#sand discourse

[catie-does-things]

I feel like "I don't like sand" has become such a meme that people forget its original context, not just in terms of what it actually says about Anakin as a character, but also in that I see people talking about it like Anakin just brings it up out of nowhere, when in fact the previous line in the scene is Padmé talking about lying on the sand at the beach.

[ask-the-ocean-boy]

I forgot to put up the poll,,, anyways

https://strawpoll.com/xyu2af6cp

What is the tastiest kind of sand - Guest on StrawPoll

What's your opinion? Vote now: Black sand, Dead Sea sand, White sand, Desert sand, Dark brown sand, Not sand (dirt)

[captaingondolin]

au where someone dumps a bucket of sand on darth vader and he melts like. that witch who melts in water

I AM DYING the rebels should have done this from the start

[dragontribeadventures]

Captive sand substrates versus wild ones and how they relate to impaction

I think I’ve probably talked about this before, but I’ve decided to take the time to write down some of my thoughts and extrapolations about sand as a substrate and why it is such a concern for impaction.

Now, certain types of sand definitely are bad, such as repti-sand, calci-sand, and most anything of that nature that is marketed as digestible. The reasons being:

Most of these sands are extremely fine grained and easily get into eyes, causing irritation and pain

Most of them are also extremely dusty, coating the respiratory tract and making it harder to fight off infections, also can contribute to eye irritation 

Many are dyed, which often increases dust levels, due to the form in which the dye is added to the substrate

While calcium carbonate (the main component of most of these) is somewhat digestible and is even used as a calcium supplement in livestock feeds, it is also a natural pH antagonist that will decrease the acidity of a dragon’s stomach

Calcium carbonate is also a major component of limestone, and, as such, at pH’s such as those achieved in the dragon’s stomach when they ingest sufficient quantities of it, will form what basically amounts to a stone in the digestive tract, which is how these substrates often cause impaction. Calcium carbonate as a supplement is fine since it is not present in sufficient quantities to cause this and is often a lot higher grade, but just like any good thing, it is dangerous in large amounts. 

In the case of other pet store sands that are silica-based, the problems are similar in some regards, but slightly different: 

Once again, typically have a very small, fine particle size

Are also typically very dusty, especially if dyed

Pure silica is not a great medium for the normal activities that take place in soil to break down waste and prevent the buildup of harmful bacteria

Sand grains can be porous and/ or create a lot of surface area

Because of this, even after scooping stool the bacteria that has already been deposited in the substrate will be able to flourish, especially if there is moisture present

While silica will not form a stone like calcium carbonate will, it does tend to clump (just like the sand at the beach does when it gets wet), and this can form masses of indigestible material in the gut, leading to impaction

Sand tends to be abrasive to the sensitive linings of the gut and can scrape off vili and cilia that are important to nutrient absorption and intestinal motility

Long term exposure to sand can cause permanent scarring to the gut, making nutrient absorption difficult 

Finer, more uniformly shaped particles are more likely to clump than irregular ones

Sand in the tank does not have the same variances in moisture that it would in the wild and tends to be uniformly dry and loose

The effects of sands in bearded dragons, especially the stone forming properties, are further exacerbated by husbandry and anatomy related things, though are not exclusive to bad husbandry alone. Intestinal impaction is also a complicated issue with many underlying causes:

Chronic dehydration lowers the moisture available to the digestive tract, increasing the risk of forming balls of compacted material such as loose sand or calcium particles

This also decreases gut lubrication such as mucus linings for much the same reason

Like rabbits and horses, bearded dragons are hindgut fermenters to some degree when it comes to plants, and their intestines are set up accordingly, with an enlarged cecum and lengthy digestive tract to better utilize plant material. 

This means that in order to achieve proper intestinal motility they need a substantial degree of fiber compared to other more insectivorous species

Without this fiber amongst the protein and substrate particles, the intestines have a harder time moving material

This is compounded by a narrow opening between the ileum and the rest of the digestive tract and a sharp turn at that junction which makes it difficult to pass large materials through, so without proper motility and lubrication it is easy for blockages to form in this location and a stone can completely plug it

Excessive protein can also play a role in firming up the ingestia and forming balls of other things such as crickets

Poor heating interferes with the activity of digestive system enzymes, which need a certain temperature range to be maintained by the animal in order to function normally. Too hot of temperatures denature them (rending them useless), and too low substantially reduces their activity, increasing the amount of improperly digested material making its way further into the intestines

Small, fine, and uniform particles in the gut are more likely to form clumps in large amounts, which is why sand impactions occur with silica. In the case of play sand, some of these risks are reduced due to more variability in particle size, shape, and composition

Now, when all of these conditions are corrected, the risk of impaction goes down significantly. Even though dragons’ natural anatomy predisposes them to impaction, a properly cared for gut and body makes the chances of one a lot less likely. In the wild, bearded dragons can be found on sandy substrates, and will even burrow through them, so, with all of these factors to consider, how do they do it?

Unlike in most captive setups, the sand you see in the Australian  deserts where dragons make their homes is actually a mixture of organic and inorganic material, and, while it may be heavily sand based, still retains its shape when used for burrows. This is due to the presence of difficult to degrade organic fibers, roots, clay, and other components that form a complex soil biome.  

This creates an environment where bacteria and matter cycle naturally, reducing the chances of high levels of detrimental bacteria from gathering like it can in silica

While dry on the surface, sandy soils often are somewhat moist several inches down, meaning that they clump and hold their shape. In the case of a burrowing dragon, this also means that when they taste their substrate they don’t typically pick up as many particles. They also hold their shape due to the presence of organic fibers, which, when ingested alongside sand, creates enough variance in composition that the particles are unlikely to clump

Bearded dragons often climb and hunt across a variety of different substrate compositions even within a small radius, meaning that the substrate that they do ingest varies widely enough and is different enough in shape and size that it’s more resistant to clumping as mentioned above

Mixed components in substrates also tends to reduce dust, and moisture, when added occasionally, tends to reduce its output

Many sandy soils in their range are actually quite hard packed, and are unlikely to be easily grabbed in large quantities like loose silica

Dragons can also be found on more loamy substrates with higher organic matter content that often makes them easier to pass

Greater plant eating habits compared to some captive dragons may contribute to increased fiber in the diet and an easier time passing substrate as a result

[nautical-nautilus-blog]

You must consume the sand to appease the rainbow gods

ur only gay if u eat sand

[captaingondolin]

Anakin doesn't seem too happy about being left on the sand

[nautical-nautilus-blog]

i mean damn, i'm from south florida so of course i eat sand

fucking floridians yall are wild

[shrimpcolour]

Pls direct everyone who says it’s bad to my inbox so they can join my club

i think and hope that all my loyal ass friends will like sand