Bearded Dragon Question

[Kitty B]

I've decided that I am finally ready to invite a new dragon into the house after losing my much loved Chinese water dragon some time ago. I don't want another water dragon (I'm sentimental, and think it would feel too much like 'replacing' Ziggy), and after a lot of research have decided that beardies are the way to go. I've got a list of everything that we will require to set up the vivarium, but have been reading a whole lot of debate on the right kind of substrate for a beardie, much of it going along the lines of sand being a very poor choice due to risk of impaction. Others say they have never had an issue with using sand, and that it is a great substrate for them. Everything is contradictory, really, as one site will say that beech woodchip is ideal just as another says to avoid woodchips altogether as they are not suited to desert reptiles. Then one will say newspaper, while others are adamant that you shouldn't use anything with print on it. Nobody seems at all able to agree. A few have said that cage carpet is fine, but like other non-giving substrates may cause an issue with bent toes.

So my question for anyone who has, or has had bearded dragons is: What kind of substrate do/did you use?

Not sure what I'm leaning toward yet. I think I'll be sat here researching the 'great substrate debate' for quite a bit yet. On the plus side, my kids are excited... they have missed having a dragon, too. The turtles aren't keen on being handled, so they are pretty much 'display' pets. My daughter and I will sit and watch them for ages, but it really isn't quite the same as having a reptile you can interact with (though they are still entertaining and I love them, so they can be as antisocial as they like ).

 

[s4sugar]

I lost my last beardie a couple of years ago ( at a ripe old age - late teens as she was an adult rescue 14 years before) and found the best substrate was rabbit pellets with cage carpet second.

Grass pellets can be scooped with a cat litter scoop, are not dusty, no risk of impaction and look ok.

 

[TurtleToo]

We use tissue with dragons up to about a foot in size then move them onto sand, haven't had any problems with impaction although obviously were aware of it and keep a close eye, as we would with any substrate.

 

[Kitty B]

Thanks very much for the information.

 

[Nudibranch]

Just to say, own my third beardie at the moment, all have been kept on sand and never had an impaction. They do have a lot of rocks and branches to climb on though. And their food is put into one of those pretend rock dishes, so it's not as if it's been rolling all over the sand.

Sand does look nice, he lives in a very large, open air planted enclosure in the conservatory and is fit and healthy on it although I know many say avoid it.