thoughts on loose substrate

[baldegale14]

just wanna see everyones thoughts on loose substrate, not sand, but moreso a 70/30 organic top soil to play sand mix


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[Janelle]

I don't mess with loose substrate. First, there's always the risk of impaction. Sure, it may never happen, but just that there's a risk there is enough to make me stay away. Jayne licks everything! Second is the mess. I hear stories of the dirty beardies, the dirt everywhere. Third is the cleanliness. When Jayne poops, it's so easy to see and assess the health of it, and it's super easy to wipe it up off the tile. No lingering mess, stink, etc. Fourth is the humidity. Tile doesn't hold humidity in it or grow mold, etc, if kept clean and dry. Fifth, tile helps keep her nails filed. So that's just an added benefit I wouldn't have with loose substrate.

If Jayne ever shows evidence of infertile eggs, I'll give her a lay box within her enclosure. That is the only case I can think of where I would ever use a loose substrate.

 

[BeardedHippy]

I have used an outback mix ,which is mostly clay soil. While there is little to no impaction risk with soil I stopped using it primarily because of the mess and the bacterial possibilty. It got everywhere, most annoyingly in the glass door runners. I think it would have needed changing or steam sterilizing once every couple of months, just to be on the safe side.
Too many people think that because beardies are desert critters that they should be on sand, but in their natural environment there is no sand, just soil.

 

[baldegale14]

I have used an outback mix ,which is mostly clay soil. While there is little to no impaction risk with soil I stopped using it primarily because of the mess and the bacterial possibilty. It got everywhere, most annoyingly in the glass door runners. I think it would have needed changing or steam sterilizing once every couple of months, just to be on the safe side.
Too many people think that because beardies are desert critters that they should be on sand, but in their natural environment there is no sand, just soil.

straight sand is horrible, no way around it, the sand in the soil mix is so it’s not as particulate, snd itll hold burrows a little more. a REALLY good mix is like 33/33/33 mix of soil, sand, and excavator clay


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[PatsyB]

I'm coming around to the more bio side of things. I don't do bio yet for the beardies but know people that do and love it. A mix of organic soil and sand is good. Make sure you load it up with some isopods.

 

[baldegale14]

I'm coming around to the more bio side of things. I don't do bio yet for the beardies but know people that do and love it. A mix of organic soil and sand is good. Make sure you load it up with some isopods.

im with you on that. i already have done this but i wanted to see peoples PoVs. usually everyone complains about impaction risks but realistically if your temps and humidity and everything else is correct impaction is a very very small risk.


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[Stephen Baker]

My pet shop gave me corn cob granules. My Beardies only 2 months old I think bit risky? May change to carpet as already have some aside