Digging Juveniles

[Vanesssa]

I have a 5 mo old bearded dragon that likes or wants to dig. Because there is risks when it comes to substrates is there anything I ca

n use right now?

 

[Sadie]

I have a 5 mo old bearded dragon that likes or wants to dig. Because there is risks when it comes to substrates is there anything I caView attachment 29982n use right now?

Dig Box-- playsand, a mix of playsand and vermiculite, or potting soil that doesn't have any fertilizers or other junk in it.

 

[Vanesssa]

If I am using soils would I not just use the coconut husk (

Zoo Med Eco Earth Loose Coconut Fiber Substrate)​

 

[Rusty]

If I am using soils would I not just use the coconut husk (

Zoo Med Eco Earth Loose Coconut Fiber Substrate)​

I did some research,
Could not find a straight answer, what i came up with is, if your not super diligent with substrate, don't use it.
My dragon is full grown 12 yrs old and, i recently added the fiber substrate to 1/2 his tank,
He did taste it, he did dig in in it, and now he sits on it when warm, so substrate is a personal choice, do your homework, and best of luck

 

[Skybug]

If your dragon gets hand fed, or dish fed, substrate is totally fine, the MAIN reasons substrates can be bad Are: feeding on substrate, the dragon doesn’t have good vitamins (he’ll eat his substrate to gain trace minerals) ,bacteria , and just having the wrong kinds, if u we’re u id get a tub to start off with, so you can easily remove it if its not working out, if I could make some recommendations, first of dont just use a single substrate (coco fibers good) but you want a mix, “play sand” is the only safe sand i use, potting soil is good (NO fertilizers, vermiculite, pearlite, “hydro balls”)


If i were to recommend the “perfect mix” itd be something like this: 20%sand, 30-40% coco fiber/potting soil, some dead leaf matter, spagnum moss, some bark pieces, now you can get things from outside, if you and the kids go foraging for sticks and bark make shure they get BAKED in ur oven at no hotter than 200degrees F, to kill off bugs and germs… if u have any questions let me know ive had my 3 lizards in “semi-bioactives” since i got them, so I know generally what’s okay…

 

[Vanesssa]

Thank you so much Sky bug and Rusty I really appreciate it.