question about bearded dragon substrate?...

[doughnuthipster]

hi everybody just to start off I'm new to the forums and I don't know where I'm actually supposed to put my questions at so I'm just going to start off here alright well first off I just recently built a homemade bearded dragon enclosure out of paneling and pexi glass and my dragon seems to stay pretty dark when he's in the tank I don't know if this is a heat thing but when he goes to sleep he returns to his somewhat normal color so if you have any suggestions on why that is can you tell me? and for my other question I'm trying to find a safer alternative to sand I recently got some bedding from a store that says for reptiles its natural pine pellets and I don't know that say for not So im going post a link to the product that I bought for people with more experience to look over and thank you for all your help! Here's the product I bought http://www.amazon.com/PlanetWise-Cozy-Fresh-Pellet-Litter/dp/B000QSQWBW/ref=cm_cr_pr_pb_t

 

[CooperDragon]

They can change color for a lot of reasons. My guess on this one is your dragon is trying to pull in heat. What are the temperatures in your enclosure at the basking spot and on the cool side of the tank, and how are you measuring them?

As for substrate, I suggest a solid substrate that is easy to clean. I use ceramic tile and it works very well. Non-adhesive shelf liner also works very well. Both options are cheap and easy to clean.

 

[RockSteady]

slate tile is the best, its textured, looks nice, holds heat well. Most of my tanks are done with slate tile.

ive used marble slabs in a few tanks with great effect.

lose substrate can work, just aslong as its sifted play sand or birdseed (the tiny ball kernel kind cant remember the name)

anything else runs the risk of impaction.

ive also used zoomed excavator clay, its expensive, but sooooo worth it. It could cause impaction, but i havent had any problems with it

 

[RockSteady]

also i should mention that pine is poisonous to reptiles if large amounts are ingested.

also the fact that it absorbs the "fluids" raises concerns, after enough time some of these pellets will be bacteriological bombs just waiting to be ingested.

just my 2 cents, id stay away from it.

 

[doughnuthipster]

They can change color for a lot of reasons. My guess on this one is your dragon is trying to pull in heat. What are the temperatures in your enclosure at the basking spot and on the cool side of the tank, and how are you measuring them?

As for substrate, I suggest a solid substrate that is easy to clean. I use ceramic tile and it works very well. Non-adhesive shelf liner also works very well. Both options are cheap and easy to clean.

the cool side stays from 85 to 90 and the hot side stays around 100 110 here are some pics of my enclosure and the one with the rock structure is that is what I'm going to add to my enclosure http://m.imgur.com/jnNBUip,XMzdeKq,nIihSc3,oLVPKjh

 

[doughnuthipster]

also i should mention that pine is poisonous to reptiles if large amounts are ingested.

also the fact that it absorbs the "fluids" raises concerns, after enough time some of these pellets will be bacteriological bombs just waiting to be ingested.

just my 2 cents, id stay away from it.

do you think it would be safe enough to put in a dig box because he is trying to burrow himself through the floor lol

 

[diamc]

Hi, I noticed that he is way over in the corner in one of the pictures. Does he do that often?

I could see a fluorescent tube at the very top of the enclosure, is that a Repti-Sun 10.0 and is it a high output bulb? Is the coil bulb a UVB or just a standard coil bulb?

Unfortunately, the round gauge (dial) thermometers are very inaccurate and can be off as much as 20 degrees. The only 2 ways to get accurate readings are with either an infrared temp gun or a digital with a long wire & probe end. They can turn darker when they are not happy with something like lighting, temps, etc.

I would be worried about using that pine bedding. I noticed that one of the reviews stated that "it gave off a nice pine scent" so that would be concerning as well as the fact that it absorbs fluids which could breed bacteria. So, ingesting it or breathing in the vapors from the pine smell seems like it could be very dangerous even if only used in a dig box.