Has anyone heard of these being used as a substrate before? I am having a discussion with someone on another forum who sells these in his shop and raves about them Do they have the neccessary thermoregulation properties that hemp, top soil/sand does? What happens if this is ingested? Just interested to know as I seem to be losing the argument.

Ben

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1.0.0 Bengal Cat (Leon) - nut case
0.1.0 Siamese Cat (Sasha)
0.0.2 Marginated Tortoises (Chunk & Bean)

I have never used it personally but I do know people who use it. It's meant to be made of corn cob granules and as such as meant to be a digestable vegetable fibre, I believe.

I shouldn't think impaction was that big a deal with tortoises? the people I know use it with lizards as lizards tend to scoop up mouthfulls of sand/bark chips when they pounce on their crickets.

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No internet at home for a few weeks, may take a while to respond. Should be back to normal in Sept.

Corn cob granules looks like fine gravel but being vegetable based is thought to pass through the digestive system more easily while gravel or sand can block the gut (Impacted gut).


thats taken off livefoods

my concern would be this..if it is a derivitive of corn..which is the seed of the plant..then surely that makes it very high in protein which could cause problems to the torts??

Also the part where it says its like gravel..i dunno but i'd be worried about it getting in eyes etc.

as for allowing them to thermoregulate i cant say i've tested it.but again i'd highly doubt that its as effective as top soil/sand mix

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"The worst sin towards are our fellow creatures is not to hate them, but to be indifferent to them; that's the essence of inhumanity" George Bernard Shaw

could you not grind it up to an even finer substance so its like sand?

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[quote=Katiexx;959180]Corn cob granules looks like fine gravel but being vegetable based is thought to pass through the digestive system more easily while gravel or sand can block the gut (Impacted gut).


thats taken off livefoods

my concern would be this..if it is a derivitive of corn..which is the seed of the plant..then surely that makes it very high in protein which could cause problems to the torts??

My thoughts exactly Katie, keep it coming people

Ben

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1.0.0 Bengal Cat (Leon) - nut case
0.1.0 Siamese Cat (Sasha)
0.0.2 Marginated Tortoises (Chunk & Bean)

Impaction does happen with tortoises especially when tortoises are kept on sand it can lead to death.

I would not use this substrate.

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Agreed Ben - it is not rated other than by people trying to sell it and those who have not seen the associated resulting shell deformites and kidney problems with torts living on it. Vey high protein content and as such dangerous IMHO
Personally speaking I would not even look at thermoregulation properties but would suspect it's rather dehydrating which could only add to the possible kidney problems

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Take care
Sue

wizzasmum@aol.com

I'd avoid it

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