Reptile & Amphibian Forums

we know that sand is a no no already. but how harmful is it if my beardie takes in a little tiny bit by accident when he went for a cricket.. and i mean like little. is it going to kill him?! hes 9 weeks now. dont tell me to change me substrate because i wont . i just want to hear from someone that had their dragon do the same thing. tyvm guys

Sand bulds up, it is a cumulative effect. If he does it once, it probably wont hurt him any. If he does it often, it will build up and cause an impaction.

Will you stick with sand until your beardie gets sick or dies?
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A mans got to do what a mans got to do. A woman has to do what he can't.

Mom to:

1 little boy born 7/19/04
2 male RES, born 1999
1 ribbon snake, age unknown
3 FBT, ages unknown
1 female bearded dragon, born 5/2002
1 male lab mix, born 5/24/03
1 female calico cat, born 6/7/04

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sig file edited 1/29/05 [phw]

I was going to try to stay out of this one, but........
I am fortunate to have one of the better rep vets in the country. He uses sand as a substrate for his beardies and uros. He said it is highly unlikely that sand would be a cause for impaction. Why do people continue to propogate this myth?

Actually it is not a myth. I work in a vet hosp as a Tech and we have had 3 dragons, from different owners, that were impacted with sand. They had the dragons on the sand for years and it had slowly accumulated in the stomach and the upper intestines. He refused to do surgery and opted for mineral oil treament which in the long run did nothing to save her life!
It's not a common problem, but it does happen. And to tell people that it never happens or that it wont happen to them is wrong! It can happen, it does happen, and it will continue to happen. You can decrease your chances of it happening if you feed your dragon off the sand that way there is no accidental ingestion.
Just my opinion. Do what works for you and your just remember that things can go wrong no matter how careful you think you are. If you have been reading on this forum long enough you should have seen that by now.

Shannon

What type of sand were these people using? Did they sift it properly before putting it in the cage and did thier dragons recieve enough fluids to keep them properly hydrated. There are many variables that could play into a dragon actually becoming impacted from sand. If it happens at all. I believe that if it does happen there has to be some extenuating circumstance that would cause it to become a problem.

Later,
Robert
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Great spirits have always been recieved with violent opposition by mediocre minds. Albert Einstein

I have to completely agree with you on that Spook! I don't realy believe for a minute that sand will accumulate and cause impaction. Sand as a substrate is fine for any age dragon as far as that goes.

However, there is the issue of the possibility that the sand could harbor and become a breeding ground for pests. Of course the sand doesn't produce these pests they are put there by dragon poop. So, if your dragon has pests and you find out, temporarily changing substrate untill you get a clean fecal would be the best.

Also, scooping sand around the feces is the best way to remove all the waste so that you don't get mold growing from the wet that soaks down into it. DON'T SIFT THE POOP OUT SCOOP IT!!

Sand is safe and healthy to use as long as you do it right.
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Great spirits have always been recieved with violent opposition by mediocre minds. Albert Einstein

How can you guys say that there is no possible way that dragons can get impacted when we have people here telling us first hand that it does happen, they have seen it, and it can and does sometimes kill animals?

Im not saying it happens all the time or that sand is evil or anything, but it definately does happen, so why say it doesnt?
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0.1 Bearded dragon
0.1 mexican kingsnake
1.0.2 Leopard Gecko's
0.0.1 Rose Hair Tarantula
1.0 BTS
0.0.1 Reverse Okeetee Corn
0.1 Bullmastiff
4.1 Cats

A myth is something unfounded, sand impaction is not unfounded, they do occur in bearded dragons and other reptiles... that is no myth
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www.reptilerooms.com

I agree with everyone. I personally use sand as a substrate for all 4 of my beardies. I have never had a problem, but I agree with the previous posts. It depends on how your BD eats. If your BD is a furocious (sp?) eater then sand is probably not a substrate for you. But yes it can definetly happen, but me BD's dont ingest hardly any if any at all. Its a matter of opinion.

Hope it helps. Everyone learns from their own experience, all of our advise will only help!

Lins
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Wonderful Mom to:
4 Bearded Dragons
12 color morph Ball Pythons
2 Columbian Red Tails
1 Rose Hair Tarantula
4 Dogs
1 Florida Panther

I don't use sand because I like a very clean environment for my animals. When you remove waste from sand there is of course some always left behind in the area around the "event". I use newspaper (please educate yourself about modern inks before attacking me) and am able to keep a very clean cage for Neo. Had snakes for decades on newspaper and never had mites or any problems. Also very cheap, and indeed often free.

I think sand would look more natural, but for me its a matter of cage hygene and ease of cleaning. Just my opinion.
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0.1 Western Hognose
1.0 Bearded Dragon
0.1 Common Corn

hey,
i know you guys don't see me too often, but im a regular reader and i post on the cham forums

i have kept bd's for six years now, thats actually a third of my life lol. im sorry to say brokentoe that yes, sand cause impaction. but i do use it like you. but never on a bd as young as nine weeks, in my adults yes
i always keep young ones on paper towels or soy-based ink newspaper. im a sucker for naturalistic cages though so as soon as my bd's were about 10 mos they went to sand, i have had 2 of them for all six years like this

i have been to an outdoor breeding facility for pogona barbata( i know, not the species we keep, but close) in australia and the substrate they are on is very compact in the wild, it's sandy soil, but it's definitely not "sand"

i think it's really up to you, but don't be so stubborn as to not even consider changing substrates, you may lose a very awesome animal
this is my "honest reply"
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2.1 Pogona vitticeps "Duke" "Glomp" "Pussy"
1.0.0 Cockatiels "Sunshine"
1.0.0 Bourkes Parakeet "Kerpal"
0.1.0 Eublepharis macularius "Claire"
1.0 Chameleo calyptratus "Bruno" (eggs due to hatch any day now)
0.1 Python reticulatus
0.1 Python molurus bivvitatus
2.0 Canis domesticus
A bunch of chickens
Misc. Saltwater Fish

Email

first off thanks to all that had a say. im glad to hear that my bd will somewhat be ok for the time being and i'd like to let u guys know i will be switching over to carpet asap. reason being i dont want my beardie to continue consuming sand little by little affecting him in the long run. im really glad i got to hear both sides. many thanks

News print is, for the most part, soy based and perfectly safe. If you do what Robert said, just scoop it out, sand is a very clean and easy substrate. You do have to change it; one of my tasks for today, but with the proper utensils even this can be quick and easy. And it looks a whole lot better than paper.