Since so many people have asked what is best, I thought I'd share what I use and why. This is for dragons over 2 months of age (paper towels for dragons under 2 mos. is what I use)
The local Pets Mart here sells Lizard Litter in two sizes. 10lbs and 25lbs. The smaller is $8.99 and the larger $17.99. It's nowhere near as inexpensive as play sand, so if cheap is what you're looking for then this isn't the route for you. The 25lb bag is more than enough to cover a 4'x 2' enclosure, and with the way it clumps you don't need to replace it that often.
The biggest perk to using the LL (we'll call it LL from this point on so I don't have to keep typing Lizard Litter) is that it smells wonderful. Have you ever walked into a room where you have some sub-adult or adult beardeds making their enclosure a "porta potty" and thought you'd pass out? The stench with play sand is horrible until you clean it out, and even then it continues to smell for some time afterward. Not the case with LL. They can poop (and of course, it will smell when it first occurs, nothing can cure that), but immediately the LL goes to work and in no time at all you can't smell a thing. I say this because I have a "pooper scooper" handy near each cage and clean it up as I see it, so it may be different if you don't clean your cages daily. (And that's a whole different hygene story)
On a personal level, some in my family have allergies. Play Sand is good because it's cheap, but if you have a few dragons (especially breeder size) in an enclosure you can count on having to dust your home on a daily basis. The dust from the sand gets on EVERYTHING! Cleaning out the cage? *sneeze* Walking into a room you just cleaned yesterday? *cough* Breeding activity and sand kicked up everywhere? *rub red eyes* This is not the case with LL. If you or someone in your family has allergies, even slightly, LL is the bedding for you.
As if the clean smell and allergy free attributes weren't enough, there is one more reason to choose LL. It's pretty. The soft brown color looks good in any enclosure. You won't be disappointed.
NOW, there is one thing you need to be aware of. I recommend the LL for Bearded Dragons ONLY if you don't keep a water dish in the enclosure. We all know beardeds like to take an occasional swim, and if they splash water on the litter there is a GOOD CHANCE it will not dry up quickly and therefore mold. The mold is NOT good for Beardeds and must be removed if you ever see any. I give fresh greens daily, water from a medicine dropper (which the dragons LOVE to see coming, I higly recommend doing this if you only have a few dragons and can do it every other day or so) and take them all out to soak in a tub of water once a week. This ensures they get PLENTY of water and I don't have to keep a messy water bowl in the enclosure.
I hope this helps others in their quest to find a suitable substrate. I would swear by the LL and will continue to use it until a better product is introduced. For now though, there isn't anything that comes close if you don't mind spending a bit more for a cleaner, better smelling, more attractive, hypo-allergenic substrate.
If you have any questions, please feel free to email me. Take care and happy herping!
-Matthew-
wellafargin@yahoo.com
