Some advocate the use of sand, while others feel that sand can cause health problems -- especially impaction resulting from ingested sand. It is important to understand that not all sands are created equally, and while some may be relatively safe to use, others can be harmful and cause life-threatening complications for your pet. For keepers wishing to use a sand substrate for their bearded dragons, it is best to use play sand. Do not collect sand from a beach for your bearded dragon's cage.
This sand may have glass or other inorganic items in it that may injure your lizard; additionally, the sand may be contaminated with bacteria or other pathogens.
Unlike reptile carpet, lino is easy to clean with a washcloth. Unfortunately fake grass is very difficult to spot-clean and the uneven surface can trap bacteria. You should also never use real grass as it is difficult to maintain low humidity in a planted tank. Newspapers or paper towels are an excellent low-cost substrate for a bearded dragon tank. Both substrates provide even coverage, do not warp under heat and will not affect the humidity levels of your tank.
They are especially good for hatchlings and juveniles who are not heavy enough to tear through the paper. Adult bearded dragons may inadvertently shred this substrate when climbing or exploring. Newspapers and paper towels are highly absorbent.
Because of this they need to be cleaned more often than other substrates. This makes them less eco-friendly than permanent substrates such as tiles. For those who want to have a naturalistic habitat for their dragon this is not the best option. Ceramic tiles are a great choice for anyone who wants an attractive, cheap and eco-friendly substrate. Ceramic is also a good conductor of heat so this substrate will not amplify or decrease the intensity of an under-tank heater.
Without the proper tools it is very difficult to cut ceramic cleanly and safely. Slate is a fine-grained rock that is often used in landscaping but fits well into an indoor reptile tank. It is more textured and natural looking than ceramic but is much more expensive. Shelf Liners are a cheap substrate that can be found at hardware and home goods stores.
They vary in style and thickness. Thinner mats are easy to cut with scissors and usually come in rolls large enough for multiple changes. The biggest problem with using rubber liners as a bearded dragon substrate is that they are excellent thermal insulators and poor conductors.
This means they take much longer to heat up and cool down than other substrates. It makes it very tricky to maintain a proper temperature gradient that your bearded dragon needs to stay healthy. If you do decide to use shelf liners then pick a solid mat. Perforated mats are difficult to clean. To prevent bacterial growth you should change this substrate every two weeks as it can absorb waste over time. Normally this substrate is used as feed for rabbits and horses.
However it can also be layered as a substrate for bearded dragons and other pet lizards. If your dragon eats these pellets they can be safely digested. But, there is still a small risk of intestinal blockage. Because of the risk of impaction we do not recommend sand, wood chips or alfalfa pellets.
Alfalfa pellets do not absorb much moisture so if they become wet they decompose rapidly and grow mold. Because of this they should be spot-cleaned daily. You can find large bags of alfalfa pellets at pet stores, but buying enough to fill a gallon tank can become expensive. Large adults can be housed on orchid bark if any small or sharp pieces are removed. Pine and cedar shavings should never be used, as they contain oils toxic to reptiles.
Babies and juveniles should not be kept on this substrate. They are likely to eat the shavings and splinters can irritate their skin. Wood chips are known for absorbing moisture from the air and lowering the overall tank humidity. Bearded dragons need a low ambient humidity , but not enough moisture can lead to respiratory illnesses and retained shed. Bark and wood pellets look great in a tank. But, it is up to you to decide if the risk of impaction is worth the visual appeal.
If you decide to use this substrate then you will need to feed your bearded dragon from a dish or container outside of tank to avoid accidental ingestion. Safest substrates for beardies are repti-carpet, slate, tile, shelf liner, or just plain old paper towel.
If you look into the "viv pics only" thread in the "enclosures" forum, you'll find some great examples of what people have done, in particular, with slate and tile Hope this helps! I went to the reptile shop, the best place i thought i could go for the right advice.
They sold me a baby along with a bag of reptile sand. I had my Dragon on sand for four months and luckily he as been ok. Since i have been on here i have removed all the sand and bought some slate tile they look great and i'm looking for a nice peice of lino to cover the bottom. Some people feel sand is ok and i know people who use play sand. Play sand is the only sand you can use and not with a baby beardie.
One of my beardies has sand in his cage he had been kept on sand before I had him and he loves to dig but I used play sand that I screened. You just take some screen then pour the sand through it. That gets rid of all the bigger rocks and leaves the sand finer. My other beardie has sand with tile on top of the sand. So then I do not have to cut the tiles right to exact size so it acts as a 2 inch grout line between the tiles. The sand is there to catch the liquids so I remove the dirty tile clean it and remove any sand that is soiled underneath.
Similar threads S. Replies 1 Views May 21, KarrieRee.
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