Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Just taking a poll for people to list what they have thier dragons on, and benefits to their choices. My gal is on shelf liner at the moment, but once i'm sure all her worms are gone i think i'll put her on sand.....??
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Puff (The Magic Dragon) ~F~ Bearded Dragon (color scheme name coming) ~ 1.5 years.
Fluffy ~M~ Mali Uromastyx ~ 2.5 years (?).
Taco ~F~ Green Iguana ~ 9 years old.
Brogan ~F~ Tokay Gecko ~ 4 years (?).
Danny ~M~ Australian Velvet Gecko ~ 2.5 years.
Sargon ~M~ Tabby Cat~ 14.5 years. Our real fluffy.

they like to dig
I clean it with a shop vac.
It's the easiest thing when there are LOTS of cages

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Bennett

www.beardiedragon.com

now that she is an adult
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it's dusty, un-natural, and it gets all over the place. Not to mention my dragon knocks it into his food all the time. Honestly, I'm trying to steer clear of sand for now. I might actually try mixing 50% sand with 50% organic topsoil. I know the uro forum is using soil mixes a lot right now so their uro's can make natural burrows. My uro is a little wierd though, and she tries to eat her substrates, so I'm not sure what to do for her right now.

I shutter when I think about sand now for some reason, but I'm using it right now.

Newspaper all the way! No chance of impaction. Clean. Safe.
Sand is messy...

her claws are kept perfectly trimmed with an emory board a few times a week (only takes less than a minute).

JadeFox

They do seem to get substrate sometimes when they eat their crickets and so on...

I read in a pet book that alfalfa pellets can increase the chances of respiratory infection.

But that does make sense--it's very easy for water to spill on it or even a day of high humidity--mold will grow, and that gets in the beardie's lungs.

I would trash the pellets if I were you....

Newspaper is the safest...

JadeFox

I've done my research and keep moistened substrate removed, this is an informed choice.

what if it's a very humid day? The pellets can still form mould and cause respiratory disease for the beardie....

The BEARDED DRAGON MANUAL written by Vosjoli, Mailloux, and several vets (www.avsbooks.com) does not recommend alfalfa pellets (pages 26 and 27).

JadeFox

I'm glad you are so well read. I am too, I have read extensively and made an informed choice and my dragons are healthy. You are free to do the same.