Reptile Substrate

Substrates for Reptiles.

There are many varieties of substrates for reptiles and choosing the right one for your pet reptile is very important. You want to give your reptile an environment that is as close to their natural environ as possible. There should be no problem in determining which other substrates for reptiles will work for your pet. The usual reptiles substrates that you can expect to find are reptile sand and reptile carpet. While these work well you can find other substrates that will achieve the same thing.

You can find a re-useable substrate that is made from rubber. Because of its substance it can be washed and reused. It comes in many colours to resemble the natural habitat of any reptile. This substrate doesn’t mould or rot. This type of substrate will stay free of bacteria and won’t nurture mites. There has been no use of old tyres for this product and it is non toxic to your reptiles. While there can be a slight rubber smell to the product it should be reduced after washing and air drying. This product can then be used just as you would any other reptile substrate.

If you have a reptile that is from a forest environment a chipped bark substrate works very well. This type of reptile substrate also is very good for a humid enclosure. If you have a tropical lizard, tortoise or snake this substrate should provide a good home. When placed in water a coconut bark substrate will expand. Since it does assimilate water the container the reptile is in will become very humid.

Another great reptile substrate for a high humidity enclosure would be the cypress mulch substrate. It presents a more natural feel for the pet. There is also a cypress substrate that is more like a forest floor in texture and it comes in various sizes for your needs.

Should you be raising reptiles you will need some sort of incubating material to use as a reptile substrate. The most common medium used is vermiculite. It will be available in several textures, coarse and fine. It will depend on your reptile as to which one works better. Corn cobs are another reptile substrate. They are ground into a medium coarseness that works well for some species of reptiles. If you have a reptile that lives in a terrarium you most likely have an amphibian that came from a rainforest or some tropical climate. Again the use of substrates such as moss, peat or humus will give you the high humidity you need for this reptile. The natural moss works well for incubation and comes in more than one size.

A humus brick needs to be put in water so that it can expand. It should be free of any chemicals or pesticides. Reptiles that tend to burrow will enjoy this medium for their homes. It also works well for spiders such as the tarantula.

Whatever type of reptile you have, finding other substrates for a reptile should not be difficult to find. If your looking for anything else reptile related the have a look at our reptile supplies homepage where you will find all the reptile products and information that you could ever need.

Reptile Tank Substrate

Providing the proper reptile substrates for your reptile will depend on the species of reptile that you have. If you own a reptile that burrows there are ideal choices that won’t work for a non burrowing reptile. Knowing which type of reptile substrates to use will promote a more natural environment. The reptile substrates are many, from many different sources. Aspen and hemp, reptile sand and reptile carpet are just some of the types and products that reptile substrates can be made of.

The aspen and hemp sources that are used for reptile substrates are perfect if you have a reptile that burrows. They are looser so it is easier to burrow under. Hemp can be used in a pellet form so that the bed of the enclosure can be tunnelled under. When looking into reptile sand you will see that there are many varieties to choose from. There is desert sand and riverbed sand. The sand can be walnut or walnut grit.

The desert sand shouldn’t have any dyes or chemicals added to it. The environment should be natural and using sand will help promote heat conduction. This substrate works well for a reptile that digs or burrows. An egg from the reptile is safe when a desert sand substrate is used.

A riverbed sand substrate works well for your aqpuatic reptile. Turtles, salamanders and frogs live in this type of environment so it is the best choice for their aquarium or terrarium enclosure. The reptiles can dig or burrow with riverbed sand and since it is soft it works well for the land reptiles that live near the water. Because of the fine grains in reptile sand it is not a problem if it is ingested. Sand mixed with gravel is not recommended as gravel can cause digestive problems. The use of reptile sand for the aquatic enclosures will promote more natural behaviour in your reptile. While it is best used in an aquatic atmosphere it could be used in a desert substrate area.

If you have a reptile that needs to have a hygienic enclosure then you will want to invest in a reptile carpet. While it is an artificial instead of natural substrate it will be easier to clean. The cage carpet is more sterile than the other substrates. These reptile substrates are absorbent and they aren’t abrasive. It works well for any reptile environment. The reptile carpet comes in several colours and in many different sizes. There are a couple in each package and they come ready to use.

You can get blended substrates that are made for specific species of reptiles. Replicating the reptile substrates that your pet came from will encourage your reptile to be happier. Substrates are meant to make your terrarium or vivarium look more pleasing to you, as well as the reptile. If you have two pet reptiles of the same species you wish to breed, offering a natural substrate will be more conducive for breeding if that is your goal for having the pet.