ShirleyTX
Active Member
I'd like to start a discussion about sand. Sand has been a villain in tortoise circles for many years. Please read my whole post with an open mind -- I know a common reaction is "sand is evil". But I'd like to share some research I've done and ask you some questions, if you please. And I would be so happy if no one flames me!
Let me start with questions, and then I will share some thoughts.
1) Who among us has had one of our OWN reptiles suffer a sand impaction?
2) Was the impacted reptile(s) a tortoise specifically? If not, what was it?
3) Was your impacted reptile exposed to calcium based sand or quartz (silica) based sand?
If you don't know, just tell me what you know. Was it called play sand? Mason's sand? Did it come from a home improvement store, an educational store, or from an online source? I may be able to make a likely guess.
Some things I've learned so far:
-- Calcium sand clumps easily. It forms into a solid in the digestive system.
-- Some reptiles (allegedly) eat sand on purpose. (Some of you are laughing right now because you know your tort will try to eat anything that doesn't move, LOL.)
-- Much commercially available quartz (silica) sand is man made. It is pulverized rock. It has not spent centuries on a beach or in the desert. The grains are not smooth.
-- Some commercial sand is highly processed, reducing dust and ensuring a uniform size. Cheaper sand is not; it is dusty and has many sizes & shapes of particles in it.
Maybe you've guessed what I'm thinking: maybe not ALL sand is bad.
How do we account for the keepers who've had impacted animals and the keepers who've used sand for years with no trouble? Perhaps the highly varied quality of sand accounts for this.
I would welcome ideas about where my logic is weak, and ideas about further research. I've spoken with a geologist that specializes in sand, as well as a herp vet who specialized in tortoises. I will surely appreciate thoughtful comments. Thank you so much.
Shirley
PS Why am I interested in this? I have a 3yo Egyptian tortoise. In the U.S., we mainly use oyster shell as a substrate. But overseas, sand is the primary component. (If anyone is interested in why no one anywhere uses soil mixtures, I can explain that as well.) Anyway, I'm seriously considering switching from shell to sand, so... Trying to be smart about it.
Let me start with questions, and then I will share some thoughts.
1) Who among us has had one of our OWN reptiles suffer a sand impaction?
2) Was the impacted reptile(s) a tortoise specifically? If not, what was it?
3) Was your impacted reptile exposed to calcium based sand or quartz (silica) based sand?
If you don't know, just tell me what you know. Was it called play sand? Mason's sand? Did it come from a home improvement store, an educational store, or from an online source? I may be able to make a likely guess.
Some things I've learned so far:
-- Calcium sand clumps easily. It forms into a solid in the digestive system.
-- Some reptiles (allegedly) eat sand on purpose. (Some of you are laughing right now because you know your tort will try to eat anything that doesn't move, LOL.)
-- Much commercially available quartz (silica) sand is man made. It is pulverized rock. It has not spent centuries on a beach or in the desert. The grains are not smooth.
-- Some commercial sand is highly processed, reducing dust and ensuring a uniform size. Cheaper sand is not; it is dusty and has many sizes & shapes of particles in it.
Maybe you've guessed what I'm thinking: maybe not ALL sand is bad.
How do we account for the keepers who've had impacted animals and the keepers who've used sand for years with no trouble? Perhaps the highly varied quality of sand accounts for this.
I would welcome ideas about where my logic is weak, and ideas about further research. I've spoken with a geologist that specializes in sand, as well as a herp vet who specialized in tortoises. I will surely appreciate thoughtful comments. Thank you so much.
Shirley
PS Why am I interested in this? I have a 3yo Egyptian tortoise. In the U.S., we mainly use oyster shell as a substrate. But overseas, sand is the primary component. (If anyone is interested in why no one anywhere uses soil mixtures, I can explain that as well.) Anyway, I'm seriously considering switching from shell to sand, so... Trying to be smart about it.