Reptile & Amphibian Forums

What kind of substrate is the best for beardies? I have leos and crested geckos who are on different substrates.

Lola and Lex thank you.

Thanks,
Randi

Well it depends. I use washed sifted play sand for all by beardies except for hatchlings. For them I use paper towels. You can change them daily and they cany eat them. Every person will tell you somehting different too. Some swear playsand will kill your beardies. I've talked to top of the line breeders form around the country and all of them use playsand from the day they hatch. Some recomend bran. Both are good choices. Ive never used bran though. Ive used playsand for 6 years with out any neggitive results. Some substrates to avoid would be calci sand and crushed wallnut shells(a.k.a. desert blend). Your beardie could get impacted from both of these. Im sure Others will post too so just use your best judgement.

peace,
nathan

I use playsand for my adults and theyre fine. The only thing i would say is that if you're worried about impaction, dont use a feed dish that they can get into, use one they have to reach their heads into to eat out of. That way they dont track sand all over their food and they dont eat it. My dragons dont make a habit of just randomly walking around eating sand. Another thing is to make sure that if you use a water dish to change the water every day, or as soon as you notice there's sand in it. (My dragons never touch theirs except to sleep in it when its empty, but i leave it in there anyway.)

If you get a juvie, keep it on paper towels or newspaper, though if you choose newsprint, the ink does rub off on the dragon. I dont know if this is harmful or not. Ive always used paper towels for my juvies. Use the plain white and you have the added advantage ofmaking the crickets VERY visible for your baby. Sometimes babies have bad aim, but they'll be able to see the crix really well on paper towel.

Hope that helps a little!
Jamie
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Jamie A. Stine and the Gang:

1.1 Jacksons Chamelions (Ratchet & Clank)
1.1 Bearded Dragons (Lancelot & Guenivere)
1.1 Giant Frog Eyed Geckos (Peanut Butter & Jelly)
0.1 Borneo Short Tailed Python (Ezmerelda)
0.1 Red Tailed Boa (Buffy)
1.0 Short Tailed O'possum
1.0 Greyhound (Hank)

Save a life, adopt a retired racer!

I use bran for my adult dragons. It works great. Bran is cheap, smells nice, looks like sand and is totally harmless if your dragons happens to eat some by accident.

For babies I use papertowels.

Teo - A Bearded Dragon