Excavator clay substrate?

[Lori P]

Hey guys, check this out. It sounds kind of fun, in that you can shape it into tunnels, ledges, etc. Do you think it would be safe for the garters??

Reptile Substrates: Zoo Med Excavator Clay Burrowing Substrate at Drs. Foster and Smith (http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=6016+6040+17913&pcatid=17913)

[RZL36]

It might not be a good idea. I don't think that is digestible and wouldn't want to find out the hard way, but never used it before.

[Sid]

Lori, thanks for sharing. I think it would make some interesting "spot" additions to the vivs. May have to try it myself.

[EdgyExoticReptiles]

hmmmm that gave me a good idea i could use some of my air drying clay to build hides

[Stefan-A]

Would make a nice addition. Even if garters aren't desert animals and don't have the same need to burrow as the animals mentioned on the site. Personally, I don't like anything that would make it more difficult to check how the animal is doing. I even have a problem with my snake hiding under the water bowl. :D

Reed, I made a hide out of air-drying clay for my Chinese skink almost 20 years ago. It worked great.

Making a network of tunnels and hides would be easy with plaster bandages. You could even just make simple shapes, straight sections, bends, junctions etc and just join them together any way you like. ;)

[drache]

someone at the expo told me that the excavator substrate is a bit of a pain to work with

[Lori P]

Ok, well, I ordered some to play with so I'll let you know. :-) I will only use it in a small part of the tank. Oh, thought these were cool too, ordered some of them:

Terrarium Accessories for Reptiles: Fluker’s Bamboo Bars at Drs. Foster and Smith (http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=6016+10931+18341&pcatid=18341)

I like to use real branches for climbs, but, real branches don't always fit just right... so these will be cool too!! :-)

[RZL36]

Lori, did you get the catalog with what I think is a viper boa on it?

Go for the fake branches. Real branches require a baking to kill all the crap in them. I gave my black rat ticks that way. Very thankful it was young and not totally black yet.

Definitely let us know how the clay stuff works. I am thinking about using something other than aspen for my pine.

[Cazador]

Rich,

Why are you looking for something other than aspen? Just curious about your experience with it.

Rick

[RZL36]

Hey Rick,

Aspen bedding is pretty decent, but I have a northern pine that might just want some sandy spots too. Eventually I want to make that a display animal b/c it is so pretty and aspen looks really unnatural. It works really great though. All of my snakes get the same aspen bedding that rabbits do. Its a huge bag for 10 bucks. Can't beat it.

[anji1971]

I just switched to aspen from the wood chips and I must agree, its WAY cheaper. I buy the one for rabbits too, because the aspen bedding in small bags labelled "for reptiles" costs 10 times more........go figure.:rolleyes:

[RZL36]

Exactly. 9 times out of 10 when a product says, "For Reptiles" it costs at least twice as much as the same thing for another animal. The only products that I have that are "For Reptiles" are lamps (though I own a few plant lamps that work wonderfully) and a bottle of Mite Off. I own two reptile brand hides that were dirt cheap. I find the best to be plastic stuff for hamsters: llittle plastic houses, low profile water bowls. Both for a buck. My shrubbery is plastic from craft stores that I wash really well before putting in.

What I get for 5 dollars at a craft store would cost 20 dollars at a pet store, but hey, business is business, and "mom and pop" pet stores aren't exactly raking in the millions.