Gut Impaction Question

[chromesaurus]

I havn't gotten my lizard yet, but I have a question regarding substrate. On the guide provided on this website, it says that calcium-based sand will cause impactions. However, I read a bearded dragon guide by Phillip Pursour, and he said that calcium-based sand would be digested. Do any of you have reliable evidence supporting either way?

 

[destiny1998]

Hi. There is an article to the right under top content about impaction. That should answer your questions.

 

[jarich]

In a healthy, hydrated dragon it would not likely be an issue. However, a substrate of just calcium sand poses two problems. First, on it's own it is a desiccant. That is, it draws moisture out of your dragon and will contribute to dehydration. Second, calcium added to sand acts like a cementing agent. If a bit is swallowed, it shouldn't be problematic. If a larger amount is swallowed, the moisture inside the dragon would be enough to cause clumping. Obviously a clumped bunch of sand with a cementing agent is a potential digestive issue, especially in a dehydrated animal. Given the option of better substrates without these issues, it does not seem like a good choice.

 

[Tonja]

There is an article I wrote under the health forum I believe called walnut substrate. Even though its walnut shells, the result was impaction with a prolapse. The same can happen with sand. The pictures are very graphic however, the beardie did survive but not without a lot of pain and surgeries.

 

[jarich]

There is an article I wrote under the health forum I believe called walnut substrate. Even though its walnut shells, the result was impaction with a prolapse. The same can happen with sand. The pictures are very graphic however, the beardie did survive but not without a lot of pain and surgeries.

Walnut shell is slightly different. With that it's more of an absorption problem. A load of dry walnut substrate in the GI tract will bind largely because it sucks the moisture out of their body and sticks together as a clump when it swells. Sand doesn't do that on its own.

 

[Tonja]

same with sand, it can clump and cause impaction

 

[chromesaurus]

Thank you. I decided to use a spare tank as a feeding tank, to minimize sand intake and to let it use its natural intake of burrowing in its tank.

 

[jarich]

Thank you. I decided to use a spare tank as a feeding tank, to minimize sand intake and to let it use its natural intake of burrowing in its tank.

I've heard this a number of times on this forum. Do a lot of people here have separate enclosures to feed in?

By the way, no, washed sand grains do not clump without a cementing agent. Feel free to test the theory.