Best sand for play/dig box?

[Stuuuart]

I am aware that any loose substrate can cause multiple health problems. However after researching the topic I have come across many dragon owners who have a dig box for their dragon. I really want to do this because my dragon has been digging at her liner a lot recently. What is the most recommended sand to use for a dig box? Could I put sand just in her hide and keep the rest of the enclosure and feeding area clear? Or perhaps some other substrate would be safer? Maybe millet or potting soil? Thanks :}

 

[Varalidaine]

You can try stuffing her hide with fleece strips. People use them for their hedgehogs, rats, hamsters, etc and are readily available in fun colors on Etsy. For my dragons dig box, I used millet seed. I bought an extra large water bowl and filled it partially with millet. My dragon never uses it and prefers to dig at his tile in his cave. You could try alfalfa pellets as well. There's also a really cool product called Excavators Clay by Zoo Med. It's a loose sand that you mix with water, then you shape it into anything you want like a burrow or cave, and then it dries hard. I feel this would be great for dragons as it isn't loose, so if they licked it they wouldn't be ingesting it, but it's like compact earth so they could still dig at and form their own little burrow. Once I upgrade my dragons tank his substrate will be tile and I'll make cave out the Excavator Clay s he can burrow away as he likes. Look up some videos of it on YouTube, it seems pretty neat and would make for a good dig-corner or something

 

[Stuuuart]

You can try stuffing her hide with fleece strips. People use them for their hedgehogs, rats, hamsters, etc and are readily available in fun colors on Etsy. For my dragons dig box, I used millet seed. I bought an extra large water bowl and filled it partially with millet. My dragon never uses it and prefers to dig at his tile in his cave. You could try alfalfa pellets as well. There's also a really cool product called Excavators Clay by Zoo Med. It's a loose sand that you mix with water, then you shape it into anything you want like a burrow or cave, and then it dries hard. I feel this would be great for dragons as it isn't loose, so if they licked it they wouldn't be ingesting it, but it's like compact earth so they could still dig at and form their own little burrow. Once I upgrade my dragons tank his substrate will be tile and I'll make cave out the Excavator Clay s he can burrow away as he likes. Look up some videos of it on YouTube, it seems pretty neat and would make for a good dig-corner or something

Thanks for the suggestions! I have a hedgehog and he has a dig box filled with fleece strips. I didn't even think of trying it for my dragon lol. Thanks. :}

 

[HKzForDayz]

IMO, childrens play sand is the best sand .

 

[Stuuuart]

IMO, childrens play sand is the best sand .

Thanks !

 

[Taterbug]

I used play sand as well for my first guy, it was just inside his hide to give him a soft spot to nest down for bed. Bioactive soil (a sand/soil mix that uses cleaner bugs) is a good option too but a bit of work/learning to setup.