Plantation soil mixed with sand?

[Maxx87]

Hello.

After i visit a petstore i got advice to use exo terra plantation soil mixed with fine sand 50/50.

I took the exo terra plantation soil and let it be in water for 30 min, then i mixed sand into it.

After 24 hours it still not hard in the terrarium, and when my beardie climbs around it been messy. He have also eat and tasted some of it....

Think im going to take it out again, but What should i now buy as a substrate?

Earlier on my old bearded dragon i had sand carpet. But it was to mutch mess so clean up and the poo got stuckt everywhere.

Happy for some advice

 

[VenusAndSaturn]

You need rough slate tiles, usually two 16x16 pieces or two 18x18 pieces work. Or you can go with non adhesive shelf liner or white paper towels. Partical substrates should not be used for the entire tank. It can cause impaction, bad joints, get in their eyes, and tons of other terrible things.

Personally i have two 16x16 on each side of my juveniles 75 gallon tank with a small 16x16 area in the middle used for digging and egg laying which is organic potting soil. However she doesnt use it for digging nor egg laying yet. She dug in it the first day never used it again so having a dig area 24/7 is mostly useless same with the egg laying portion as she is too young and not gravid so im planning to buy anothr 16x16 tile to go over it.

However providing a dig area in burmation or when gravid can be useful.

 

[Maxx87]

I see, it was mixed with more soil then sand.
Everything is closed now so he have to go on it until the shops open again so i can buy tiles.

So i cant have any loose substrat at all?

Last time i added paper towel as substrate my old bearded dragon eats it ?

Hope it goes well for her, and im going to pick up some tiles and put inside the hole botton when the shops open again.

 

[VenusAndSaturn]

No loose substrate at all mostly, unless you have a 75 gallon or larger which then you can provide a dig area for females when gravid (having eggs).

Not entirely sure why your beardie would eat it, however i advise you take out that substrate, and put paper towels or newspaper down to limit the amount of substrate he/she digests until you get tiles.

 

[3magpie3]

There are quite a few people that use a soil/sand mix. But the dragon has to be 100% healthy and your set up has to be on point. What are your basking temps, and what type of UVB do you have?

 

[Maxx87]

I have observe her today and she dont taste or eat it no more. Probably Just curious when it was new.

The Pet store had her on sand with a few cages and some Wood stocks, she have been there for two months only. Could the damage already be done? She looks fine and health, poop is ok but the while part in the poop is liquid. Dont know why.

Yes tiles is the way to do it.

 

[Maxx87]

There are quite a few people that use a soil/sand mix. But the dragon has to be 100% healthy and your set up has to be on point. What are your basking temps, and what type of UVB do you have?

Yes i like the nature look and that i can build it high some places. I use arcadia hid bulb with heat and uv in the same bulb 100w. On the sun spot she have 40c temperature.
Cold side id around 22 on Daytime and 19 at night in the hole terrarium.

She seems healthy and is in good shape. But why is the White part in the poop Just liquid? She seems very calm and she eat crickets and salat. The poo is a bean that is a bit green.