Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I know lots of leo owners use tile and carpet as substrate due to the issue of impaction. Are these options viable for beardies? Is there any threat of them getting their toes stuck in a weak carpet substrate? What do you guys think. I'm done using paper towels but will not resort to play sand.

I use indoor/outdoor carpet, works great and easy to clean.

Tile may be a bit to slippery for beardies. I know when I have mine out they run and hit the tile and lose footing and slide. Pretty funny looking actually. Carpet is safe, and ok, but I personally use Duck Brand non adhesive shelf liners. Indoor outdoor carpet would be my second choice. The liners are very easy to spot clean daily, and at the end of the week or every other week I take them out to wash and disinfect, and put a fresh liner in. It's safe, they get good traction, it's pretty inexpensive, and easy to clean. I like it better then carpet as after washing the carpets a few times I would get curls where the crickets could get under. The liner lays pretty flat with no space under for the bugs to hide. Also I found myself taking the carpet out every other day to wash fully as the poop would smear and would not come out fully with a spot cleaning.
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Mystical-Dragons Web Site
Webshots photos

the BD "Slide" is very funny.

some times my bd does it on smooth floors also....

when they try to stop or turn you can tell they are not to happy with the loss of traction!

( SOund effects now would be nice )
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I started using the reptile carpet for my 2 beardies but found that the carpet will curl at the ends & the crickets go under the carpet.. Also carpet seems to absorb some of the liquid part of the beardie poop making it harder to clean. I personally am going to washed play sand it's much easier to clean & I've heard that is not a great risk for impaction with adult bearded dragons.

I second the shelf liner. It is great. I got a couple 5 foot long rolls is taupe (desert colored) at Target for really cheap. Homer loves running on it and it is so easy to clean.

I use premium white sand, ive heard the lingo... it "sand impacts." I honestly have not had any problems with it and i have/had four beardies on the sand. It doesn't have rocks or large sand particles, it is very fine and silky. I'm not saying to take my word, your beardie won't get impacted, every beardie is different, i'm just saying i have never had a problem, so please don't bust your bottons and try and get up in frantic argument. When i mentioned it to a breeder i got my two beardies from, she was jealous that i could find the sand because she thinks it's the greatest. -WAL-MART spring or summer time,$2 or so for 40lbs, talk about cheap!- It's very easy to clean because all the sand the fecal matter has touched, balls up and sits on the top ready for you to sift through and take out. Not to mention my beardies love to make playtime with it, and make a comfortable bed by digging so the sand shapes to their bodies comfortably. I'd like to see carpet or tile do that.
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*~*Erin*~*
0.1 Jazmin -leopard gecko- April 17, 2004
0.2 Tiki and Tahlie -bearded dragon- July 18, 2004 -high oranges-
Blaze -bearded dragon- March 20, 2004-August 22, 2004 *~*Rest in Peace*~*
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