Results 1 to 8 of 8

Thread: Sand: Is it a safe substrate?

  1. #1
    Poly
    Guest

    Default Sand: Is it a safe substrate?

    Recently, it was brought to my attention that sand may not be a good substrate to use(I currently use it in my toad vivarium, as both my toads came from an extremely sandy enviroment, I figured it wouldn't be a problem.), as the grains of it may stick to my toads eyes, and since they use their eyes to swallow it may grind away at their eyes when they do so!?

    Is this true?

    I know sand isn't a good substrate for most amphibians, but toads are unique in the fact that substrate dosen't stick to them that easily.

    Thanks,

    ~Royce

  2. # ADS
    Circuit advertisement
     

  3. #2
    Moderator DonLisk's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Nationality
    [United States]
    Location
    New Hampshire
    Posts
    2,337
    Blog Entries
    9
    Picture Albums: Member Photo Albums

    Default Re: Sand: Is it a safe substrate?

    I think more info you see on sand is going to be about how it would impact a frog and its ill effect during digestion. It should be no issue as to skin or external health concerns.

    I may be wrong here but that is my thoughts.
    1.0.0 Red Eyed Leaf/ Frog - Agalychnis callidryas
    1.1.1 Bumblebee Dart Frog - Dendrobates leucomelas
    1.1.0 Dendrobates truncatus - Yellow Striped
    1.1.1 Dendrobates tinctorius – Bakhuis Mountain
    1.1.0 - Dendrobates tinctorius - Powder Blue
    1.1.0 - Ranitomeya vanzolinii

  4. #3
    Poly
    Guest

    Default Re: Sand: Is it a safe substrate?

    What would you do in my situation?

  5. #4
    Moderator DonLisk's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Nationality
    [United States]
    Location
    New Hampshire
    Posts
    2,337
    Blog Entries
    9
    Picture Albums: Member Photo Albums

    Default Re: Sand: Is it a safe substrate?

    If it is not where he/she is eating then I would let it go until you do a substrate clean or change. If it is part of a water feature then I wouldn't be too concerned since they don't usually eat in the water.
    1.0.0 Red Eyed Leaf/ Frog - Agalychnis callidryas
    1.1.1 Bumblebee Dart Frog - Dendrobates leucomelas
    1.1.0 Dendrobates truncatus - Yellow Striped
    1.1.1 Dendrobates tinctorius – Bakhuis Mountain
    1.1.0 - Dendrobates tinctorius - Powder Blue
    1.1.0 - Ranitomeya vanzolinii

  6. #5
    Poly
    Guest

    Default Re: Sand: Is it a safe substrate?

    Well, it's all sand, and yes, they do eat in their Viv all the time! Should I change it out for soil? Or just take them out to feed? I like dropping 10-15 crickets in at night, because usually by morning they are all gone.

  7. #6
    100+ Post Member IrishRonin's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2011
    Nationality
    [United States]
    Location
    Cherry Valley
    Posts
    323
    Blog Entries
    1
    Picture Albums: Member Photo Albums

    Default Re: Sand: Is it a safe substrate?

    Well like you said they came from a sandy area so thats what they know and are used to. What kind of sand are you using? Take into consideration that they probubly have eatin sand before you caught them and they probubly have had sand stuck to there eyes before as well but when I observe my toads if anything is stuck to they're eyes they they promptly remove it before doing anything else including eating, and it doesn't happen often.

  8. #7
    Poly
    Guest

    Default Re: Sand: Is it a safe substrate?

    Yes exactly! I figured because they come for a sandy area, it wouldn't be a problem. When I used soil for substrate, they didn't seem very happy, so I added a small sandy patch, then they would burry themselves in that patch, and pretty much ignore the rest of the tank, so when I changed the substrate to all sand they seemed MUCH happier, and moved around much more! To be honest, as for the "sand sticking to their eyes" concern, I had never seen this before, but I just wanted to clarify whether it may or may not be something I need to change.

    Oh, and it is jusr regular brown sand, much like beach sand.

  9. #8
    100+ Post Member IrishRonin's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2011
    Nationality
    [United States]
    Location
    Cherry Valley
    Posts
    323
    Blog Entries
    1
    Picture Albums: Member Photo Albums

    Default Re: Sand: Is it a safe substrate?

    I think there fine. When you do a substrate change maybe go to play sand (100% silica sand) from any hardwear store. Its like $5-10 for 50lbs and its clean of any foreign material, just give it a good rinse to get rid of any dust. To me your just mimicing there natural habitat which is what keeping frogs/toads- any animal is all about.

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads

  1. Wanted/Trade: Sand boa
    By kluas88 in forum Wanted
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: November 2nd, 2011, 02:36 PM
  2. African Sand Frogs?
    By Raya in forum Frogs
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: October 29th, 2011, 09:01 AM
  3. Black calcium sand?
    By Pixidust in forum Vivarium, Terrarium & Enclosure Discussion
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: October 5th, 2011, 07:23 AM
  4. Sand for Substrate?
    By Sarah in forum Tree Frogs
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: March 9th, 2011, 05:28 PM
  5. Sand for beardies
    By jackdogga in forum Other Pets
    Replies: 6
    Last Post: October 28th, 2010, 08:13 AM

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •