Sand question! Please help!

[David42]

So I know everyone's all against sand and right now I'm using Calcium sand, my beardies been fine on it and I clean it all the time. The only problem is when he poops I scoop out all the sand around it just to keep it clean. Well I'm running low on sand and this sand is very expensive. So what are my other sand options? I know there's play sand but what type? Bleached or not bleached? I just want cheep Sand that's easy to replace.

 

[hiTimothy]

ALL sands pose a risk to impaction to your dragon.
I myself make a litter box for him full of play sand, and put it on the cool side of his enclosure and place his food bowl on top of it.
He poops in the sand and that makes it easier for me to clean, while the rest of his substrate is reptile carpet.

Even play sand that is safe for children have warning labels.
Since your dragon is so close to the ground, he will be basically breathing in the small particles, which on many warning labels say long exposures can lead to lung/breathing problems that can become fatal.

Sand is easy to clean, but it's not worth the risk.
He may be okay for now, but down the road, who really knows.
It's better to be safe than sorry.

Use tile, where you can easily spot clean and you don't have to remove it entirely like you do carpet. Though carpet is also another great option

 

[David42]

Alright, yea I had carpet but that's a hassle to clean now that he's larger. But thats a very good idea with the sand. Could you post a few pictures of your enclosure so I could get an idea of what yours looks like. I may actually consider doing that!

 

[hiTimothy]

Alright, yea I had carpet but that's a hassle to clean now that he's larger. But thats a very good idea with the sand. Could you post a few pictures of your enclosure so I could get an idea of what yours looks like. I may actually consider doing that!

http://www.beardeddragon.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=197148
I made a post about it before, I included the link ^

 

[ryan4233]

I used sand for about a month. my beardie was fine on it and never got impacted because i bath him everyday (he wont drink any water so thats how he hydrates) and i fed him away from the sand. i switched back to reptile carpet and he is so much more active on the reptile carpet. so i suggest never using sand because even if they arent impacted they are not as active and lively