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How Do You Use Vita Sand?

Published in Reptile Substrate Use 2 mins read

Using Vita-Sand in your pet's habitat is straightforward, involving simple steps for initial setup and ongoing maintenance to ensure a clean and comfortable environment.

How to Set Up Vita-Sand in a Habitat

Setting up Vita-Sand involves adding a layer of the substrate to the bottom of your animal's enclosure.

  • Start with a Base Layer: Add at least ½ inch (1.3 cm) of Vita-Sand® to the bottom of the habitat. This provides a basic substrate layer for your pet.
  • Increase Depth for Diggers: If you keep species that naturally burrow or dig, such as sand boas or bearded dragons, you should add more Vita-Sand than the minimum amount. This allows them to exhibit these natural behaviors comfortably.

Maintaining Vita-Sand for a Clean Environment

Regular maintenance is key to keeping the Vita-Sand clean and the habitat healthy for your pet.

  • Remove Debris Regularly: As needed, remove any debris, waste, or soiled areas from the sand. This spot cleaning helps keep the habitat hygienic between full replacements.
  • Full Substrate Replacement: The entire Vita-Sand substrate should be replaced completely every 6 months. However, you should replace the sand sooner than 6 months if you notice a persistent foul odor, as this can indicate bacterial issues that spot cleaning cannot fully address.