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RE: Calcium sand
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by tj on August 29, 2006
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It wouldn't really hurt the snake. Many EDB's live on offshore island's that consist of sand, as well as many areas inland. As long as your humidity isn't too low, it'll be fine.
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RE: Calcium sand
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by rickyduckworth on August 30, 2006
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every snake i've seen that was kept on pure sand had really worn/scuffed up belly scutes......imagine sliding around on glass all the time......
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RE: Calcium sand
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by Cro on August 31, 2006
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In the wild, most snakes do not live on pure sand. Their habitats have leaves, detritus, rocks, plant material, logs, etc.
Perhaps the underlaying soil is mostly sand, but that is a far difference from a reptile cage with just a sand substrate. There are a lot of cushioning items mixed in with the sandy soils.
There is also a huge difference in the ``sharpness`` of individual sand grains from different locations. Some are very sharp grained and could abrade a captive snake. Others are more rounded or worn and less abaraive. Beach sands are far different from river sands, which are far different from South-GA Pleistocene sands.
Overall, sand is not an ideal substrate, but when mixed with other items, can be used for Coral Snakes, Sidewinders, Diamond-Backed Rattlesnakes, Hog-Nosed Snakes, Indigo Snakes, and leg-less lizards, Gopher Tortioses, Armadillos, etc.
Just be carefull using it, as it can retain moisture, and can be abrasive.
Best Regards JohnZ
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RE: Calcium sand
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by tj on August 31, 2006
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"In the wild, most snakes do not live on pure sand."
Umm, okay. Then what kind of sand do desert dwelling snakes live on? Bottom line, if the snake comes from a habitat where there is sand, then it's not going to harm the snake in it's enclosure. There is plenty of sand in Florida and plenty of diamondback's found in sandy areas, same goes for pygmies, and plenty of other species in other areas. If it were an eastern massasauga or cottonmouth, I'd say bad choice.
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RE: Calcium sand
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by Cro on August 31, 2006
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It is true that some highly specilized snakes live in very sand areas, but even there, they are not usually found way out in the sand dunes. They are found near rocky areas, or vegatation areas surrounded by sand, where food items are found.
Bottom line, sand out in the wild is way different from sand in a enclosure, as it is more abpt to hold moisture in an enclosed cage than sand exposed to the atmosphere.
Sand can make an attractive cage for certain snakes and lizards, but is still not an ideal substrate. If you mix the sand with other items like peat and leaves and dirt, it is more like the sand in the wild, and more suitable for a habitat. It should be used with caution, and is best when mixed with other substrates.
As far as snakes in Florida, they are not often found on a pure sand beach. Sure, there is a lot of sand, but the animals are living on areas with sand mixed with other plant materials. They are found in the dunes or beyond the wreck line on the beaches, in area where there is a lot of surface vegitation. Pure sand in a cage is way different from Sandy Areas.
Next time you migrate from NY to Florida, take a handfull of soil and take a closer look at it. It is not pure sand, even though it might look that way to someone who is not familiar with Southern soils. It is a mixture of sand and plant material. Sure it is sandy, and sure it is part of a habitat that Pygmy Rattlesnakes and Diamond-backed Rattlesnakes live in, but it is far from the Pure Calcium sand that the original question was about. It is not good to keep snakes on pure sand, pure calcium sand, pure play sand, or pure river sand, even if in the wild they are found in sandy areas.
Best Regards JohnZ
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