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for ADULT beardeds. How serious is the risk of impaction in an adult? I know most prefer playsand but it's a fourty mile drive to find some and the city just planted four trees in my side yard, and there's dirt left over. It's a sand and loam mix, maybe 60/40. Would this be safe? My bearded is very acurate with her/his tongue. I've never seen her miss a shot. Never bites anything to pick it up. All opinions welcome.
Quig
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My issue with anything from outside is the high risk of parasites. My issue with dirt is that it will make your dragons really dirty.
BDlvr, I'm concerned with parasites also, but not overly. The dirt is mostly sand, maybe moreso than the 60/40 I said earlier. I'm hoping it will dry out nicely.
Quig
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I suggest not using dirt/sand/loam mix in a bearded dragon cage, especially one that is just left lying around by the city. It could be treated, it could half all kinds of insect live in it, it could be too moist and raise humidity in the tank which can pose a problem for your dragon. Dogs and cats could be using it as a toilet, making it unclean etc.
IF you did decide to use it anyway, at least bake it in the oven for several hours at about 250F to kill insects and most bacteria that may be in the soil mix.
Even if your dragon doesn't eat a grain of it, it isn't a really good choice as substrate.
BDLvr is right that this mix will make your dragon dirty. And if completely dry it may end up being way too dusty as well.
Personally I would recommend using just paper towels if getting washed plays and is not convenient for you. Bearded dragons don't need to be on any sand at all.
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PHLdyPayne
The last time I replied to one of your posts here you got me in trouble. Ha! Ha!
> > > I know most prefer playsand but it's a fourty mile drive to find some...
And I thought I lived out in the boonies. Have you checked with all the local hardware & building supply stores?
I'm afraid to say, "Yes, it should be OK to use the leftover dirt." Let me put it this way; bearded dragons' native habitat doesn't consist of children's playsand, it is a dirt/sand mix, according to what I've heard & read.
My concern with the leftover dirt would be with pesticides, fertilizers, etc... Another factor would be how it acted when wet. Does it clump up, get hard, like clay does.
The dirt around my house is more like dirt with a little bit of clay in it and I wouldn't hesitate to use it if I couldn't get playsand so easily. Just realize that your dragon will be dirty and won't look as purdy. Ha!
Take care Quig!
Mike
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Due to political correctness run amuck,
this ol' hillbilly is now referred to as an:
Appalachian American
Wouldn't the soil hold more moisture causing more humidity then needed? Just a thought
It will only hold what's put in it. In other words, as long as a lot of moisture isn't put in there, it won't be there.
Typical dirt does hold moisture more than sand does, you just can't be carefree about misting, which you shouldn't be anyway. An open/screen top and/or plenty of ventilation will put a whuppin' on moisture. Ha! Ha!
Have a good one!
HH
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Due to political correctness run amuck,
this ol' hillbilly is now referred to as an:
Appalachian American
If it's gatherd damp it will certainly have moisture in it. The overhead lamp and a UTH should make fairly short work of that.
Quig
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You know Mike, I've got two hardware stores here in town and the thought never entered my airheaded mind. As for pesticides and fertilizers, the lawn's mostly weeds and I don't kill bugs (lizard food 
). I'm also not planning on it getting wet enough to make it clump up. There's very little clay in that area of the yard anyhow.
Quig
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It's appreciated
Quig
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The "clumping" is what can happen in the dragon's stomach or intestinal tract if it were to get ingested, that's why I mentioned "clumping." Sorry for not making that clear.
Sometimes there can be a slow buildup of clumpable substrate to where it's not always how much they ingest each time, but eventually builds a big clump, impaction.
Catch ya later!
Mike
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Due to political correctness run amuck,
this ol' hillbilly is now referred to as an:
Appalachian American
Thanks for that. I told ya I was an airhead.
Quig
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