Calcium Carbonate in hamster food and reptile sand.

Oatmeal_Cupcake · 09-29-2014, 10:14 PM

Is Calcium Carbonate good or bad?

I've read that some reptile sand is bad for hamsters because it contains Calcium Carbonate and it's bad for a hamster if they eat it. But then it confuses me when I see it used in Hamster food.

So what's the deal with Calcium Carbonate? Is it safe or not?

Teddy001 · 09-29-2014, 10:20 PM

I've been told do not use sand with Calcium. It could be that hamsters can't have more than what's recommended in the food they eat? ( now sure, though)

NiceCrocs · 09-29-2014, 10:39 PM

Calcium carbonate in food is just a calcium supplement.

Calcium sand is bad, not because of the calcium content, but because it clumps up and turns hard as a rock when wet, making it a choking/impaction hazard.

That's my understanding, anyway

Teddy001 · 09-29-2014, 10:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NiceCrocs

Calcium carbonate in food is just a calcium supplement.

Calcium sand is bad, not because of the calcium content, but because it clumps up and turns hard as a rock when wet, making it a choking/impaction hazard.

That's my understanding, anyway

WOW!! That's good to know.. Non calcium sand, clumps up when wet, but does not turn hard as a rock.. I could see the health risks in the rock hard sand. That's like eating rocks-

NiceCrocs · 09-29-2014, 10:52 PM

To be fair I've never tested that for myself, but my sister keeps hermit crabs (28 at the moment) and calcium sand is apparently a big no-no in the hermit crab world for that reason: it gums up in their shells and they can't burrow in it.

Teddy001 · 09-29-2014, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NiceCrocs

To be fair I've never tested that for myself, but my sister keeps hermit crabs (28 at the moment) and calcium sand is apparently a big no-no in the hermit crab world for that reason: it gums up in their shells and they can't burrow in it.

Oh, WoW!! I'm wondering why it would be safe for an reptile? Or maybe it's not?

Oatmeal_Cupcake · 09-29-2014, 11:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NiceCrocs

Calcium carbonate in food is just a calcium supplement.

Calcium sand is bad, not because of the calcium content, but because it clumps up and turns hard as a rock when wet, making it a choking/impaction hazard.

That's my understanding, anyway

This is all very interesting. Thank you for clearing that up. It's been confusing me all night.

Oatmeal_Cupcake · 09-29-2014, 11:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Teddy001

Oh, WoW!! I'm wondering why it would be safe for an reptile? Or maybe it's not?

I think I recall some reptile owners saying that it's not safe for some reptiles. I know that our alligator lizard can become impacted with the coconut substrate if she eats too much of it while catching her meal. So I'm not sure if the Calci-sand is exclusively bad for them. I think that any substrate has the potential to become impacted. :/

Indigo · 09-30-2014, 02:49 PM

I'm a relative novice to the world of hamsters compared to most people on this forum, and in fact have more experience with reptiles. Calcium Carbonate by itself isn't a bad thing. It's what makes up the skeletons of marine corals, eggshells, etc. That darn sand, though. Definitely pass on that. I feel the same way when I see that calcium sand for sale as I do when I see that awful cotton fluff bedding for hamsters. It just shouldn't be in the store.

While some have used that sand substrate without incident, it has claimed the lives of many reptiles- especially the small ones. They advertise it as "fortified" with calcium, marketing it as a health benefit. Many reptiles like my fat-tailed gecko lick around the ground as they walk, so they'd end up eating WAY too much. As mentioned, it turns to sludge in their little tummies if they ingest too much. Put some water in some corn starch to get an idea of how it behaves internally. I'd imagine CalciSand would gum up a hamster just as bad. I'm not a fan of sand as a reptile substrate in general and do not use it myself. It looks pretty, but is pretty isn't worth my pet's life.

**DrKMcK** · 09-30-2014, 07:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Indigo

I'm a relative novice to the world of hamsters compared to most people on this forum, and in fact have more experience with reptiles. Calcium Carbonate by itself isn't a bad thing. It's what makes up the skeletons of marine corals, eggshells, etc. That darn sand, though. Definitely pass on that. I feel the same way when I see that calcium sand for sale as I do when I see that awful cotton fluff bedding for hamsters. It just shouldn't be in the store.

While some have used that sand substrate without incident, it has claimed the lives of many reptiles- especially the small ones. They advertise it as "fortified" with calcium, marketing it as a health benefit. Many reptiles like my fat-tailed gecko lick around the ground as they walk, so they'd end up eating WAY too much. As mentioned, it turns to sludge in their little tummies if they ingest too much. Put some water in some corn starch to get an idea of how it behaves internally. I'd imagine CalciSand would gum up a hamster just as bad. I'm not a fan of sand as a reptile substrate in general and do not use it myself. It looks pretty, but is pretty isn't worth my pet's life.

I agree. I just got a leopard gecko and in my reading and on the forums I have joined, sand is a no, no. I use Reptile carpet. Some others use plain slate or tiles. Personally, I think this should be taken off the market. For hammies, NO! Just plain playsand or Chinchilla sand in their potties or playgrounds.