Alfalfa Pellets for a Digging Box? *Dig Box added... Pics!*

[Robin79]

@Robin: Hehe, thanks!
I wanted to make Dudley's like that to match his basking platform, but I decided it would take too long to make LOL. But yeah, that would be a great idea.
How old are they? Personally, I would wait until they are at least juvies or sub-adults to give them a digging box, if they aren't already that old. But you could experiment with both, and see which one they like best.

@Laura: I tried a teeny tiny kitten litter box that I found, but the edges were a little high for Dud to climb over. A tin cake pan is a good idea too though. The new one I found for Dudley looks like it is supposed to be some kind of serving plate/bowl? I got it at a thrift store for $1 LOL. It has a funky shape, so I should get a pic of it soon!

Alfie isn't much more than 8 weeks old and sheik is no older than 6 weeks, I'll probably start making it over the next week and put it in empty to see they they adjust to it =] I feel bad for Alfie though because he loves digging. Everytime I put new kitchen roll down he was straight to the corner messing all my hard work up :/ He stood there looking very proud of himself too lol I'll probably try the seed if I do because I would worry about them choking on a pellet.

 

[Jess]

Aww, so they're just little guys! :love5: Just be careful and make sure he doesn't accidentally eat it then, if you are going to let him dig when he is still tiny. Millet isn't supposed to taste good, so I don't think he would eat it on purpose at least, LOL.

Be sure to post pics when you are finished!

 

[Robin79]

Yeah I will do, I watch them all the time lol so if i catch him going for a seedy snack they'll be out of there :mrgreen:
Going to wickes tomorrow to see if I can get the stuff and i'll keep you all posted

Here's a pictures of Sheik I took this evening

 

[Robin79]

So I couldn't find everything I needed in our hardware store so had to use my artistic talent! Cut the lid of a DSi box and balled up kitchen roll in it for a bed/dig thing. Alfie promptly responded his gratitude by relieving his bowels on it :/ good thing I spotted it and cleaned it because they both curled up to sleep in it together lastnight

 

[Jess]

Aww, he's adorable! That's cute that they slept in it.

 

[BadCon]

This thread motivated me to give my female a dig box. Took her a couple days to make sure the box wasn't a threat, but after she acclimated, this resulted...
After about 2 minutes

All done...

She's now on the other side of the enclosure giving me the "why don't you clean that look?". Great, another way for her to make a mess
Ignore the romaine, need to go to the store for greens

 

[lauraj1055]

haha, Mine loves his dig box too.. I ended up getting on that had a little higher sides so the pellets don't go all over... it's funny because now he stands up in it and thows his arms over the sides and just 'hangs' and looks out the glass.

 

[Jess]

LOL, she is so cute!! :lol: It looks like she approves. Has she tried to taste the alfalfa pellets yet? I'm wondering if all beardies think they are nasty, or if it is just Dudley.

BTW, my rabbit has the same litter box! At first I had gotten a mini version of it for Dud, but the little fatty had issues getting in/out of it. :roll:

Dudley sits in his a couple hours a day now. He doesn't usually dig in it very much, he just likes laying in it.

 

[BadCon]

She gave them a lick...but doesn't seem to be interested in eating them. They taste pretty bad...(don't ask how I know :lol. As for getting in and out, she doesn't have any trouble. She is a good climber though and loves to scale whatever she can. Now that she's used the box, I'm actually thinking about something that's deeper. She was furiously digging until she hit the bottom of the tub...then she switched sides and started again. I'm thinking a deeper box might present more of a challenge. I'm just worried about her getting buried inadvertently.
I'll see how often she uses this one and go from there.

 

[GlueStick]

This seems like an interesting topic. My aussie loves to dig and back in the day, playsand did him in with an accumulated $800 vet bill. So... maybe I will try either millet or alfafa.

I do not think I would evevr cover a heavy lizard with any loose subtrate or millet on the topic of uromastyx using millet or any animal using sand. Its not only an impaction risk or parasite risk but... for lizards that are heavy bodied like that, it certainly causes a lot of joint stress if you ever think about how exhauting it is to walk across areas of the beach that is heavy with light and loose sand.

 

[Jess]

Well, I did just discover one draw-back to alfalfa pellets: Since Dudley smells like them now, my rabbit seems to recognize him as a food source and follows him around trying to eat him if I let him run around. :lol: Rabbit-less house holds shouldn't experience this problem though!

 

[BadCon]

That's pretty freaking funny Jess! I did notice the smell of the pellets too. I couldn't find any millet, but if I do I'll probably switch. I do like the fact that she hasn't tried to eat any of the alfalfa pellets...its reassuring knowing she doesn't like them. They are very digestible though should she take a nibble. But you're right....it makes them smell like rabbit food :?

 

[Jess]

Rabbit food smells better than Dudley's normal smell, IMO. It's just slightly hazardous for him!

 

[BadCon]

Well after adding the dig box for Bacon, my female dragon, she has potty trained herself. Not one time after adding the dig box has she gone to the bathroom anywhere else BUT the digbox. I'm flabbergasted...she simply loves pooping in the box. Makes cleanup a breeze! I'm one happy owner right about now...especially considering how messy she used to be .

 

[Jess]

LOL, she's litter box trained! :lol: Dudley loves to sleep in his, so he hasn't pooped in it so far.