BLUE TONGUE SKINKS

Hi guys,
Dunno if any of you Aussies are interested in this but i found it on the trading post website. A pet shop in Sydney sells aspen shavings...here is the link!

http://www.tradingpost.com.au/iteminfo/ ... 26+Horses_

Kris

Finally something useful in australia
Thanks kris!

f.C

Yay i found it in my local pet store in Qld too

Cool!

I always, always forget, but it seems like AU had aspen shavings under a different name.

Horray for Aspen lol

f.C

Zach wrote:Cool!

I always, always forget, but it seems like AU had aspen shavings under a different name.

I think we do.
I used to work in a Pet WareHouse and they didnt sell anything by the names of aspen or anything near that.
But there was this bedding that they use for mice.
Some sort of woodchip bedding, very much like Aspen Shavings.
I was going to buy some of that for my buleys but there in little packets and cost alot.
Would of been good though.
Might get some and use it as substrate once my babies get older

f.C

When i read about the aspen on here i thought i should try to get some but at the moment im using kitty litter made from recycled paper and i think its great plus its only $6 for a huge bag of it so i might just see how it goes in time and either stick with it or change to aspen.

Kris

Do any of you know if there's a tree growing in Auss named White Poplar, its the same tree as Aspen, only the names been changed to protect the innocent

Leigh wrote:Do any of you know if there's a tree growing in Auss named White Poplar, its the same tree as Aspen, only the names been changed to protect the innocent

Never heard of it

f.C

Yeah im not sure either.

I did a google search on this "White Polar" and i got these results;

http://images.google.com.au/images?q=Wh ... a=N&tab=wi

Now that i've seen pictures, i know what this plant is.
I just never new the name

f.C

I hope its of some use, it may help if you can get some dead wood from where you are, is there a law banning taking dead wood from natural surroundings, probably knowing Aus.

Leigh wrote:I hope its of some use, it may help if you can get some dead wood from where you are, is there a law banning taking dead wood from natural surroundings, probably knowing Aus.

Leigh,

Yep, definitely a law against taking (or disturbing) anything from (in) the natural environment..... and that's how it should be.

I'm amazed at Kris21 & Funda's comments re; Aspen.

Blueys in Oz have been kept in a healthy condition on many differing substrates for decades and Aspen is not one of them.

Yeah i don't think they need it to survive any better than what we use here, just would like to give it a go and see what its like.

Kris

Spent ages trying to find it and have used it now for a few months. Whilst it does add to the asthetic look of the tank, is easy to keep clean and the babies sure do like burrowing in it i find that it is dusty and emits a slight "sour" smell, for want of a better word. It is also a little expensive compared to the alternatives. Having said that i encourage you to give it a go.

So what are the alternatives in Australia?

I am using reptile sand at the moment.

Lol, this reminds me of last week when I found CareFresh in Canada. Makes me smile. Aspen is a very common substrate in Canada, probably in the US too. It's awesome to look at the major differences between the sides of the world.

Im using kitty litter made from recycled yellow pages, its really good.

Kris

eXc wrote:So what are the alternatives in Australia?

I am using reptile sand at the moment.

I don't know about Australia, but I would consider finding something else other than sand. Even the reptile sand isn't good for a blue tongue skink, so far as I've read in this forum. I'm surprised someone else hasn't picked up on this sooner. I think the BTS end up ingesting some of the sand while flicking their tongues, eating, etc. and it can eventually cause impaction.

Ask some of the Australian members what they use.. or wait.. here, I'll do it.


HEY AUSTRALIAN MEMBERS: WHAT KIND OF SUBSTRATE DO YOU USE???

Yeah I was asking the Aussies already, but they haven't replied! Oh well.

As for the sand..yeah well it seems that everyone has a problem with every type of substrate. I got it cause it was the only thing that would be any good that stores here stock.

I was considering just using dirt. If it's good for them in the wild...surely its good for them in captivity. I didnt cause it tends to be messy.

I like the look of the aspen shavings. So I am curious what people use as an alternative here.