Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I've been using rabbit pellets for the past 2 years, to ensure that he doesn't eat some of the substrate and get an impacted gut. However, as few people do, I have grown to be allergic to it and as such I cannot use it anymore.

What would be the best substrate for me to use? Perhaps I should find some clay and pack it down? My enclosure is a 100 gallon Reptarium turned on its side, so there is quite a large area for him to run around in.

Also, he hasn't taken a crap for almost 2 months now. I don't know what's going on but he looks perfectly healthy and everything. Nice plump tail stump, pink tongue, alert, running all over the place. Perhaps I should take him in for a checkup?

For an adult lots of people just use sifted playsand. As long as your beardie isn't the type to take huge mouthfuls of it that should be fine. Personally I like to use non-adhesive shelf liner. It's not as natural looking but it's very easy to clean and my beardie IS the type to take mouthfuls. You can still put a sand box in to satisfy any digging habits your dragon has.

If your beardie hasn't pooped in 2 months I'd say he's LONG overdue for a vet check. Is he eating? It sounds like impaction, I'm surprised that after 2 months he isn't acting much sicker. Whatever food is still in his gut is probably rotting and that can't be good. Try soaking him in a warm bath, held upright, and lightly massaging his belly. This will sometimes stimulate them to go. If it doesn't work get him to a vet and find out what's wrong!

-----
Amanda
------------
2.0 bearded dragons (Ocho / Domo-kun)
0.1 kingsnake (Rio)
1.0 ferret (Playstation)
1.0 cat (Wally)
0.1 dog (Tima)

Thanks Amanda.

I tried the warm bath/massaging thing many times now, and it has yet to get him to go. I will get him to the vet as soon as I possibly can to get him checked out.

love the bath picks, a pic is worth 1000 words.

what are the basking temps? what kind of diet is he on? silly question but are you SURE he has not gone in 2 months? You might need a gas mask when he pops!
-----
Bennett

www.beardiedragon.com

here's the last (and my favorite) in that series.

Of course right after that was taken he pooped on the counter! Oops!
-----
Amanda
------------
2.0 bearded dragons (Ocho / Domo-kun)
0.1 kingsnake (Rio)
1.0 ferret (Playstation)
1.0 cat (Wally)
0.1 dog (Tima)

SS&S
-----
Bennett

www.beardiedragon.com

LOL!

That one took me a second!
-----
Amanda
------------
2.0 bearded dragons (Ocho / Domo-kun)
0.1 kingsnake (Rio)
1.0 ferret (Playstation)
1.0 cat (Wally)
0.1 dog (Tima)

HEY!!!!!! where did you get the laughing smiley?????? TELL ME NOW!!!!!!!!

I have it saved to my webspace. You can copy it if you like.
-----
Amanda
------------
2.0 bearded dragons (Ocho / Domo-kun)
0.1 kingsnake (Rio)
1.0 ferret (Playstation)
1.0 cat (Wally)
0.1 dog (Tima)

how?

right click/ save as - will save it to your hard drive.

If you want to link it at other sites the URL is

http://www.fni.com/~dragon/smileys/lol.gif

You would link it like you'd link a picture.
-----
Amanda
------------
2.0 bearded dragons (Ocho / Domo-kun)
0.1 kingsnake (Rio)
1.0 ferret (Playstation)
1.0 cat (Wally)
0.1 dog (Tima)

OH, OK

>>SS&S
>>-----
>>Bennett
>>
>>
>>www.beardiedragon.com
-----
Rob Talkington