Reptile & Amphibian Forums

In the beginning, I used rabbit/guinea pig pellets and then switched to crushed walnut. While I haven't had any major issues with either, the walnut is sooo dusty and gets everything dirty. My beardie seems to like throwing it everywhere, but I noticed that he slides all over the place when he's active. The same applies to the pellets.

I saw some lizard carpet at a pet store this weekend. Has anyone used this or have other recommendations?

I would like to give him something that won't slide around, but that is easy to clean. He's very active and loves to run around his cage.

Thanks!

In my experiences the cage liners have been the best. I started to use rubber non slip shelf liners for all my dragons over a year and a half ago. I started with one setup just to test it out to make sure it did not have any problems I did not forsee, after I relized it was working great I started recommending it to others and switched all my cages over. I personally would not go back to anything else. I started with sand, other then looking natural for about 5 days it gets filthy fast, even with poop scooping some liquid that gets expelled is always left behind to contaminate the insects, and possibly be ingested. The shelf liner I spot clean daily with a spray bottle and mild anti bacterial soap and just wipe up with paper towels. They stay spotless. I never had cleaner more sanitary cages in my life. I'd go with the safer, cleaner substrate any day. I would rather have no risk of impaction caused by substrate That alone made me switch first to repti carpet and finally to the shelf liners
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Mystical Dragons webshots pictures
Mystical-Dragons Website

I really like the simplicity of it too.
My dragons poop on their paper towel square so I just replace that daily. I Disinfect with vinegar and peroxide on the weekend by simply wiping it down. I've had the same $5.00 shelf liner for over a month and it still looks great.

P.S. Mine is $5.00 because I bought the 20" wide.
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TheClassyLizard

Christy you got one of those square paper towel poopers like Cheri? I wish I had a paper towel trained dragons, lol. Mine just go wherever they feel, and then run away from it. They got smart they started pooping on the hammocks where they know I'll get in there and clean it out that minute cause that is where they bask. Guess I should Put the paper towel there Check out this website I found. It will tell you all the areas that sell them in your area. I'm sure if I search hard enough i could find a place to buy them online as well. I started buying those 20 inchers as well, but I can get the 12 inchers at the dollar store so for two bucks I cover the bottom of each cage.

http://www.duckproducts.com/products/detail.asp?catid=5&subid=24&plid=105
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Mystical Dragons webshots pictures
Mystical-Dragons Website

I buy the 20" rolls from walmart and they are great. Cut to fit and always look clean and bright!

>>Christy you got one of those square paper towel poopers like Cheri? I wish I had a paper towel trained dragons, lol. Mine just go wherever they feel, and then run away from it. They got smart they started pooping on the hammocks where they know I'll get in there and clean it out that minute cause that is where they bask. Guess I should Put the paper towel there Check out this website I found. It will tell you all the areas that sell them in your area. I'm sure if I search hard enough i could find a place to buy them online as well. I started buying those 20 inchers as well, but I can get the 12 inchers at the dollar store so for two bucks I cover the bottom of each cage.
>>
>>http://www.duckproducts.com/products/detail.asp?catid=5&subid=24&plid=105
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>>Mystical Dragons webshots pictures
>>Mystical-Dragons Website
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Lisa
www.beginnersbasics.com

Cricket FREE babies!

Even Ozzy, the newbie dragon goes on his little port-a potty towel.
Not ALL of my dragons do it, but 5/7 works for me.
I don't train them, they train me, they just seem to pick the same spot to poop in all the time, so I put paper towel there.
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TheClassyLizard

the shelf liners like you can buy at Walmart that people use to line their cabinets? or are you referring to something different?

can you tell me what you like better about the shelf liners compared to the repti-carpet?

Same stuff as in walmart.... Clean up is easier, more sanitary and makes the cage brighter and cleaner looking.

>>the shelf liners like you can buy at Walmart that people use to line their cabinets? or are you referring to something different?
>>
>>can you tell me what you like better about the shelf liners compared to the repti-carpet?
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Lisa
www.beginnersbasics.com

Cricket FREE babies!

do you have any problems with your beardies slipping around? i like the idea of easy cleanup and a more sanitary environment, but i also want to try to avoid giving him something he'll slide all over on.

No, they don't slip and slide around at all (Babies nor the adults). It is slightly dimpled for good traction. My babies have a blast on it when I mist them and they scoot around on their tummies and look like they are swimming. It is so cute to watch.. then they get up and go bask lol

>>do you have any problems with your beardies slipping around? i like the idea of easy cleanup and a more sanitary environment, but i also want to try to avoid giving him something he'll slide all over on.
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Lisa
www.beginnersbasics.com

Cricket FREE babies!

No slipping. It's got indentions on it, and just the material itself is not slippery to the touch but rather resistant. Some of the reasons I like it other then the easy clean up is it lies perfectly flat on the bottom of the cage without sliding around. The feeder insects like crickets cannot go under during feeding and come out at night, and feed on the dragon. Everything is on top and can be seen and eaten by the dragon. That was one of the real problems I had with the repti carpets. Especially after washing them a few times they come up on the sides and leave tunnels for the bugs to get under. I just leave an overlap on the sides of the cages so it goes up the sides a bit. Especially works well with glass cages or melamine enclosures, as it kinda clings a bit to the bottom and the sides after or short time in the lights.

Here is a site you can go to find a place that sells it in your area. Some walmarts carry it, and I can find a cheaper brand, but the same thing at the dollar store by me. Copy and paste.
http://www.duckproducts.com/products/detail.asp?catid=5&subid=24&plid=105
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Mystical Dragons webshots pictures
Mystical-Dragons Website

Is it self adhesive? Just wondering about it sticking to the cage and ease of removing it.

no, it is not self adhesive... it just lays nice and flat and doesn't slip and skid all over the cage floor like reptile carpeting.

>>Is it self adhesive? Just wondering about it sticking to the cage and ease of removing it.
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Lisa
www.beginnersbasics.com

Cricket FREE babies!