BLUE TONGUE SKINKS

They don't smell like anything other than plain wood chips but.... I want to be sure.

I am not sure what these are... I've used them for about two weeks now and Watson doesn't seem to mind them.

During the Reptile show in Anaheim, my friend bought me several bags of this chip-substrate for my baby Watson. I of course was glad to accept the gracious gift. I didn't think it was dangerous until now.... but still not sure.

I hope I haven't harmed Watson. If these aren't safe for him I will stop using them asap.

Does anyone know?


But too bad... I have like 4 bags left.

I can't keep up with your signatures!
You'd have to assume that if they were bought at a reptile show that they would be reptile friendly, wouldn't you? The main types of woodchips you want to steer clear of are heavily scented or oily ones. Eucalyptus, cedar etc. OK for an outdoor pit, but not indoors.
They look ok to me, from your picture.


Relax mate, your Watson is looking great. He's eating, he's adventurous, he's 'regular'
They don't come much hardier than blue tongues. Everything you're doing sounds perfik.

I like you, Abel, you're like every one of us who's stumbled across this site, got their bluey, panicked like a madman for the first few months ..... but you wait, just like the rest of us you'll be sitting back in a year's time wondering what all the fuss was about!!
I imagine it's a bit like having babies. You fuss over the first one, but by the time the fourth one comes around, they's on their own

Watson's got a great dad in you, you're doing a bangup job
So go worry about what to wear on friday night instead

From the looks of it its VERMICULITE, its used as an insulator around gas fire back boilers,and I've seen it used in gardening to mix with mud or compost to help keep moisture and air in the soil of pots. Is it easy to squash and very light? If it is then you've got a good substrate for absorbing spills and urates,I may be wrong and its just very finely chipped wood,but from the photo it does look like what I've said.

To me it looks like Sani-chips, which is just smaller bits of aspen. Perfectly safe and I used it with the sand boas. Very easy for animals to burrow in.

Hey Abel, do yo uhave pictures of the bag/lable? It looks like fine shaven aspen to me too, I think vermiculite is a little darker.
Vermiculite can be used as a hatching substrate for egg laying lizards, I've heard of people using it for their Crested Geckos. It holds moisture well and is absorbant too. But I have also heard horror stories of some vermiculite mines being tainted with asbestos, though I think its pretty carefully regulated now.

Leigh wrote:From the looks of it its VERMICULITE, its used as an insulator around gas fire back boilers,and I've seen it used in gardening to mix with mud or compost to help keep moisture and air in the soil of pots. Is it easy to squash and very light? If it is then you've got a good substrate for absorbing spills and urates,I may be wrong and its just very finely chipped wood,but from the photo it does look like what I've said.

Haha, thats not vermiculite, it appears to be aspen chips.



What makes you think it would be harmful megaabel?

Because I thought these were cedar chips... but I was totally wrong!! The problem w/this sitution was that actually these goods came in a clear non-marked bag. SO..that's why all this trouble but its all good now.. THANKS TO YOU ALL SMART CARING PEOPLE!

Ah lol,
Cedar chips