N3LRX":36likuzt said:
I've got some repti-sand in my enclosure and I want it out. It's reddish colour and it has gotten into my beardies skin and he's reddish just like the sand. I read in a book that sand is better for them so I was wondering if plain white play sand would do? I don't know how to get the red out of his skin, hopefully it will come out when he sheds. I've bathed him once and he still looks like a cooked lobster. He's not too happy about getting bathed so I did not push the issue and force him to take the treatment. I just adopted him last week so I did not want to give him any reason to hate me or get him too stressed out.
Would the reptile liner available at pet stores be better? I'm a bit confused due to conflicting information about bedding. I'd prefer the liner as it is easier to take care of but I want what's best for him.
I recently switched my substrate from the red sand to tile. I've also tried repti carpet and crickets tend to get under it and it smells terrible. Tile is by far the best I have used. It is easy to clean, just a wet paper towel for spot cleaning, and a bleach water soak and rinse for full cleaning. Plus there is no impaction risk, it holds little bacteria compared to sand, and it absorbs heat fine. If you decide to use tile heres what I would do:
-Pick up some large flooring tiles (pretty much any type is fine just make sure it isn't too slick), or non adhesive shelf liner (I've never used this but many recommend it.
--Put down some sort of absorbent barrier on the viv bottom. (I used some extra repti carpet which works great.) This really helps with cleaning.
---Place the tiles over the liquid barrier, and furniture of the tile.
I'm not an expert so hopefully others can offer suggestions too.