I just got him today and was planing to take the sand out once he adjusted to being here. But the sand stains him red and he is just starting a shed. He is 5 years old so sheds are not going to happen too often. I do not want his new scales to get stained red, so should I take the sand out now or wait and risk the new scales staining?
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To take out the sand or not
- Thread starter staylor
- Start date
If it was me....I'd get rid of that sand asap!! I use tile and I love it. So easy to clean too. I have heard of people who made a little area with sand because thier Beardies liked it but I have never used sand and cannot imagine how you could keep it clean. I still find loose salad under rocks and hides even with the tile!!
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I'm nooooooo expert, but I would get it out if I were you. Especially if he was not particularly well cared for, it might be yucky :-/ on top of continuing to stain him.
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I'd have to agree.
Also, bathing with baby shampoo, and scrubbing with a soft tooth brush should get most of the external color off. Just rinse well !
Hope that helps out !
Janie
Also, bathing with baby shampoo, and scrubbing with a soft tooth brush should get most of the external color off. Just rinse well !
Hope that helps out !
Janie
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- 1,538
- Location
- Philadelphia, Pa
Here's My take.
I don't use sand at all either. However I used it quite a bit my 1st year or so in the hobby.
I never used colored or calci sand because I felt the price was to high. I used sifted play sand.
The reason I got away from it was the constant cleaning and the feeling my dragon's was living in a litter box.
I used mainly non adhesive shelf liner do the the number of bins I keep.
Tile is great to.
I would just ditch it now.
I don't use sand at all either. However I used it quite a bit my 1st year or so in the hobby.
I never used colored or calci sand because I felt the price was to high. I used sifted play sand.
The reason I got away from it was the constant cleaning and the feeling my dragon's was living in a litter box.
I used mainly non adhesive shelf liner do the the number of bins I keep.
Tile is great to.
I would just ditch it now.
Thank you all. I was thinking I would take it now but was a little unsure because of how much stress he has right now. I like using paper towel. I use select-a-size so it is easy to take out the dirty piece and put down a new one and change out all once a week. Sanitize the poop areas daily and the whole thing weekly.
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Sandra.. sounds like you got a plan that works !
Janie
Janie
My first though with the "staining", is that is most likely is calcisand. Bad news. Regular washed sifted playsand is okay if you want a particle substrate (only recommended after your beardie is a year), but calcisand....not good. Can and does cause impaction issues. IMO...non particle substrates are always best.
I took out the sand and put down paper towel. Because he his used to soft sand and kind of digs in a little I shredded some paper towel and put it in his sleeping corner to make it softer for him and he seems to like it. Here is the MUCH improved viv for Oscar.
Checking it out
digging in and going to sleep
The red light is only on there b/c I have had some MAJOR light issues. The light that come with him did not survive the move home, the one we bought to replace it I dropped the whole light unit and it broke, put in one of my back up lights and it blew all on its own and this happened:
I have never had that happen before the glass came off the metal. I had to cut the wire so I could use pliers to get the metal part out of the lamp.
Checking it out
digging in and going to sleep
The red light is only on there b/c I have had some MAJOR light issues. The light that come with him did not survive the move home, the one we bought to replace it I dropped the whole light unit and it broke, put in one of my back up lights and it blew all on its own and this happened:
I have never had that happen before the glass came off the metal. I had to cut the wire so I could use pliers to get the metal part out of the lamp.
corrine said:Ever consider going to walmart and getting regular household bulbs? I buy 1 box of a few different wattages so I always have them on hand just in case I have an issue. His viv looks very nice too.
Other than the UVB bulbs (tube or otherwise), regular everyday bulbs are most definitely the way to save some money and get the same benefit. I use 100w floods and "dial" in the temps with dimmers. Takes the guess work out. I like that.
I do use regular lights. That blue and red one came with Slyder and I kept them for back ups in case I broke all my other ones, which I did. I also had a bunch of lights go out in my house as well. This has not been a good week for me and lights.
staylor said:
Seems ours tend to go like that, too. Once one blows, there always seems to be more to follow right away.
In looking back at your pics, I've had that happen to me before, too (the glass separating from the metal screw). NOT fun to remove when that happens.
