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 #1814652


Csi
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 ????????????i just got a uro

just got a ur he is not young but i have been told to use sand and then i was told birdseed which is better
07/31/08  12:02pm

 #1814716


Shaunauro
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   Message To: Csi   In reference to Message Id: 1814652


 ????????????i just got a uro

There are people on this forum that know much more than I do, but sand, especially in a young uro can cause impaction and possibly death. I have had my Uro for maybe 5-6 months and we started him on sand and then changed it to birdseed. They may eat the birdseed which is ok but not at the expense of his other food which is more nutritious. I am having a problem with this now so I want to change it to something else. Don’t put him on woodchips of any kind. The safest substrate is probably paper towels or tiles from home depot. You can get slate slabs apparently. Some people still use sand but make sure that the area that the uro eats is on rocks or something. what size is his enclosure in inches?
07/31/08  01:06pm

 #1814743


Sahells Mom
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   Message To: Shaunauro   In reference to Message Id: 1814716


 ????????????i just got a uro

After the uro is over 7" long, sand is fine. Millet is another choice, but my adult will eat that and nothing else. If you use millet, only about 1/2" deep. Slate tiles are also a way to go, but uro’s love to dig (they are burrowers), so they really need some sand in the enclosure. Slate makes a perfect hide, however. Two pavers with slate over the top & he is goo to go! They like tight, low hides to sleep in. I have never had any of my uro’s eat the sand. I do have food bowls on tile, but mostly because they drag it around the enclosure, so just trying to keep it a bit cleaner. There is a post on here "PLEASE ANSWER BEFORE POSTING" and the questions really help us get to know you and your uro. That way, we can answer question easier and more accurately.

BTW, when we say sand, we are talking about washed play sand like you can get at Lowes for $3.00 for 50 pounds. NOT calci sand, which really will hurt your uro!
07/31/08  01:38pm

 #1814746


UroBrett
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   Message To: Shaunauro   In reference to Message Id: 1814716


 ????????????i just got a uro

If you do decide to use sand, you need to make sure it is a natural sand from a river or dune source - not man made sand (or any calcium sand).
Most sites list "play sand" as a good substrate choice, but I have looked at many different packaged "play sands" and sometimes they were from a natural source (rounded) and sometimes man made (sharp edges) depending on the brand. I image some can even be a mixture of both. This info is NOT listed on the bag and you have to look at the grains of sand under magnification to be sure.
I’ve been using natural sand (from dunes - sifted, washed, and heat sterilized) for 18 years and have never had a single impaction problem - with any of my uros, chuckwallas, leopard geckos, bearded dragons, sand boas...
I’ve never kept any of my hatchlings on sand however.
07/31/08  01:39pm

 #1814988


MissAnne2u
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   Message To: UroBrett   In reference to Message Id: 1814746


 ????????????i just got a uro

Brett ... do you actually go to the beach and get this Natural (Dune) sand? IF not, where do you buy it?



07/31/08  04:50pm

 #1815036


UroBrett
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   Message To: MissAnne2u   In reference to Message Id: 1814988


 ????????????i just got a uro

I do yes - not on beach tho (too much junk), but there are dunes here all along Lake Michigan. Probably should get permission first if you have beaches / dunes in your area. Most dune areas are protected.
You can also call ’excavating’ companies or ’sand and gravel’ companies (look up in yellow pages) and ask for ’river sand’ or ’dune sand’. They sell it by the truckload, but you can usually tell them what it’s for and they sometimes just let you come and have some. A five gallon bucket lasts me 6 months. If you do buy packaged "play sand" just look at it closely first - easy to tell the natural grains are very round, man made grains will be very angular - or contact the company on label and ask them if it’s man made or natural.
07/31/08  05:29pm

 #1815473


El toro
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   Message To: UroBrett   In reference to Message Id: 1815036


 ????????????i just got a uro

Be sure to check out what the landscape places have. The river sand they have here has big old bite sized pebbles in it - you’d have to sift it to use it. Too much work for me. A good option is pool filter sand. The stuff they sell here is natural beach sand in 50 lb bags for $7 - really nice, smooth, evenly sized grains. It’s even a nice color.

I mostly use millet for my uros, though. Only one of the seven does better on sand (and the sickie who lives on towels).
07/31/08  11:44pm

 #1815483


Tactic10
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   Message To: El toro   In reference to Message Id: 1815473


 ????????????i just got a uro

I’m only speaking from experience but.....my uncle had a Uro. and he used sand and lettuce...(just saying) he loved to dig in his sand.
07/31/08  11:57pm

 #1816596


Doublemom
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   Message To: Tactic10   In reference to Message Id: 1815483


 ????????????i just got a uro

I’m sold on using pool filter sand. It’s much cleaner and a very uniform size compared to what I’ve seen at home improvement stores or toy stores. It’s a bit more expensive, but a 50-lb. bag goes a long way and it’s super-clean, so no sifting or cleaning is needed.

Andi
08/01/08  10:37pm

 #1816872


Jbreddawg
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   Message To: Doublemom   In reference to Message Id: 1816596


 ????????????i just got a uro

Andi, wheres the best place to buy the pool filter sand ? A pool supply place or somewhere else ? I’m moving in three days and will use that time to completely replace all the sand in their enclosure !!
Jerry
08/02/08  09:27am

 #1833374


MaliUroGirl
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   Message To: Jbreddawg   In reference to Message Id: 1816872


 ????????????i just got a uro

i just got a uro too, and i have birdseed and it works great. He can run, dig, anything, and if they swallow it its okay... but i never used sand... so... i dont really know



08/16/08  10:22pm

 #1833860


MissAnne2u
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   Message To: MaliUroGirl   In reference to Message Id: 1833374


 ????????????i just got a uro

Quote:

i just got a uro too, and i have birdseed and it works great. He can run, dig, anything, and if they swallow it its okay... but i never used sand... so... i dont really know

But Mali ... Your uro is tooooooo small to be on birdseed, it should be on papertowels, newspaper or butcher paper until its OVER 7" long.

I too am sold on Pool Filter Sand .. it’s clean, no dust, doesn’t clump and drys just like regular sand. I’ll never use anything else. I used to use millet birdseed, but my Uro’s ate too much of it and didn’t eat their greens.



08/17/08  01:09pm

 #1833997


El toro
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   Message To: MissAnne2u   In reference to Message Id: 1833860


 ????????????i just got a uro

So, about the pool filter sand....I just read on another forum that someone doesn’t like pool filter sand because where they live it’s large and rocky and jagged. The playsand there is much nicer.

SO, point is, I guess it all depends on where you are. Here it’s the playsand that’s huge and chunky and awful. The pool sand is beautiful, natural beach sand - very fine and smooth. So if you’re unhappy with what you have, check the other option. It might be just what you need.

And agreed with MissAnne - a uro should be at least 6-7 inches long before being put on a particulate substrate.
08/17/08  03:26pm

 #1834017


Wrinks
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   Message To: MissAnne2u   In reference to Message Id: 1833860


 ????????????i just got a uro

I have seen it at ace hardware but might find it cheeper at a pool store. The sand is nice and even but a bit steep it pricebut, the sand will last a long time. I’m going to change to pool sand next time. When I buy the play sand I sift it two times and that is a pain. It took me over 1 hour to sift and clean up the play sand last time. So when my play sand is gone I will be going to pool sand as well.
08/17/08  03:37pm


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