Play sand for substrate

gopuccini · New Member Joined: Dec 22, 2007 Posts: 1

I just barley got a Tegu and have used Play sand for my beardies for years with little to no problems. I read through all the posts and it seems like the majority suggest using Cypress Mulch. I can see where it may be an issue of the Tegu ingesting to much sand and making it a possible cause for impaction but that is what I heard about possibly happening with the beardies. I would like to know if anyone has tried play sand and the results they saw when using it. The main issue I foresee is that the Tegu will have trouble creating a perminate dwelling but I think that is an issue with the mulch as well.
Let me know what you got. Thanks

Ophidiophile · Member Joined: Sep 08, 2005 Posts: 18 Location: Denver, CO

Tegus simply are not desert animals. I have used play sand for desert animals in the past with great results but I don't think it's right for tegus. They are tropical - you want a substrate that holds moisture and that they can dig into without it caking up on or getting in their eyes, ears, etc. I use a deep layer of cypress mulch for my tegus and they seem to love burrowing in it. I wouldn't even consider play sand for them.

dpjm · Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2007 1:28 am Post subject:

Hell no.

txrepgirl · Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2007 3:13 pm Post subject:

Ophidiophile is right.If you want to save some money you can get a big bag of cypress mulch at Homedepot or Lowes.Make sure they don't sell you some kind of toxic mulch.I don't want to be rude but some people working there don't know what they are doing.You can look up on line for non toxic mulch than go to the store and get some.Please DO NOT feed your Tegu in the tank.That's how they get impacted.Have a separate plastic container (feeding bin) for him/her.When you feed your Tegu put the food in the bin first than bring your Tegu to the food.That helps with him not getting aggressive later on.Take care and good luck with your Tegu.Have a Merry Christmas.

spencer · Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2007 5:11 pm Post subject:

i went to a garden center near my house and got 55 pounds of multch for 7$. charlie went from having 2 inches to 11 inches of multch and he like swims in it
HE LOVES IT!!

probably the best substrate or even the best multch for tegus is cypress cause it hold humidity really well and they can burrow in it.
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greentriple · Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2007 8:17 pm Post subject:

I don't have cypress mulch here at a reasonable price (Southern California) so I use a mix of Orchid Bark and Orchid Mulch, it's working great for me and is very reasonable in price.

txrepgirl · Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2007 10:42 pm Post subject:

I'm happy to hear that things worked out for you and Charlie.You are being a great Dad to your Tegu

.I'm proud of you.Take care.

spencer · Posted: Mon Dec 24, 2007 8:20 am Post subject:

if you have orchid bark in the tank i would HIGHLY suggest not feeding in tank. bark is usually big pieces and if your tegu swallowed one you may need treatment for your tegu or if its severe enough surgery
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spencer · Posted: Mon Dec 24, 2007 8:25 am Post subject:

Well by the sounds of it your tegus are doing good too txrepgirl!

Charlie and me are bonding so much. All i do to get him out is put my hand on his multch and he runs up

he is like the best thing thats happened to me every day i wake up and hold him for like 30minutes and another like hour or 2 when i get home from school/shovel

No amount of money in the world is worth charlie after ive bonded with him so well.

plus i brought him to the park and outside in the summer a few times and hes great with little kids as long as i hold him he will let them pet him and be really gentle.

once he hits 24" i got a harness ready for him and im gunna hafta start harness "training" i guess i could call it.
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txrepgirl · Posted: Mon Dec 24, 2007 10:48 am Post subject:

I tried the harness on Zeus my older Tegu and he was doing just fine.I might try it tomorrow on Leonidas.I wouldn't give my(our) Tegus up for any thing either.My boyfriend wanted a Tegu since 4 years now and in one way I wanted one,too,and on the other way I didn't because they get sooooo big.Now I wish I wouldn't of waited that long.But better late than never.Now if they are both sleeping for a hole day and I don't get to see them I'm all sad and I check the tank almost every hour or so hoping they come out

.I love my dogs but some times I like the Tegus much better because they don't bark

.

ALPHA · Member Joined: Nov 28, 2007 Posts: 73 Location: CT

Hemlock mulch also works great. Holds humidity well, inexpensive, and good for burrowing.

72xmulch · Member Joined: Feb 12, 2008 Posts: 15

i just built a cage out of an industrial meat grinder. for lights i use an oil lamp. i feed him milk shakes but he only wants to drink water. is my tegu retarded?

bubbasherps · Respected Member Joined: Dec 16, 2005 Posts: 459

lol

i have used hay, cypress mulch for subsrate. good luck'
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txrepgirl · Posted: Wed Feb 13, 2008 4:53 pm Post subject:

72xmulch.NO your Tegu IS NOT retarded.Since we are on a forum and I don't want to be rude I rather not say what I really think.Why would you want to give him a milk shake ? and why do you give him a oil lamp and not some lighting that he really needs and the right enclosure for him.Like I sad before I don't want to be rude but did you do any research about Tegus at all ? have a nice day.

bubbasherps · Respected Member Joined: Dec 16, 2005 Posts: 459

i do use kiddie play sand for bearded dragon and my uromastyxs

tegus i use cypress mulch hay.

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TEGUS TEGUS AND MORE TEGUS