Newspaper for Substrates???!

[Tgu]

Hey I dont know if this should he here buuutt.

My dragon is pooping and then wiping it allllll over the back glass. I currently use reptile carpet and I read on here that newspaper might work well. Laying down some on the bottom and then shredding some (I plan on making them at least an inch thick so its "shredded" but she wont eat it) and so she could poop but it would possibly be covered by more shredded newspaper from her walking. As horrible as it sounds I really need this to work because I cant take having my room smell so horrible from her wiping her poop every where.

(We assume shes a she) teto is 2 years old

Long story short I was wondering if using newspaper as a new substrate would be ok. I need something that can absorb/cover the poop because teto(my dragon) will poop when I'm at school so I can not stop her from smearing it every where. (And yes I know it will not look good but if I can fix my problem with her then I will be over the moon)
(Also I have tried using sand before but I didn't like it very much felt like I was cleaning a cat litter box that my lizard was living in)

 

[Drache613]

Moved by Moderator from General to Enclosures

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

That is understandable with the reptile carpet. It is great but hard to keep fresh smelling. I am
glad you didn't opt for sand because it isn't healthy or safe for them to "live" in.
The newspaper will be fine. Some may argue about the possibility of ink coming off on their feet,
but if it isn't wet constantly & changed out regularly I don't see the problem at all. In the past, I
have used newspaper without any problems at all.
It is very easy to keep the enclosure clean, too. As long as she doesn't eat the shredded news
paper she will do great on it. You could line the bottom with paper towels too just to help with
absorbing any moisture also. Then shred up some newspaper to put on top.

Tracie

 

[Tgu]

Hello,

That is understandable with the reptile carpet. It is great but hard to keep fresh smelling. I am
glad you didn't opt for sand because it isn't healthy or safe for them to "live" in.
The newspaper will be fine. Some may argue about the possibility of ink coming off on their feet,
but if it isn't wet constantly & changed out regularly I don't see the problem at all. In the past, I
have used newspaper without any problems at all.
It is very easy to keep the enclosure clean, too. As long as she doesn't eat the shredded news
paper she will do great on it. You could line the bottom with paper towels too just to help with
absorbing any moisture also. Then shred up some newspaper to put on top.

Tracie

Thanks!!!

 

[CooperDragon]

I agree, newspaper and butcher paper are good disposable options and are fairly good at absorbing wet poops. In this case I'd go with that until you can get her trained to go in the afternoon when you are home from school. Then either keep using it or move to something like non adhesive shelf liner that you can clean and sanitize easily (but is also cheap and disposable).