i am buying a small, 4-5 inch bearded dragon, and i have already set up the tank, i put sand in the bottom of it, is it ok for a bearded dragon that size to live in sand, because its to late to undo the 40 pounds of sand in the terrarium.
If the lizard accidently ingestes some sand when it is eating food the grains of sand can be very harmful or even deadly because it can damage their intestines. You can only put sand in the tank when the lizard is a least more than a year because when they are young they are very fragile.
I have a rare breeding pair of orange bearded dragons.
Ask yourself the question of is it important to keep him in good health? If the answer is yes, you will remove the sand and replace it with reptile carpet, newspaper, paper towels, washable shelf liner or tiles. The end choice is yours but you now know that you should not do it unless they are over a year old.
Slave to 5 bearded dragons 1 water dragon, 2 leopard geckos, 2 cats and 1 Russian dwarf hamster
if u can u are better off redoing the cage and buying coconut or calcisand. sand can give them digestive blocks will will cause them to die if swallowed. if i were u i would redo the cage.
hope this helps
hope this helps
have three and breeding
experienced
experienced
You might be able to take some out and them cover the rest with slate tiles. I have them in my leopard geckos cage and it looks really good and is safe. The sand you take out can just go in a container and be used when you clean the cage.
Good luck
Good luck
Work at petsmart
Have a leopard gecko
Have a leopard gecko
Substrates
The bearded dragon, in its natural Australian habitat is exposed to a wide variance in ground cover and soil conditions. Hard pack, loose soil, arid grass and woodlands, rock and of course sand are some of the natural conditions a bearded dragon may encounter daily. In our opinion, choosing a substrate similar to one of those found in the bearded dragons natural environment is one of the ways we can more closely replicate the dragons natural home. Although the use of a sand substrate (regular child’s play sand) is often a highly debated issue, we use sand for older juveniles, generally at 8”-10” in length. We have never had any problems with its use, and in our experience it is easy to clean, change, is cost effective and is one of the very few ways that we can create a habitat similar to one of the bearded dragons natural environments.
The “Real” Substrate Warning
Choosing a suitable substrate for your bearded dragon is a simple process of weighing suitability and benefits against risks. There is a vast array of manufactured substrates “labeled” for bearded dragons and while some of them may be “useable” many can be potentially unhealthy or harmful for use with bearded dragons. Generally, “pre-packaged” products for animal use are not widely regulated and manufacturers often label their product for uses that they are not truly suitable for, in an effort to increase sales. Blindly following manufactures claims in regard to substrate without a basic knowledge of their potential effect on your dragon may have negative consequences. Buyer beware!
Substrate Options
The five most commonly used “low risk” substrates are listed below with the basic pros and cons of their use and our observations and recommendations based on our experience with each:
Newsprint or Paper Towel
- +Inexpensive, disposable and easy to replace
- +Semi absorbent (reduces spread and transfer of waste)
- +Non ingestible
- -Visually un appealing
- -Un natural environment
Recommendation: Over all this is an excellent choice of substrate for hatchlings and young juveniles but may be used for dragons of any age.
Replace paper towel and newsprint daily or as often as necessary. Removal and a thorough cleaning at least weekly.
Non-Adhesive Shelf Liner
- +Easy to clean and replace
- +Reasonably inexpensive
- +Non ingestible
- -Non absorbent (allows easy spread and transfer of waste)
- -Visually un appealing
- -Un natural environment
Recommendation: Due to the easy spread and transfer of wastes on this generally slick surface, without continual spot cleaning we do not find this to be a highly effective substrate.
Spot clean as often as necessary, frequent thorough cleaning necessary.
Ceramic Tile
- +Durable, long lasting and reasonably inexpensive
- +Generally easy to clean depending on instillation (loose set or grouted and sealed)
- +Visually appealing
- +Non ingestible
- +Simulates aspects of natural environment
- -Non absorbent (allows easy spread and transfer of waste)
Recommendation: Un grouted or loose laid tiles will require more frequent and thorough cleaning as wastes will seep between tiles and may promote bacteria growth. Over all a good option for dragons of any age.
Spot clean daily. Thorough cleaning is suggested bi-weekly with sealed tiles or weekly with loose laid tiles.
Reptile Carpet
- +Generally easy to spot clean and remove for thorough cleaning
- +Semi absorbent (limits spread and transfer of waste)
- +Visually appealing
- -Somewhat expensive (carpets wear after repeated washings and curl and fray requiring frequent replacement)
- -Unsecured carpet can hide live prey
- -Excessive ware may lead to “nail catching” and potential injury
- -Potentially ingestible with worn or frayed carpet
Recommendation: Secure edges to prevent live prey hiding spots, replace when worn or frayed to prevent ingestion or potential injury. Overall a good option for dragons of any age.
Spot clean daily. Wash carpet weekly or as necessary.
Childs Play Sand
- +Inexpensive and readily available
- +Easy to clean, refresh and replace
- +Very absorbent (minimizes the spread and transfer of waste)
- +Simulates aspects of natural environment
- +Visually appealing
- -Ingestible
- -Can be dusty
Recommendation: If available, washed sand will cut down on dust. Overall a very good option for older juveniles and up (we choose not to use sand for our hatchlings and young juveniles). Scoop daily, refresh as necessary, replaced every 2-3 months after a thorough enclosure cleaning.
High Risk Substrates
**We do not recommend the use of crushed walnuts, bark mulch, chips or wood products of any kind (with the exception of newsprint and paper towel), coconut fiber, cat litter, rabbit pellets or any similar substrates as they are known to pose a high risk for impaction, harbor bacteria, cause possible internal injuries and can hide prey of the dragon. “Calcium Sand” is available a
The bearded dragon, in its natural Australian habitat is exposed to a wide variance in ground cover and soil conditions. Hard pack, loose soil, arid grass and woodlands, rock and of course sand are some of the natural conditions a bearded dragon may encounter daily. In our opinion, choosing a substrate similar to one of those found in the bearded dragons natural environment is one of the ways we can more closely replicate the dragons natural home. Although the use of a sand substrate (regular child’s play sand) is often a highly debated issue, we use sand for older juveniles, generally at 8”-10” in length. We have never had any problems with its use, and in our experience it is easy to clean, change, is cost effective and is one of the very few ways that we can create a habitat similar to one of the bearded dragons natural environments.
The “Real” Substrate Warning
Choosing a suitable substrate for your bearded dragon is a simple process of weighing suitability and benefits against risks. There is a vast array of manufactured substrates “labeled” for bearded dragons and while some of them may be “useable” many can be potentially unhealthy or harmful for use with bearded dragons. Generally, “pre-packaged” products for animal use are not widely regulated and manufacturers often label their product for uses that they are not truly suitable for, in an effort to increase sales. Blindly following manufactures claims in regard to substrate without a basic knowledge of their potential effect on your dragon may have negative consequences. Buyer beware!
Substrate Options
The five most commonly used “low risk” substrates are listed below with the basic pros and cons of their use and our observations and recommendations based on our experience with each:
Newsprint or Paper Towel
- +Inexpensive, disposable and easy to replace
- +Semi absorbent (reduces spread and transfer of waste)
- +Non ingestible
- -Visually un appealing
- -Un natural environment
Recommendation: Over all this is an excellent choice of substrate for hatchlings and young juveniles but may be used for dragons of any age.
Replace paper towel and newsprint daily or as often as necessary. Removal and a thorough cleaning at least weekly.
Non-Adhesive Shelf Liner
- +Easy to clean and replace
- +Reasonably inexpensive
- +Non ingestible
- -Non absorbent (allows easy spread and transfer of waste)
- -Visually un appealing
- -Un natural environment
Recommendation: Due to the easy spread and transfer of wastes on this generally slick surface, without continual spot cleaning we do not find this to be a highly effective substrate.
Spot clean as often as necessary, frequent thorough cleaning necessary.
Ceramic Tile
- +Durable, long lasting and reasonably inexpensive
- +Generally easy to clean depending on instillation (loose set or grouted and sealed)
- +Visually appealing
- +Non ingestible
- +Simulates aspects of natural environment
- -Non absorbent (allows easy spread and transfer of waste)
Recommendation: Un grouted or loose laid tiles will require more frequent and thorough cleaning as wastes will seep between tiles and may promote bacteria growth. Over all a good option for dragons of any age.
Spot clean daily. Thorough cleaning is suggested bi-weekly with sealed tiles or weekly with loose laid tiles.
Reptile Carpet
- +Generally easy to spot clean and remove for thorough cleaning
- +Semi absorbent (limits spread and transfer of waste)
- +Visually appealing
- -Somewhat expensive (carpets wear after repeated washings and curl and fray requiring frequent replacement)
- -Unsecured carpet can hide live prey
- -Excessive ware may lead to “nail catching” and potential injury
- -Potentially ingestible with worn or frayed carpet
Recommendation: Secure edges to prevent live prey hiding spots, replace when worn or frayed to prevent ingestion or potential injury. Overall a good option for dragons of any age.
Spot clean daily. Wash carpet weekly or as necessary.
Childs Play Sand
- +Inexpensive and readily available
- +Easy to clean, refresh and replace
- +Very absorbent (minimizes the spread and transfer of waste)
- +Simulates aspects of natural environment
- +Visually appealing
- -Ingestible
- -Can be dusty
Recommendation: If available, washed sand will cut down on dust. Overall a very good option for older juveniles and up (we choose not to use sand for our hatchlings and young juveniles). Scoop daily, refresh as necessary, replaced every 2-3 months after a thorough enclosure cleaning.
High Risk Substrates
**We do not recommend the use of crushed walnuts, bark mulch, chips or wood products of any kind (with the exception of newsprint and paper towel), coconut fiber, cat litter, rabbit pellets or any similar substrates as they are known to pose a high risk for impaction, harbor bacteria, cause possible internal injuries and can hide prey of the dragon. “Calcium Sand” is available a