Reptile & Amphibian Forums

How big does your beardie have to be, b4 u should use playsand or any type of the zoo-med type sands as a cage substrate?

I kno that my beardie's still too small (6 inches) but he's growing fast. and in the next couple of months who knows how big he'll be.
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My baby Beardie!

My girl was about 16 inches when we switched to sand, but there really isn't a safe size to do it. It depends on your beadie. Mine doesn't eat crickets very often, she gets mainly veggies and superworms, and she never eats the sand. She normally isn't on the ground at all, she really loves climbing and laying in her branches. Avoid the expensive reptile sand, the playsand is just as good and much cheaper, plus the playsand doesn't have any dyes in it. Also, the calcium sand seems to cause more impactions since it isn't as digestable as the makers claim.
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What do you suggest using as a substrate before sand?

A year old. Full grown. You want him as big as he will get, the smaller he is the more he is at risk of impaction.

As for sands, there is a discussion just a few threads down on the very subject.
Substrate Debate

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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)

Repti-San, Calci-San, Bone-Aid, or any other calcium based sand should never ever be used. It is an expensive way to play russian roulette with your BD's life. Playsand is far cheaper and safer but still caries a slight risk. A BD should be between 8-10 inches before switching to playsand. Also a BD that is a clumsy hunter or has a tendancy to constantly lick things, even after they are new, will be at a higher risk and should probably not go on particulate substrate whatsoever.

http://www.anapsid.org/substrate.html

http://www.anapsid.org/substrates.html
http://www.anapsid.org/substrates2.html