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RE: Atrox substrate
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by snakeguy101 on November 28, 2010
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I have my Hela on a coarse leveling sand mixed with peat and crushed lava rocks. It looks more natural than play sand and is still just as easy to spot clean.
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RE: Atrox substrate
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by theemojohnm on November 29, 2010
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In many of my enclosures, I use a mix of different
gravel sizes. I think that most of the gravels used
for aquarium use are probably the most suitable for
most snakes, and other reptiles commonly kept.
This is the stuff found in the aquarium section of
most petstores, and is the naturally-colored kind,
sometimes refered to as 'river-rock' aquarium gravel.
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RE: Atrox substrate
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by sammich on November 29, 2010
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Thanks John! Gravel's never occurred to me... Don't know why, and you've pointed out some great benefits of using it as substrate. Have you run into any technical issues using it vs more common substrates? The aquarium gravel I see at most stores is kinda pricey and I imagine the cost factor could be a con. What depth of layer do you put in your cages, and does it add a significant amount of extra weight?
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RE: Atrox substrate
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by Cro on November 30, 2010
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Jaimie, one thing that you have to realize, is that gravel does not wear out.
Once you buy it for a reptile enclosure, you can use it for years and years. All you have to do is take it out and clean it every couple of of years, wash it, and after it is dry, you put it back into the cage.
Also, if you search for it online, you will probably find prices that will beat your local pet store, even considering the shipping cost.
Zoos all over the world use gravel products in their exhibits. There is a good reason for that.
Best Regards
John Z
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RE: Atrox substrate
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by agkistrodude on December 1, 2010
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I've used pea gravel, a little larger than aquarium gravel, and is available about anyplace that sells gravel or mulch. They'll dump a front-end loader full in the back of your pickup truck for a few bucks. Use some in your cages, and use the rest in your flower garden or walkway. Take care, Marty
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RE: Atrox substrate
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by theemojohnm on December 1, 2010
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Yes, the price is a con initially, but, it's very easy to pull the entire substrate bed and wash it. Then, it's ready to be used again. For this fact, gravel will usually pay for itself the second or third time the enclosure is cleaned. Price is the ONLY downfall that I can think of, and that is only initially, as gravel is usually only a one-time purchase, as John also mentioned.
And, many landscape supply companies sell gravel MUCH cheaper than in the retail pet shops, and some hardware stores will carry it, too.. If you’re looking for a close natural replica, mixing several sized gravels works well, and a bit of sand can also be added, for a good desert replica..
Compared to the price of organic mulch-based substrates, that constantly must be replaced due to the organic material absorbing moisture and waste, gravels are actually considerably cheaper, long-term.
For tropical enclosures, I usually go with a 1 - 1 ½ inch deep gravel bed. Even though the gravel itself will not hold onto any moisture (a HUGE sanitation benefit) high-humidity levels are still very attainable. With a deep bed, any water that contacts the surface of the gravel will immediately drain downwards, pulling it away from the animal(s). The surface will always stay nice and dry (ESSENTIAL for almost ANY reptile species, which will develop blisters and skin infections if kept excessively wet). And, all the unsanitary waste material will drain, beneath the gravel. Well, the moisture is still there, and in a heated enclosure will still humidify the cage (occasional spraying recommended), but it will collect beneath the substrate, and won’t contact the cage inhabitant(s), which again is a huge bonus in terms of sanitation.
For desert enclosures, I use less gravel, and the exact amount is really a matter of personal preference.
Obviously no spraying.. And, since the gravel itself absorbs no moisture, low humidity levels are also very easy to attain.
In all honesty, a 1-2 inch gravel bed really doesn’t add all that much extra weight compared to many other substrate types, and shouldn’t be an issue, as the weight will be distributed evenly over the floor of the enclosure.. For some of my large display cages, it can add considerable weight, but they are VERY heavy cages to begin with, and are never moved anyway. For most size enclosures, added weight isn’t an issue..
There are many different particle size and colored gravels out there. I like the smaller, round, lighter browns (the “river-rock” gravels are a mix of various shades). You will find that they actually compliment the décor of tropical and desert enclosures, equally well..
Once it appears time for a cage cleaning, for most folks, it’s also time to throw out the substrate bed and open a new bag (of usually expensive stuff).. But, all you have to do when using a gravel substrate bed is remove the gravel, and rinse it under scalding hot water for a few minutes, and it’s as good as new! (I use a larger kitchen strainer or ‘colander’ for this purpose).
Also, when using gravel in tropical enclosures, adding a very thin layer of quality potting soil under the gravel bed reduces the frequency of cage-cleanings, and allows you more time in between washes. I won’t go into the ‘bio-active substrate’ topic, as that is a thread in itself. But, by adding a layer of soil under the gravel, you create a colony of beneficial bacteria. These bacteria will convert raw ammonia from the animal’s waste into nitrate, and then into nitrite, and so on, and so on, into less toxics compounds..
Think of this bacteria as a biological waste-management colony. If you are familiar with aquariums, this is the same process as ‘cycling’ an aquarium, and these bacteria colonies function the same way. This is known as the ‘bio-filter’, in the aquarium trade.
I’ve been recommending gravel as a great reptile and amphibian substrate for years, and it is certainly my all-time favorite substrate, and the one I use almost solely. For enclosure design, it is limitlessly flexible, and is by far the most sanitary substrate choice out there..
Take Care,
-John Mendrola
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RE: Atrox substrate
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by Rob_Carmichael on December 6, 2010
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John made some great points. Growing up, all we had was gravel. The down side, strictly from a time/labor intensive standpoing which should be a low priority, is that when you have to do regular cleanings, its a bit labor intensive to empty out a large exhibit, rinse, sanitize, etc. BUT, the advantage is that it can indeed be used over and over and over. There are health benefits too as John and others mentioned. At our zoo we use a combination of sand/"clay"/crushed coral (at times)/peat/top soil and forest humus to create the desired effect. No, it's not 100% naturalistic/authentic but it makes for easy spot cleaning and has a nice visual appeal to the public - unfortunately, public perception becomes reality and unless you really stay on top of keeping gravel immaculately clean, you tend to get some urate build up as pieces get caught between the pieces of gravel (the aquarium style). We use natural rock/cholla cactus/live desert plants/etc to spruce up desert exhibits and so far, its worked well as we have a number of animals in the 20-30 year old mark (various Crotalines). There are no absolutes to exhibit design - it really boils down to what you like, and, what works best for your needs.
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