Here again being paranoid.
So last week I took my beardie to the vet because she hadn't pooped since FEB and nothing i was doing was actually helping her to poop (numerous warm baths, apple-sauce, baby food, nothing). So they gave me a medication to help her which has tremendously (never been happier to see my beardie pooping!!)
They did bloodwork and called me today w/results, saying how her calcium levels were VERY HIGH as well as her other vitamin/protein etc levels (sorry i'm no biologist) because she's in the process of laying her eggs or about to.
Frantically I went to the store and bought a clear-tote container and some top soil (no fertilizer) as well as play sand and mixed the two with added water for her. I put her on the box in her viv when finished and she smell/lick checked it a bit but that was all (afterwards she wanted out so i let her roam/run around the house). she's been very energetic as of late. I feed her dubia (w/out supplements as per the vet), and daily salad (w/collard greens, butternut squash, apple every few days).
I checked out the posts here about dig-box building so i just wanna make sure i'm doing ok!! at first i was gonna use alfafla or flax seeds but i guess that's more for playful digging and not egg-laying?? is the sand and top soil safe?? just paranoid since its a loose substrate and all. She just turned 1 year old 2 weeks ago.
Sorry i'm such a paranoid first-time beardie owner/mom so i just want to make sure everything is ok!!!
THANK YOU FOR ANY ADVICE AND SUCH
Here's a pic of the dig/laybox setup in her 40gal;
Hi there....sand + soil is very safe, I used it for all my girls as far back as 20 years. I even prefer it to be more sand than soil since it rinses off more easily [ of both the dragon as well as the eggs ] Yours looks a bit wet....maybe it's just the picture, but you want to be sure it's not too wet.
So since your box is the small [ heightwise ] and you have it in the tank you will be best off to get the lid, cut a piece off [ about 7" X 7" ] and put the lid back on so it's more like a cave with an entrance. That will help her to feel more secluded + safe. If you don't put a lid on she will probably throw alot of the sand out. You also might even cover the sides with cardboard to help her to feel more private. If she doesn't go in on her own, you can put her in once or twice a day.
Hi there....sand + soil is very safe, I used it for all my girls as far back as 20 years. I even prefer it to be more sand than soil since it rinses off more easily [ of both the dragon as well as the eggs ] Yours looks a bit wet....maybe it's just the picture, but you want to be sure it's not too wet.
So since your box is the small [ heightwise ] and you have it in the tank you will be best off to get the lid, cut a piece off [ about 7" X 7" ] and put the lid back on so it's more like a cave with an entrance. That will help her to feel more secluded + safe. If you don't put a lid on she will probably throw alot of the sand out. You also might even cover the sides with cardboard to help her to feel more private. If she doesn't go in on her own, you can put her in once or twice a day.
Thank you for your response! I kept seeing top soil and/or sand but again, paranoia given how much ppl tell you to stay away from loose substrates (though thats for homing them really but you understand).Yeah that pic is kinda misleading i think? i added enough water just so it wouldn't collapse on her while digging. I pushed a bunch to the side and made a hole but still she was like nah so i think i'll def take your suggestions; add the lid w/ a hole and cover the sides for her
Thank you so much! i don't think she's got eggs in her tummy yet (i felt bumps along the sides but i think those were her ribs??)but i have no experience so i have no clue haha. thank you