Substrate Material

[Crestie101]

Still new in caring for the Crested. What is the best all around substrate material out on the market for these little guys.

[crested creations]

I personally like cage carpet or paper towells but if your looking for  something more along the natural side bed-a-beast works good...

[Crestie101]

Thanks for the info.

[Cicada Hollow]

I also use paper towels, no chance of impaction, easy to clean. But I use Forest Bed in my lay boxes. It's a fine substrate and safe for cresteds.

[b|ue Ash]

Are those Forest Bed and bed-a-beast substrates really safe for cresties if injested?

[whtwulf]

I have been using it in my vivariums for over a year, that or a mixture of ecoearth and sterile soil.  I see little fibers in their stool from time to time, so I'd say it passes through them just fine.  I should qualify that I have never had hatchlings or young juvies, only adults and sub-adults.  I would stick to papertowels for the young ones.

[b|ue Ash]

Thanks.
I used those type of products for my first and only crestie whom was a juvenile. He'd end up getting some in his mouth whenever he went to eat a cricket. One day he suddenly dropped dead, but I saw no signs of health issues. I'm trying to eliminate possible problems and I'm really worried about the well being of my next crestie.

[garweft]

I haven't been using any lately. I keep mine in deep sterilite containers, with egg crate to climb on. I really like papertowels though and will use them if I decide to use anything.

[firecrested]

I use papertowels, but when i did a natural viv. i used peat moss.  potting soil around the plants(non pesticides), aquarium rocks at the bottom.

[smith710]

I use paper towels for my baby and peat moss for my adult.  But I also put perlite underneath my peat moss because it helps alot with mold.  I put a couple inches of perlite, then a couple inches of peat moss, then a little green moss on top to make it look a little nicer.

[honuman]

I use paper towels on for my Juvies and keep my adult animals on cypress mulch.  They do just fine on it and I like to keep live plants in all my adult enclosures.  The only drawback is that nest boxes are useless in my enclosures because the females prefer to lay in the substrate.  Never a big deal though.  I just have to dig a bit in the tank to get the eggs.

I worry about the little ones getting an impaction so paper towel is quickest easiest solution for them.

Steve

[ColleenT]

rubbermaid shelf liner from walmart in tan. it is rubbery, and you cut to size. under 5 minutes to remove and clean and replace. no nails get caught in it.

[firecrested]

how does humitity hold up on the shelf liner?

[ColleenT]

it does not affect humidity at all. it is rubbery.

[smith710]

I think he means, does it keep the humidity up where it's supposed to be.  It doesnt seem like it would hold humidity too well, that's all.