Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm just about to buy a bearded dragon and i was wondering how big it should be when i switch from paper towel and newspaper to a loose substrate like sand.

I'd would also like to know at what age does it become sexually mature and at what age does it become and adult?

Thanks.

I would say wait until it's a year old before switching to sand. It's not so much age that is the factor, but size. The bigger the beardie, the smaller the risk. By the time a beardie is a year old it's almost full grown.

I say "almost" because beardies can continue growing sometimes until they are two or three before they reach their maximum size. My beardie brumated last winter when he was 2, and hit a major growth spurt afterwards, maxing out at 80 grams more than he had ever been before he went into brumation.

As for sexual maturity, I follow the train of thought that a beardie isn't sexually mature until it is at least 18 months old. It can mate long before that, but physically it isn't good for the beardie or the eggs.
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Amanda
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2.0 bearded dragons (Ocho / Domo-kun)

0.1 kingsnake (Rio)
0.0.1 tarantula (Otto)
1.0 ferret (Playstation)
1.0 cat (Wally)
0.1 dog (Tima)

if you are concerned, go with shelf liner and a sand box so food does not get in the sand
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Bennett

www.beardiedragon.com

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Signature edited for TOS violation.

Edited on August 22, 2004 at 23:46:18 by phwyvern.

If you use sand make sure to switch the sand as often as possible. The fecal matter can build up and coccidia is infective after only two days so remember it is a continous cycle of reinfection if you don't keep the BDs enclosure clean your dragon could develop a superinfection. I find that it is much easier to use Shelf liner for adults.

-Randy
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AlphaDragonZ
www.AlphaDragonZ.com

I agree! I used sand when I first got Ocho a few years ago, but I didn't like it and he licked it a lot. I switched to paper towels for a while, then I heard about shelf-liner and never changed back!
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Amanda
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2.0 bearded dragons (Ocho / Domo-kun)

0.1 kingsnake (Rio)
0.0.1 tarantula (Otto)
1.0 ferret (Playstation)
1.0 cat (Wally)
0.1 dog (Tima)