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#150222
GUNIT
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Uro Poop/substrate attn: UroFan any ideas? 
I think my new uro may have ingested some sand that was in his cage I recently acquired him from a friend. He has been good for the first few days but yesterday he didn’t really eat or poop. I have a food dish to avoid him ingesting the sand but I have seen pieces that he has pulled out on the sand. I just came home today and there’s a farely large tird with some white and orange at one end(which are the colors of the substrate). He seems to be very releived and is running around. I am extremely happy as I’ve read many sites/stories about impaction. My question is will it stress him out to much if I change his substrate? I’ve changed the arrangement of hides and rocks so I don’t want to over do it and put bird seed in. What would be the least stressful way for me to put birdseed in where should I put him while I change the substrate. If anyone could help me out that would be greatly appreciated thanks.
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09/27/04 6:18pm
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#150551
Uro12303
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Message To: GUNIT In reference to Message Id: 150222
Uro Poop/substrate attn: UroFan any ideas?
I don’t think it will bother your uro too much unless it is already acting stressed, but when I put my uro on bird seed the person I purchased her from had her on sand, she didn’t seem to mind she licked it, ate some and then went about her buisness. I could be wrong but my uro didn’t mind.
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09/28/04 1:08am
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#150606
Gromph baenre
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Message To: GUNIT In reference to Message Id: 150222
Uro Poop/substrate attn: UroFan any ideas?
Gunit,
A little sand is not going to hurt your uro,UNLESS, you have a hatchling. With the proper temparture gradient, a good basking site, and a healthy Uro, sand can be used as a viable substrate. I have kept my uros on washed playsand for quite sometime with no noticeable ill effects. In my own experiences, the key to keeping uromastyx on washed playsand is to ensure a proper temperature gradient.Best of luck Carson
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09/28/04 8:56am
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#150617
Uro_fan
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Message To: GUNIT In reference to Message Id: 150222
Uro Poop/substrate attn: UroFan any ideas?
White and orange sand? This sounds a little like calci-sand so you may want to double check what you are using. Another suggestion would be to dry the greens prior to feeding so that if the greens do come in contact with the substrate the sand is less likely to stick to it.
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09/28/04 9:20am
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#150684
GUNIT
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Message To: Uro_fan In reference to Message Id: 150617
Uro Poop/substrate attn: UroFan any ideas?
It is in fact a calcium enriched sand I have heard bad things about it but my uro likes to dig around so I was thinking of actually crushing up some bird seed to make it more dense and mixing it 50/50 with regular bird seed to allow him to have a deeper amount of birdseed that he can dig around in. I am mainly worried about stressing him because I’ve only had him for about a week. Thanks again.
Greg
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09/28/04 12:20pm
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#150692
GUNIT
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Message To: GUNIT In reference to Message Id: 150684
Uro Poop/substrate attn: UroFan any ideas?
quick question about bird seed, I’ve heard not to get the type w/ sunflower seeds. however is it okay if they are hulled?
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09/28/04 12:29pm
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#150733
Uro_fan
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Message To: GUNIT In reference to Message Id: 150692
Uro Poop/substrate attn: UroFan any ideas?
Greg, Add a small amount of water to some of the sand. If it readily clumps together- it is most likely calci-sand. If it does clump, leave it sit for an hour and notice how how hard it gets. Sunflower seeds are high in fat so if you use unshelled sunflower seeds I would suggest keeping an eye on your uromastyx to ensure that he does not make this a regular part of his diet. My choice of substrate was plain millet to make the substrate as unappealing (from a food standpoint) as possible. None of my uromastyx view their substrate as part of their diet.
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09/28/04 2:35pm
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#150736
GUNIT
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Message To: Uro_fan In reference to Message Id: 150733
Uro Poop/substrate attn: UroFan any ideas?
Baxter hasn’t been eating all that much due to the stress of moving, would the extra fat be bad for him? Also what did you think about my idea of crushing some of it to provide better digging.
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09/28/04 2:45pm
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#150741
Uro_fan
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Message To: GUNIT In reference to Message Id: 150736
Uro Poop/substrate attn: UroFan any ideas?
The extra fat would be bad if he decides he wants nothing else to eat after getting hooked on the fattening seeds. I do not offer digging substrate but if I did, I probably would use something other than crushed seeds. My uromastyx have never shown digging desires even when I had my millet too deep.
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09/28/04 3:10pm
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#150771
GUNIT
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Message To: Uro_fan In reference to Message Id: 150741
Uro Poop/substrate attn: UroFan any ideas?
Would you reccomend getting washed playsand for him and put it on top of the calci sand or just replace it all. Also do you reccomend the playsand or I keep the calci sand. Thanks for all your help.
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09/28/04 3:52pm
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#150810
Uro_fan
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Message To: GUNIT In reference to Message Id: 150771
Uro Poop/substrate attn: UroFan any ideas?
Your initial concern seemed to rest with the food falling into the sand and then being ingested so my recommendation was to allow the greens to dry after washing them to prevent the sand from sticking. I would not recommend calci-sand in your uromastyx enclosure. Take a teaspoon or so of this sand and add a few drops of water. Watch how the sand clumps and then hardens and then think of the moisture inside your uro that will react with the calci-sand that is ingested. I think you could probably come to your own conclusion on whether or not the sand should be removed once you see first hand the adverse reaction.
Impactions are not the only concern with this sand. Long-term ingestion of excess amounts of calcium can be harmful even if the product does not cause impaction.
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09/28/04 4:37pm
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#150915
GUNIT
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Message To: Uro_fan In reference to Message Id: 150810
Uro Poop/substrate attn: UroFan any ideas?
I know that I want to get rid of the calci-sand my debate is whether to go with washed play-sand or bird seed? I’ve read about people having success with the washed play sand. I just want to make the right decision and stress him out as little as possible.
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09/28/04 7:21pm
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#150919
GUNIT
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Message To: Gromph In reference to Message Id: 150606
Uro Poop/substrate attn: Gromph
Is your washed playsand very fine or coarse, also how deep is it, how old are your uros? The person I got him from thinks that he is around 5-7 months so he is a juvenile? Would you suggest the sand or go with bird seed. Thanks for the feedback
Greg
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09/28/04 7:27pm
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#151214
Gromph baenre
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Message To: GUNIT In reference to Message Id: 150919
Uro Poop/substrate attn: Gromph
Gunit,
I can not comment on the use of bird seed as I have no practical experience with that substrate. It appears to work very well for others, and their experiences with that would far outweigh my observations. The washed playsand I use is more of a medium. Its not coarse nor is it fine. One can readily purchase it from Lowe’s or Home Depot. For my adult mali, I have about 5 inches of washed playsand. He is a burrower and benefits from the exercise. My geyri is kept on about 2 inches of playsand, exhibits no burrowing tendencies, hence the difference between the two. As far as a suggestion, I have utilized washed playsand with good results. However, I would encourage you to take the experiences of others, weigh the pros and cons of the substrates and arrive at a decision that you feel comfortable with. Best of luck with you new Mali.Best regards, Carson
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09/29/04 9:35am
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#151248
GUNIT
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Message To: Gromph In reference to Message Id: 151214
Uro Poop/substrate attn: Gromph
I don’t think I have been very clear sorry. I have a juvenile geryi. Being the paranoid new owner that I am I think I am going to go with the birdseed for a few months and get used to all his routines so I know what to expect and then switch to sand down the road when he is a little older. Thanks for all your input.
Greg.
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09/29/04 10:57am
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#151249
Kyms03
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Message To: Gromph In reference to Message Id: 151214
Uro Poop/substrate attn: Gromph
I have had my uro’s for about a year they are on bird seed and they love it. They can dig in it they cover their hide with it and it is very easy to clean. I have it about 3/4 of an inch thick one seven pound bag is what I use. Why use the sand if their is any chance it will hurt the little guy long term The bird seed will not. I also get mine without sounflower seeds. It is $6.00 a bag at pet co. Best of luck
Kim
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09/29/04 10:58am
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#151312
GUNIT
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Message To: Kyms03 In reference to Message Id: 151249
Uro Poop/substrate
I think I am def. going with birdseed as well thanks
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09/29/04 1:31pm
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