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Bearded Dragon Digging Area?

rflyn0742

Hatchling Dragon
Messages
52
I am re doing my beardies new tank and I would like to make him a little dig box area in a corner of the tank. The tank is 120 gallons, so plenty of room and I am curious what material is safe. I would really like to use sand. But should I use something less likely to cause impaction?
 

Skybug

Bearded Dragon Veteran
1,000+ Post Club
Messages
2,283
I am re doing my beardies new tank and I would like to make him a little dig box area in a corner of the tank. The tank is 120 gallons, so plenty of room and I am curious what material is safe. I would really like to use sand. But should I use something less likely to cause impaction?
If you want sand get “play sand” this is “safer” ill be honest there is no substrate that is 100% safe, there’s always a risk...
If you want to negate as much risk as possible this is what needs to be your basis,
#1 your beardie MUST be getting proper nutrition/vitamins/supplements, the main reason beardies eat their substrate is because they’re lacking in their diet (thats why sadie and mostly everyone says no loose substrate)
#2 dish feed, another reason they ingest their bedding is because when a bug runs by they might get a mouthful of substrate instead of the bug/or the bug itself will grab substrate as the beardie is taking it up.
#3 beardies lick alot when they come out of their hides in the morning, so if you have a loose substrate it needs to be not near the hide exit.
#4 start them young, its best if the beardie can be introduced to loose substrate as young as possible, this will desensitize them and youll end of having a beardie that can be taken outside/put in planter boxes, etc.

Okay now for digging substrates, by far the best way to make a digging area is to section it off like how i have in my picture you want the sand/digging material to stay in its area, I recommend making wood Partitions or doing what I did and buy some excavator clay and make a little tiny hill all around it.
Heres your options:
Play sand
Sand mixed with repti soil (ratio 70%sand to 30%soil (mess around with the ratio till you get what you desire) (you need to add water to this mix, not alot , you DO NOT want it to be wet or moist, slightly damp IS what you want)
Theres two products out right now aswell that make good for digging(although they do harden over time as they dry) “excavator clay” and “stone desert” (this bag is white and has an orange beardie on it)

Ive done all of the loose substrates except sand mixed with soil (im waiting till my beardie starts to lay eggs before i introduce that to her)

in my picture ive done the triple tryad of supposed no-nos on substrate, sand, clay, bark chip (these can be straight up deadly) i don’t recommend bark chip.
BUT i followed the 1-4 as I stated above, and have never EVER had a problem, my beardie doesnt even lick in her enclosure, only my hand when i go to pet her :)


ALL OF THIS DEPENDS ON YOUR BEARDIE, let me repeat that, all of this depends on your bearded dragon and your ability, some people have tried to do 1-4 and yet still their beardie will eat the substrate, you need to test your beardie out see what can be tolerated. I really really enjoy loose substrates.
Its makes cleaning the enclosure easier
It makes it look more natural
It offers enrichment for the lizard (and thats what’s important) i see to many people with just a lizard in box with a hide and a basking log, that offers them no stimulation :(

things to stay away from:
Calcium sand (HUGE NO-NO) I myself wouldn’t even risk it.
a substrate thats dusty.
Anything not rated “play sand” as these WILL clump in the beardies stomach and cause impaction.

I hope I haven’t scared you away from loose substrates, but really theres lots you need to do (and most people just throw their dragon in a enclosure full of dusty, fine, clumping sand)
Please do some research yourself, and if you find any other substrates I didn’t mention please let me know :)
 

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