Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a babie about 3-4 weeks old and I was wondering if it would be ok to use the Zoo Med vita sand would be ok to use. Right now I have it on paper towels and I don't like it. Next I have a few 3 month old beardies and is it safe for them to go on sand now?

personally I wouldn't use vita sand or calcium sand on any dragon, regardless of age. Its not digestible and more often than not, causes impaction issues..especially if husbandry isn't 100% perfect.

paper towels or unprinted newsprint is quick and easy to keep clean for babies. Once they are older and reach a length (snout to tail tip) of at last 14" you can switch them to either children's washed play sand (sifted so its free of any large particles, but most brands are nice and clean) or, a soil/sand mix (more messy to deal with but provides more natural digging/sleeping in burrow behaviors) All sand or soil should be changed every few months to avoid buildup of bacteria, even if spot cleaned daily.

Myself I use plastic table cloth, sometimes with paper towel underneath and I spot clean daily and change completely once a month.

I don't like using newspaper as it tends to turn everything black after awhile...especially the dragon. The ink in most places these days is soy based and thus non toxic but the ink smudges easier. Avoid colored inks as not all are non toxic.
-----
PHLdyPayne

Forum Princess

Thanks for the info. Do you think the carpet stuff they make for the cages would be ok.?

Playsand is the best sand to use. I have used it on thousands of babies in the past with no problems.

Impaction is linked to lack of vitamins/calcium in the dragons diet. Babies grow so fast indoors, that they require a lot of added supplementation. If they don't meet these requirements, they will look towards other options, like sand.

Josh

the carpet stuff is fine. Best to have at last two pieces cut to fit the cage, this way once its soiled, you can take it out and replace with the clean one while you disinfect/dry the soiled one.

Personally for babies, easier to just use paper towel..save alot of time sterilizing the carpet every day or every couple days.
-----
PHLdyPayne

Forum Princess

For the sand soil mix what type of soil do you use? Also what's the mix ratio of sand to soil?

Soil that is free of any additives, like herbicides/pesticides, perlite or other chemicals.

The ratio is pretty much up to you. 50:50 works though using soil tends to leave a dirty dragon.
-----
PHLdyPayne

Forum Princess