I just got back from a pet store in erdington and they sold me (im a sucker for salespeople) amongst many things (SEE! told you!) "Ossi bed" as a substrate. The label reads;

"Made of wheat straw, heat treated and compressed into crumbles, sterilised to destroy bacteria, fungal pores and viruses. Bio-degradable"

Is this suitable? im worried about impaction obviously? will this be suitable for a baby beardie (5 weeks old or so)? I was going to use newspaper to start with...

i would only use kitchen roll or newspaper for a beardie that young
linda

__________________

Yeah thats what i figured too, but was a little bit worried about crickets getting under the newspaper where the beardie cant get at them.

Has anyone used Ossi Bed? Is it ok for adult Beardie's?

never heard of the stuff so can't comment

to stop the crix getting under the newspaper just feed it in a separate tub.

__________________



Baby girl born 7-04-08
My Reptiles1.2 Royal Pythons 0.1 BCI
1.0 cornsnake
1.0.1 Bearded Dragons InvertsSAF L parahybanaAF G roseaAF A semanniP regalisH lividum3 B albopilosum slingsN coloratovilosumG aureostriataMaraca horridaWantedPython brongersmaiGTPDogStaff bitch Puppy

or tiles or nothing.....

__________________

Sounds like a very dodgy substrate for a young beardie (susceptible to impaction)

personally I wouldnt use it...

Gary

__________________


MASSIVE Discounts on Exo Terra Terrariums

25% Off Exo Terra Repti Glo UV Tubes

50% off Reptile Caves!

Ok, its unanimous, not a good idea as a substrate for a baby, newspaper/kitchen roll/tiling it is.. not too keen on feeding he/she in a different tub, well not for the first few weeks or so anyway, would rather let her/he settle in n not stress he/she out so much..

The guy in the petshop seemed to know what he was talking about and he said even finely sived playsand was a bit idea because of impaction, i wonder if he meant just whilst he/she's young or in general?? any opinions?

And has anyone else used Ossi bed?

you won't get a yes or no answer on the play sand.
The general answer will be don't use it for young but you'll get a mixed answer on it for adult (or 6+ months). Lots of people use it, it 'can' still cause impactation although the chances of it happening are very slim compared to calci sand.
It's really a personal choice if you use it but if your beardie has a tendancy to do a lot of licking it might not be a good idea. If you want to use sand and be double safe, use a seperate tub for feeding. There's also the argument that it's not replicating their natural habitat although some like digging..

idea option? slate tiles with a box of sand for digging.

__________________

Mate, honestly the guys in Erdington really do know they're stuff.

I have been going to them now for a while, I had 2 beardies which were perfect with the Ossi Bed stuff, its much kinder on their system if digested as it breaks down very easily. They're advice is second to none and I would advise you do listen to what they recommend.

I have also had a corn snake, recently a WD and just today I have picked up a royal python!

You can go on many websites and get many different bits of advice, but the advice they have given to me throughout my reptile ownership has been invaluable.

Ossi bed was recommended to me when I got my beardies and I have used it for them ever since with no problems at all. They are a very well established business and have an excellent reputation.

Hope this helps!