its the one with the juvi dragon that had his intestines flushed out and came out with tons of sand, cant beleive that much sand came from that baby, the baby was still healthy i beleive and didnt show signs of impaction. i think we have to remember that dragons lick, and even tho we may not have an impaction today, or tomorrow, sand can build up in the intestines and cause impaction later, almost the same deal as with horses that are in a place with a lot of sand, sand colic due to build up of daily eating etc on sand. i have to disagree when you say a baby could just as easily get impacted from towels, babies can lick towels as they naturally do with their surroundings and not pick up anything, on the other hand naturally in an enclosure of sand they will take some in every time they flick their little tongues on the ground, and i have yet to see any of my dragons try and eat papertowels, although im sure there has been the odd one that tried and in that case would have to be changed off that substrate. Sand has been shown to build up in the intestines, lining them and eventually sort of starving the dragon of nutrients from their food as they cannot absorb it through the intestinal lining that has the sand present. Sure they may be on some sand in the wild but a 4x2 enclosure is not their natural habitat and beardies in the wild have a much shorter lifespan and i imagine a lower hatchling survival rate due to many factors. I am in no way saying what you are doing is wrong, many people raise their dragons on sand, many people keep their dragons on sand,and taht is perfectly fine, no one can tell you its wrong, its a personal choice and preference, but people need be aware of the potential problems either now or in the long run from the use of that particular substrate.







>>I sure hope that wasn't a comment made for me.... Some people (like myself) could get offended by someone telling them that they are doing wrong. Especially when they have had 99.9% hatch and survival rates, etc.

>>A baby dragon could eat a piece of torn paper towel as easily as it could get impacted on sand. Nobody has a "fool proof" way of breeding, hatching and raising dragons. Even mother nature couldn't make it fool proof. As to baby proofing a house, I am very familiar with that also since I have 3 children under 9 years of age. Also, you can't say "under 6 months of age should be housed on paper towels" because some dragons are huge at 6 months old.

>>You ask "why suggest it" well, simple..... some people want a more natural looking habitat for their dragons. Better to suggest playsand than have a customer go out and buy some of those horrible "repti type sands" on the market.

>>

>>On a side note.... On my site I do list "other" suitable substrates also.

>>

>>On your site it says you won't have any breeding projects till spring 2004.... feel free to make comments on how I or others do things AFTER you have bred, hatched, raised and sold at least a half dozen clutches or so.

>>

>>

>>Just my rant in my defence since I am entitled to it!

>>

>>Look, healthy babies on sand!

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>>

>>>>Not saying you will always have them problems, but the possibilty is much greater. im as happy as you are that you have never had a problem with it..but why suggest it to a new keeper when the chance is there?

>>>>

>>>>so basically yea, you can keep your baby on sand..a lot do, many with never a problem..but just like when you baby proof a house, many of it is extra, but its done just in case. it may not be that commen, but it has happened, otherweise it wouldnt be suggested not 2.. good luck with your dragons

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>>>>Chris/Mike

>>>> L&R Reptiles

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>>-----

>>Lisa

>>www.beginnersbasics.com

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reiko

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