Oh the controversy

[Tyler_Vance]

Sani chips, some hate them some, well most people just hate them. And for good reason with impaction scares. I will probably be picking up play sand today after work to switch out the chips

I have it set like this to fill the gap that the tiles couldn't. He enjoys throwing it around from what it looks like. But I don't want risk of impaction no matter how "cool" it looks. Not a big fan of repti carpet or news paper. So it sounds like plays and is the left over option.

Anyone have issues with it ever?

What's the process for cleaning it before putting it in the cage?

If it dissolves when wet what happens if he spills water on some (yes I have a water dish, he actually drinks out of it occasionally haha)

 

[Marquez0352]

We've always had sand for our Button. Never had a problem. We got her when she was as big as a pinky finger. She is now 7 months old. She appears to love to dig and cuddle in it inside her "turtle power", or she will lounge sprawled across it in the warm side.

We do provide a feeding bowl for her food so she can eat from it. But even when feeding her crickets, we noticed at first, when it was brand new to her, she was clumsy about it and would miss first few tries and hit the sand. We were scared of course so we kept close eye on her. But she wasted no time in learning how to carefully go for a cricket. It was visibly obvious she followed her instincts as far as being careful with the sand as well. She's now a clever monster to the crickets lol

Cleaning: we usually get sand from Petsmart, doesn't require cleaning before putting it in. We sift it clean every weekend or as needed. But it's important to change it every 6 weeks because it does start smelling. If water spills on it it'll dry up on its own. It's as if she was out in the wild.

It's a bit of high maintenance having sand, and pricy. But our Button is totally worth making the extra effort providing fun clean pretty sand for her

 

[Marquez0352]

Btw you're lucky your little one drinks from the bowl! Button prefers being sprayed in the face lol or dripping it on her nose. She's so prissy!

 

[Tyler_Vance]

Btw you're lucky your little one drinks from the bowl! Button prefers being sprayed in the face lol or dripping it on her nose. She's so prissy!

He had a big bowl in his last enclosure that he'd splash around in but it was to big for my liking. And I feel like the sani chips are soft enough especially when wet that they would pass through him easily but I don't want to be wrong

 

[Marquez0352]

We aren't familiar with sand chips, so we can't give a knowledgeable opinion on that :/ sorry.

 

[Tyler_Vance]

We aren't familiar with sand chips, so we can't give a knowledgeable opinion on that :/ sorry.

What kind of sand do you use

 

[Marquez0352]

Calcium substrate sand. It's like $15 per 20lb bag.

 

[PatsyB]

Children's play sand is very cheap. You can get like 50 lbs for 6 bucks or something like that. When I used it, I just gave it a real good rinse to get out any chunks of rocks or whatever and then I baked it for about 20 minutes to dry it out.

 

[jarich]

Those are not your only options Tyler. You could always go with the most natural and healthy option, a bioactive soil.

 

[Tyler_Vance]

Those are not your only options Tyler. You could always go with the most natural and healthy option, a bioactive soil.

Bioactive soil?! sounds dangerous

 

[jarich]

Hahaha, itll turn you green! Just kidding, of course.

Not dangerous at all. Its a little trickier to set up, but easier once you have it going. Its basically creating a mini ecosystem inside your enclosure, sort of like you do with a fish tank and the water.