Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi everyone,

Don't have a bearded dragon, but would like to get one eventually. They are just sooo cool!

I've often heard/read that sand can cause impactions and that even the ground walnut shell litter can cause problems. In one forum, I saw someone recommend using bran as a substrate. I use it for my roaches and just think it's really dusty, but it gave me another idea.

What do you guys think of using wheat bulgur as a substrate? It's not dusty, the texture looks a lot like sand (but with bigger pebbles) and you can buy large bags fairly inexpensively. I wouldn't think bacteria growth would be a problem, as it is being used in a desert terrarium (hot and dry). Moreover, the bulgur forms a clump when you spill water on it (so I'm assuming it would do the same with urates).

So what do you think? Would it work?

Thanks!
Julie

Not familiar with bulgur but think about...
If you have a water bowl in the enclosure there will be splashing and spillage, if you mist the animal you will get clumping too. Some other things to consider, you don't want the animal to eat the substrate. if they do and it clumps up in their digestive tract it can be a problem. if you feed crix on the substrate will they burrow under it and hard will it be for the animal to catch tem and not get a mouthfull of substrate.

Desert does not mean desert like the saharah with dunes of sand. desert can also mean scrubland with little rain. their natural ground is a packed earth and clay type surface that is actually rather hard. not like sand at all.

this topic is widely discussed here and you should probably search for substrate in the archives.
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Bennett

www.beardiedragon.com

It's so much easier and safer to just use plastic tablecloth or non slip shelf liner for your substrate. Both are easy to spot clean and in the case of the shelf liner, you can wash and disinfect it, then put it back into the dragon's cage. Though the initial cost is a little bit more for both, it durability and ease of use, pay off in the long run. I paid less than $20 (included taxes) for a roll of plastic table cloth that is 100' long by 3' wide. I bought it in June of this year and still have plenty left. Should last me till next June.