Silica sand for Nephrurus?

[Kevin McRae]

I will be getting some Nephrurus soon and was wondering if anyone has used silica sand with there geckos. I've heard some bad things about it, apparently its sharp. I use it with my fish and haven't had problems and found it to be quite smooth. I can get both coarse and fine silica sand. Off course I would wash it to get rid of any dust.

Currently I'm going to use playsand but I just wanted to see if I can get some info with the silica sand as it looks very nice. I know the biggest problem is the harmful dust. If it is washed a few times I don't see it being a issue though, will it?

I was looking into the Jurassic red sand but no one around here has it and its not worth ordering some for the amount I actually will use.

Thanks.

Edit - I should add I don't like buying reptile products. Most are identical to many thing sold in garden stores. I know bark chips and peat that are found in garden shops are identical to what is sold in pet stores except triple the price for very small quantities. I don't exactly trust these products with much trouble I've heard about these calcium based products.

 

[adambedlam]

I've used playsand and it works well. Never used silica sand on geckos but only for fish. I think the best sand for Nephrurus is the Exo terra brand reptile sand that comes in white, black or red color. Its alittle pricey but they seem to enjoy it and works well for breeding. My geckos even dig burrows in their cages. What kind of Nephrurus are you looking at getting?

ADAM

 

[Graham_s]

I would say that normal play sand would probably be best The finest grained sand you can get.
I am not too much of fan of reptile branded products either, on the whole they are over priced and there is usually a more natural equivalent available for a fraction of the price.

 

[Kevin McRae]

Thanks guys.

I've never had a problem with play sand other then its dusty. I will wash it and that should take care of that.

Its like $3.50 for 50lbs at my local hardware shop.

 

[Graham_s]

Thanks guys.

I've never had a problem with play sand other then its dusty. I will wash it and that should take care of that.

Its like $3.50 for 50lbs at my local hardware shop.

It may depend what type you get or what purpose it is meant for. Sounds like a good plan though show us some photos when you get it all set up!

 

[Kevin McRae]

It will be 1.1 wheeleri and 1.0 levis.

I guess I may aswell put the sand in moist, that way only the top is dry and it is moist underneath for hydration and burrowing.

 

[adambedlam]

I know at Home Depot you can by playsand that is already washed for children's outdoor play areas. Best of luck with your nephrurus. Be careful nephrurus is addictive!

 

[Kevin McRae]

Haha. Nah, I'll save the few bucks and wash my own sand, then go to 7 Eleven with my saved money.

I hope they aren't too addicting, I plan to have these as my last purchase for a long while. Enless a male P. m. grandis comes along anyways.

 

[Riverside Reptiles]

I hope they aren't too addicting, I plan to have these as my last purchase for a long while.

You need to at LEAST get a female levis to go with that male!

 

[gbhil]

Silly question, and probably too late for any effective input, but why silica sand? Quartz sand is also pretty darn cheap (pool filter sand), nice and white, and doesn't have sharp edges.

 

[Kevin McRae]

You need to at LEAST get a female levis to go with that male!

Haha. That will be next season when the breeder produces more.

Silly question, and probably too late for any effective input, but why silica sand? Quartz sand is also pretty darn cheap (pool filter sand), nice and white, and doesn't have sharp edges.

Pool filter sand is silica sand.

 

[SteveSharpie]

any silca based sand product is extreamly bad for reptiles its like breathing in micro pieces on glass and can cause a host of respritory problems if used long term, it may be cheap but it is worth it to go a differnt route you will save money in the long run on vet bills and not having to replace dead animals.

 

[gbhil]

Pool filter sand is silica sand.

Looking at a bag here in front of me, 100% pure quartz sand. US Silica is the brand, but the contents specifically say 100% quartz sand.

U.S. Silica Company - Lighthouse Pool Filtration Media

 

[Kevin McRae]

Looking at a bag here in front of me, 100% pure quartz sand. US Silica is the brand, but the contents specifically say 100% quartz sand.

U.S. Silica Company - Lighthouse Pool Filtration Media

If you click the link it says:

Physical and Chemical Properties:
Specific Gravity - 2.65
Hardness (Moh's Scale) - 7.0
Silicon Dioxide - 99.5%

Silicon dioxide - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"Silica is most commonly found in nature as sand or quartz"

 

[gbhil]

If you click the link it says:

Physical and Chemical Properties:
Specific Gravity - 2.65
Hardness (Moh's Scale) - 7.0
Silicon Dioxide - 99.5%

Silicon dioxide - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"Silica is most commonly found in nature as sand or quartz"

Interesting. I was always under the impression that the 'quartz sand' label meant a cleaner, better grade of sand. Looks like it may just be another marketing ploy. This leads me to the following conclusions, which I'll toss out in case anyone wants to further discuss -

Quartz sand - >99% SiOH. Must be less than 1% feldspar or crystalline silica. Basically inert unless crushed into crystalline particulate. This is SiOH in the same way the glass walls of your aquarium are (partially) SiOH, except the glass has 0% free silica crystals compared to <1% free crystals for the sand.

If they are the same thing, which I'm not disputing, then once washed of the fine grains and dust any silica based sand should be >99% 'safe'. Only the smallest particulates are able to form chemical bonds to membrane proteins and phospholipids of the lungs.

I'm also assuming that gecko lung function and form is close enough to human specs. to act the same. Has anyone ever actually seen proof of nodular fibrosing pneumoconiosis in any gecko species?

 

[Graham_s]

Quartz is SiO3. Does that help?

 

[gbhil]

Quartz is SiO3. Does that help?

Maybe. :biggrin:

So the large crystals in quartz sand are SiO3? I'm years past my chemistry courses, so thanks for bearing with me. I was under the impression that is was SiO2 and would/could be easily broken down.

I know that SiOH is the cause of silicosis. I'm just wondering how big the leap from 'safe' to 'toxic' really is.

 

[Graham_s]

Maybe. :biggrin:

So the large crystals in quartz sand are SiO3? I'm years past my chemistry courses, so thanks for bearing with me. I was under the impression that is was SiO2 and would/could be easily broken down.

I know that SiOH is the cause of silicosis. I'm just wondering how big the leap from 'safe' to 'toxic' really is.

Sorry, I meant SiO2.

 

[Kevin McRae]

I got 50lbs of play sand for $2.25 haha. Have the tanks setup, sand looks good. I washed it and it has almost no dust when I dig in it.

Now just need my geckos.