dirt is free(can't beat free) mulch isn't done in pounds it's done by the yard(or something) and the bag of mulch that you get for 4 bucks is ten times the size of a sand bag. the first thing you have to learn about monitors is that they need tools to be happy,......ask yourself these questions,,,,,,,What tools does a monitor need and why....
Dirt:they use this to build a home(tunnels)
Heat:they need temps from high 80's cool side to low 90's hot side
Basking spot:this is important the basking spot should be no cooler than 130 degrees.How do you get a basking spot that hot with-out changeing the temps on the hot side of the cage? use a basking platform.which lets them get closer to the heat source.Monitors with a full belly will bask at temps that would fry other reptiles
humidity:this is done in two parts,the first is to use a substrate that holds humidity(Dirt) the second part is to control the vents in the cage ,less vents higher humidity(mine stays around 60%)
lastly Meat:monitors like sav,niles,water and argus will be on an all mouse diet ,where monitors like ackies,storri,kimmies and striped tails will be on mice and insect diet.
so to sum it up in the simplest of terms monitors come down to three things
Heat-Meat-Retreat,,,,use the things in your cage that will allow your monitor to have these three things and your monitor will thrive.don't use them and sure you might keep it alive, but is that really where you want to stop... to me success with monitors is more than staying alive,,,it's growing living and reproducing and then having their offspring do the same,,,,,, http://aussiedragonsusa.com follow the link to the monitor FAQ for more detail and other people views on monitors

<font size=1>[ This message was edited by: Varanid on 2001-09-01 10:41 ]</font>

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[Varanid]

forgot one thing, parasites from dirt, it's a very low risk, i have my ackies on dirt from my back yard. if i was worried about parasites i wouldn't have these guys on it,

: : cute isn't he
:

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[BoaBabe]

Thank you soooo much! I checked out that website you sent to me Varanid, and it was very helpful. I found info there that I couldn't even find in books! I'm gonna try the cypress mulch, and if that doesn't work, then I'll see if I can find a friend that doesn't mind if I take dirt from their yard. Thanks again![addsig]

[Varanid]

always glad to help, there is way to much bad information out there, i know the guy who built the monitor F A Q .if you look at the species accounts you might even know the guy who wrote the one for argus(lol).

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[savannah_babe]

like faze said..we use dirt, and he absoutly loves it...and his temper is a lot better since ive started using dirt...but then again i treat my monitor as good as i do my own kids...i hand feed him mealies...he loves it, and he has never tried to bite me since!! hes a HUGE baby...lol [img]images/forum/icons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

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Y DONT U JUST TAKE HIM OUT AND FEED HIM [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_confused.gif[/img]
[addsig]

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