Substrate Opinions?

[Leisl Seigler]

Hi all! My beardie currently has reptile carpet in his tank, but he's getting a bigger home soon (yay!). I thought about getting sand for him because I thought he might like it more, but I've heard it can constipate them. Opinions or personal experience advice would be so appreciated!

 

[puffthedragon]

I wouldnt. I rescued a 3 year old female in march and Im still trying to get the sand stains off her. It stains them, can cause impaction, harbor bacteria and its MESSY. Dust is everywhere, on everything. Its just gross.
She was orange when we rescued her, shes definitely not orange anymore, except the parts of her that are so severely stained she has to shed a few more times to get it off.

 

[Hdrydr31]

Yes I would suggest and we always recommend having no loose substrate.. less odors, less mess, no eye irritation, no impaction, no staining of the dragon...
Tile, repticarpet, shelf liner, paper towels are all better choices.

 

[Jess.MarksWife]

Yes I would suggest and we always recommend having no loose substrate.. less odors, less mess, no eye irritation, no impaction, no staining of the dragon...
Tile, repticarpet, shelf liner, paper towels are all better choices.

What about alfalfa? That's what we use because if he eats it, it won't hurt him (which he doesn't really eat it) but want to be safe than sorry. I heard sand was the worst thing to use such as walnut shell sand.. (Not really sure of the proper name for that?) But we've always used alfalfa as his substrate.

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[Hdrydr31]

What about alfalfa? That's what we use because if he eats it, it won't hurt him (which he doesn't really eat it) but want to be safe than sorry. I heard sand was the worst thing to use such as walnut shell sand.. (Not really sure of the proper name for that?) But we've always used alfalfa as his substrate.

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I guess if you really want a substrate it's not a bad choice, we just don't promote any loose substrate here on the forum as we get many new owners and loose substrate really should only be done in ideal/perfect husbandry to avoid any issues...
Yes sand can be really devastating to the digestive track especially of young dragons.. Crushed walnut shells can be very irregular in shape causing damage to the digestive track.
So here on the forum we promote: Ceramic tile, repti carpet, shelf liner, paper towels, newspaper

 

[PatsyB]

I don't know enough about alfalfa pellets to say yes or no. If alfalfa pellets expand when they get wet, I would say they are a bad choice because you don't want them expanding in your beardies stomach. I never harp on the impaction risks of loose supstrates, except walnut shells, those are sharp, with proper hydration people can successfully have loose substrate with no impaction problem. Things like sand that can absorb water, pose a bacterial issue because they will absorb all the liquid part of the fecal matter. No mater if you pick it up right way, there is still some liquid somewhere in that substrate that soaked in.

I want to add to Hdrydr31's list, excavator clay is a good option too if you are looking for something that is natural looking. You can mold it how you want and then it hardens and if you get it wet you can remold it.

 

[Leisl Seigler]

okay I think I'll stay with the repticarpet. Thanks everyone!


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[BeardiesandBaseball]

I use repticarpet because when my beardie poops in her terrarium (it has happened a few times) it is really annoying to clean it up, when with repticarpet you can wipe it off. It also is such a pain to scoop up when you replace it every few weeks!

 

[Twinkie13]

Shelf liner for me. Super easy...can come in colors.
I know/think people want to have some "wild/natural" look.....I get it. You get over very quick once you realize how easy the substrates the mods talked up....
Repot carpet can get nasty I think....I'd go with newspaper or really clean white printer paper if one wants "looks".....

I am blessed in that my boy waits for a bath and dumps in there. Talk about awesome.....his home STAYS clean...

I would recommend trying this form of potty training to everyone to give it a go....trust me, I've been "baptized" and had to do the whole, "sorry I can't take him out and show him to you because he hasn't pooped yet"....LOL, we have ALL done that one hahahaah

 

[Hdrydr31]

Yep both of my 40gal breeder tanks I use ceramic tiles super easy. Both of mine refuse to poop in their tanks they poop while in the sink for their baths, they will start doing that I gotta poop dance (you'll know when you see it) but you will actually learn their habits and you will know when they should be ready to go. My female will often go a good week between unless she's decided to eat more bugs.. My male will go every 3-4 days.

 

[Leisl Seigler]

Yep both of my 40gal breeder tanks I use ceramic tiles super easy. Both of mine refuse to poop in their tanks they poop while in the sink for their baths, they will start doing that I gotta poop dance (you'll know when you see it) but you will actually learn their habits and you will know when they should be ready to go. My female will often go a good week between unless she's decided to eat more bugs.. My male will go every 3-4 days.

Yeah Smaug is very regular. He goes in his tank occasionally, but he refuses to go in his baths haha. Usually, he goes about 1-2 minutes after I get him out. It never fails, doesn't matter how long he soaks.


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