Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I just recently switched to a sand substrate. My dragon is older now, a little over a year and sand is no longer a danger of getting caught in his intestines.

BUT he often climbs into his food dish and seems to be tracking sand off his feet into his dish. Do other people have the same problem? How can i avoid this?

No matter how old your dragon is sand can cause an impaction. It builds up over time and that's where the danger is. I'd get him off sand, especially if he's tracking it into his food dish. But that's just my opinion. I'd rather be safe than sorry.

Veronica
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Beautiful Dragons

I agree. If sand is in the dish, sand is getting swallowed. The best way to keep sand out of the dish is to take it out of the cage.
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2.0 bearded dragons (Ocho / Domo-kun)
0.1 kingsnake (Rio)
1.0 ferret (Playstation)
1.0 cat (Wally)
0.1 dog (Tima)

I hate to say it, as I used sand for a little while before I knew the risks, but I agree w/everyone else. Sand is always an impaction risk. I would take the sand out.

Dosnt sand go right thru them? Im talking about real sand not 'calci sand'

They've lived for millions of years on sand in nature and now its all of a sudden bad for them?

O well. thanks anyway!

Sand will *mostly* go thru them, it's the few pieces that attach themselves to the intestinal walls that you have to worry about. Imagine a clogged artery ... it's the same thing but with the GI tract. A clogged artery doesn't happen overnight. If a beardie's GI tract gets plugged up you better get it unplugged quick (surgery) or the beardie will die a very painful death. And usually by the time any symptoms show up that the beardie is ill, it's already too late. Feces back up in the system and poison the body, then organ failure occurs. (This is how my vet explained it to me.)

And no, beardies don't spend even 25% of their time in the wild on sand. Australia is covered with many ground coverings. Beardies are usually perched up high on fence posts, rocks, and even found clinging to trees.

This is just my opinion. I'd get rid of the sand if it was my beardie. Best of luck to you.

Veronica
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Beautiful Dragons

I use 6" glazed potting plates set ontop of a 1/4" paving brick. it keeps the plate higher and stops it from getting burried. you can also use tall 3" glazed bowls. they are to small for a BD to crawl into so that helps too. Sand is a mess, has a bunch of drawbacks but it's my only choice. I have never had a problem.
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Bennett

Home Of The Florida Orange
www.beardiedragon.com