Real thoughts about sand?

[Atrain87]

I realize that most people shun sand at all ages, especially with young bearded dragons, but I was just wondering if there is any real chance of an adult bearded dragon being harmed if proper sand was used. Does anyone have any stories about bad or good expierences with sand. What is the minimium length the beardie needs to be before it is placed on it. I really like the looks but obviously would not use it unless It was safe. Any thoughts welcome.
Thanks

 

[AMHaak]

All I can say is that it is bad at any age. I have never used sand, so I would not know first hand. I did have a friend who had a 3 year old male, and he was eating the sand which caused an impaction. I would say just not to use it, so you can avoid any problems.

 

[Fatehand]

Every beardie that me or anyone ive ever known personally has had, had sand as a substrate the entire course of their lives and we have never had a case of impaction.

I think people have heard one or two horror stories and barred it form their minds forever. As long as the right kind of sand is used it is not a problem......in my opinion that is :0

 

[cheekybeardie]

Hi there. I completely avoided sand when my beardie was a baby (she's now nearly three) I have been using sand since she was 1yr old and never had a problem with it. I always avoided the sand that had calcium in it as she had a tendency to try and lick it so we soon got rid of that. I suppose you may want to go on the majority of people's experiences on this website as everyone's is different. We sometimes use woodchips as she tends to find this quite cosy to sleep on. I would ask more people's opinions as the advice on this website is 1st class and extremely helpful.

Best wishes

 

[Callahan9119]

Don't dragons love to dig? I'm unsure what I'm going to do when mine is grown, I probably will stick to slate, but it never seems clean because if you take a wet towel to it it's always "dirty".

 

[GoFast]

wow....if you know it's shunned then why even ask? It's like saying I know it's bad to cross the freeway but do you think it would be ok if i did it? Have you looked around the boards at all? This question gets asked 50 times a week and the answers are always the same. Take a few minutes and look around. If after that you haven't found the answer to your question...then ask

 

[Callahan9119]

Well, lots of people think it's just hysteria, especially when you see just about every dragon in a sand enclosure on the net. Just google "bearded dragon cage" and check images, almost all the pet sites I went to have similar pictures. I don't know if all the talk is simply due to the fact that people who have problems will typically go online and talk about it, and a lizard doing fine will hardly get an equal share of the press. It's like the phenomenon of kidnapper hysteria, you have a greater chance statistically of being hit by lightening rather than having your child abducted.

That said, I won't leave my daughter unattended, and I don't think I will use sand, even though I doubt it would harm an adult unless your unlucky.

I'd prefer to remove any variables that could risk my little dudes health, so I think I'll stick with the slate.

 

[spurlee01]

I wouldn't use sand in my girl's viv for a couple of reasons
1. She still (at 8 months/ 19 inches) licks quite a lot and I would worry about ingestion. I would not put a dragon under 1 year on sand, but I know a lot of people say 10 or 11 inches.
2. It has a litterbox effect. In other words, the germs from BMs can spread out in the sand and even sand that looks clean can be contaminated. Plus, my girl tends to have a lot of liquid around her poop, so that would be near impossible to get all out. I would think it'd start to smell.
Obviously if you do use sand, use only the sifted play sand. Change it frequently. I really don't know how frequently is enough. Feed outside of the tank only to reduce the chance of impaction. And obviously, this may seem like a duh but I've had to tell people before: if you see your dragon eating sand or suspect that he is, take it out.
Sara

 

[Callahan9119]

Yeah, I had sand the first day, I saw him navy seal a cricket from his perch and it looked like he may have got some in his mouth, I got slate the next day.

It's amazing how fast your thrown to the wolves the minute you leave petsmart, the happy employees waving goodbye. Then you get home and learn everything you read was wrong, and your in for a ride. I have just had corn snakes and such, this is a whole other bag.

They are so worth it though, amazing creatures. My girlfriend loves the guy, supervising the bath :lol: ...she wont touch him yet though ; a surly iguana she saw gave her a phobia :roll:

 

[spurlee01]

My boyfriend won me over having me watch the dragon take a bath. He promised there was no possible way he could get out of his little tub, but of course he jumps out, right into my hand and I fell in love with the little guy.

 

[Atrain87]

wow....if you know it's shunned then why even ask? It's like saying I know it's bad to cross the freeway but do you think it would be ok if i did it? Have you looked around the boards at all? This question gets asked 50 times a week and the answers are always the same. Take a few minutes and look around. If after that you haven't found the answer to your question...then ask

Well clearly people still want to talk about it so why is it such a big problem for you. If you dont like the post why do you take the time to reply to them. I thought this website was supposed to be informational, and yes I could have searched other post and found it but I wanted a personal response. I got 8 other post that were helpful but you act like I am offending you by posting on this site. That is what the post are for and I will continue to post this or any other question that I feel like and I would appriciate it if you dont have any helpful information that you just dont post at all.

 

[GoFast]

wow....if you know it's shunned then why even ask? It's like saying I know it's bad to cross the freeway but do you think it would be ok if i did it? Have you looked around the boards at all? This question gets asked 50 times a week and the answers are always the same. Take a few minutes and look around. If after that you haven't found the answer to your question...then ask

Well clearly people still want to talk about it so why is it such a big problem for you. If you dont like the post why do you take the time to reply to them. I thought this website was supposed to be informational, and yes I could have searched other post and found it but I wanted a personal response. I got 8 other post that were helpful but you act like I am offending you by posting on this site. That is what the post are for and I will continue to post this or any other question that I feel like and I would appriciate it if you dont have any helpful information that you just dont post at all.

You said in your original post, and i quote, "Any thoughts welcome." I gave you my thoughts. Explain to me what your issue is now

 

[Atrain87]

Im sorry, let me rephrase that, Any thoughts about SAND welcome. Im not trying to start a fight but people have the right to post whatever they want to. I just dont like it when someone acts like they are the king of the post and must have a say in what can and cannot be talked about anymore. I apologize if it came off rude but I dont see how me asking a simple question can be so bothersome to anyone. 99.9% of the stuff on here before has been talked about at one time or another, I am aware that this is a hot topic but whats wrong with a few more opinions?

 

[cheekybeardie]

There shouldn't be any unfriendly comments made on this website so lets keep it that way. The guy who originally posted this only wanted some direct contact with those who had opinions on using the sand and he doesn't deserve to be snapped at so please no more nasty comments to a person who only has concerns for his beardies. Its true that some people say def no to sand and some who who say its ok. He only wanted discuss this and we should be helping him and not calling him lazy! Its unfair. We leave bitchy and unhelpful comments to those *****s who have nothing better to do than gp on you tube and argue with one another. So come on people, be nice!

 

[GoFast]

Im sorry, let me rephrase that, Any thoughts about SAND welcome. Im not trying to start a fight but people have the right to post whatever they want to. I just dont like it when someone acts like they are the king of the post and must have a say in what can and cannot be talked about anymore. I apologize if it came off rude but I dont see how me asking a simple question can be so bothersome to anyone. 99.9% of the stuff on here before has been talked about at one time or another, I am aware that this is a hot topic but whats wrong with a few more opinions?

I am not acting like the king of anything nor am I trying to start a fight. The bothersome part of your post is that you stated you already know most people are against it but wanted to know if people were against it. You took a topic that you are well aware of how many times it has been talked about and discussed at incredible lengths already and brought it up again by asking a question that has already been given. That is why it bothered me. You are right about being able to post up whatever you want. So go ahead and continue posting up new threads about topics that have been beat to death over and over again and clutter up the boards some more.

Perhaps I will start a new thread on crickets. I'll call it " Can my by beardie eat crickets?" I'll start the post off with "I know this has been discussed many times already but can I feed them to my dragon." See how frustrating that could get??