Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Ok, I got a few suggestions in my previous post regarding proper beardie litter. He is most DEFINITELY coming off the carpeting ASAP. It stinkes! In a matter of a few days, the room he's in definitely has a distinct foul smell that I assume is due to that carpeting having no oder control whatsoever. None of my other reptile cages stink and we've got two snakes and a few other lizards...

Our mali uromastyx has been on sand for almost 5 yrs with no problems. He's gorgeous and healthy. Is this species just different, or is there some reason I can't keep beardie on sand also?

Also, prev. owner has been feeding lots of crickets in addition to mealworms and veggies. When (if ever) should I be weaning him off crickets? At 14 inches, how many crickets should I be letting him have per day/week?

Thanks again...

I will try to find the bedding wheatbran or something that someone posted about. Looks like sand, but is safe...

At 14" a lot of people do keep them on sand. It does carry a risk of impaction though. I like shelfliner myself, a lot of people like wheatbran but you can't ever get it wet, newspaper and paper towels are also very safe. As far as the crickets go, you've got a juvie/sub adult so it should start naturally slowing down on crickets here pretty soon and switching more to salad. They always need crickets (or some form of live food) so you can't cut them out completely.

Sean
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Heart Mountain Herps

If so, are smaller shavings ok, or do they need to be the big square kind?

The smaller ones look softer...

No it doesn't digest well. Beardies digestive systems are a lot more delicate than other animals (part of this being that beardies will eat anything not tied down lol). If you're going to use a particulate substrate it needs to be 100% digestable. The only ones I know of are alfalfa pellets and wheatbran, both of them have the problem that they can never get wet, mold easily, and are hard to keep clean and sterile.

Sean
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Heart Mountain Herps