WHO USES SAND?!

[MarcusAlan]

Lets not forget that most of us are not trying to match their natural habitat. They live less long in the wild. Their live in captivity expands more and more as more information is passed among us and we use new methods.

Captive bearded dragons are not zoo animals on display.
They are pets for us to love and care for.

 

[RedInkAus]

True there sand will not be the same as ours here in australia thats probably why its best if they use tiles etc. My sand is the same a pain in the butt to get out having to use a paint scraper or a egg lifter with some force to get it out. I'm in Mildura victoria near the nsw border.

Great work mate, a fellow Victorian (well barely lol being on the border). You could just pretty much drive out bush and get the sand/soil for free If you do though remember too wash and bake it a few times to clean it of parasites, nothing like getting unlimited supplies for free.

 

[sarahb]

I think it's what ever floats your boat really. I use tile and now I am actually using coconut bark, and Reo LOVES it. She would rather play in the coconut shells then be at her basking light. I know there is probably alot of issues concerning coconut shells but I don't care. Reo likes and she can't swallow it.

 

[Twobeardieguy]

Tom are the coconut shells small or big? Just wondering!!

 

[Dantro]

For anyone wanting a "poo" in the bath.................just wait, it'll come. We do it almost every day, and if I can't, then Paper towels in the far end get the "dump". In the bath is the best -- and remember they are getting the hydration of water during that time. Be patient!!

It seems strange that one minute we're talking about 'Natural enviroments' and beardies then we move on to giving them baths?! ... How natural is a beardie in a bath!? LOl!

 

[Lock1888]

I have questioned the use of sand as well. I was going to go with tile. My aunt is a vet and I have heard stories of impaction in dogs and lost one to impaction, he was very old though.

I did how ever read in a book that substrate that is too hard/firm could cause bent tows. Again I am still leaning towards tile after my beardie (which I do not have yet) reaches a certain age. repti carpet for the young age. Although I also read that the tow nails can get caught in the carpet so i am kind of at a stand still.

P.S that book I read is http://www.borders.com/online/store/TitleDetail?sku=1882770595

 

[mamba]

hi everyone i really dont reccomend sand at all i use to own a female bearded dragon who died from impaction!!!!! i used sand till she pushed her intestines out of her vent from pushing so hard,she did this 5 times,look at my posts im telling someone what happened to her,sand is bad man stay away is all i can say.

I've talked to many breeders of bearded dragons here in australia, They all believe if a beardy does get impaction from sand its not the sand at fault its the husbandry the person is giving the dragon. They believe the dragon is missing something in the husbandry which is causing the sand not to pass through the dragon. They also said if you worry to much over humidity in the enclosure you could also do damage to the dragon. If the enclosure has lots of condensation then theres a problem but if its dry and the dragon is eatting,pooing,active,alert,basking etc theres no need to worry. Out in the wild every morning you will see droplets of water on the plants the ground is damp. You will also find that they bask in the morning and when it gets too hot they move into a bush away from the sun then come back out when they get too cold. I live in beardy country and in the summer temps are in the 38 degrees celsius with some days reaching 46 degrees celsius. Like i said before if a bearded dragon sits there eatting sand non stop well then i would reccomend it being taken off. But i would also advise them to go over there husbandry aswell. But everyone has there own opinions, I'm going by what works with my bearded dragon and what she is happier with. I know plenty of people who use sand for beardies,geckos,monitors,other dragons and lizards and they haven't had a single problem. You get the odd person that doesn't know how to use sand or properly set it up then you see problems. I know i'm going to get flamed over this post but this is my opinion along with breeders who have been breeding for 50 years.

first of all i dont wanna argue with any one over sand its from expeirence what happend to me i washed the playsand siffed it and baked it it was only in the tank 2 to 3 weeks and she got impacted so im sticking with tiles from now on,and another thing is im from ireland and id say the sand in oz is well different to irelands sand,what does husbandry mean is it the food? my set up is bang on so i cant see that been my problem.