For tiles, you can simply wipe messes off. For spot cleaning, we recommend using a disinfectant. You can use a reptile-safe sanitizer or a severely diluted vinegar mixture. Simply spray the area and wipe it clean. We recommend cleaning the entire terrarium once a month including all the components. This also includes substrates. To clean a reptile carpet, soak it in hot water and scrub it thoroughly to get it clean! You can use a large tub and unscented soap.
If you can find an antibacterial product that would be even better. Spend time scrubbing the carpet thoroughly. To eliminate any seeped-in messes, soak the material completely. Bearded dragons salmonella. Putting your family at risk of zoonotic diseases is the last thing you want to do.
Instead, the carpet should be cleaned in its own tub. Keep an eye on their feces. The feces should be brown in coloration and solid with a white urate. For reptile carpets, it is recommended that you remove it and wash it with hot water and dish soap. Permanent substrates for example, ceramic tiles, slate, or rubber should be sprayed with a reptile-safe cleaner:. When hunting and eating, your Bearded Dragon can accidentally consume sand substrate causing intestinal obstruction over time.
Dragons that are young or sick are more likely to consume sand and develop an impaction. We recommend using reptile carpet. In addition, it is not very expensive. We always recommend reptile carpet as it is safe to use and also looks attractive. There are many other options available, however, most of them are not entirely safe to use with bearded dragons. Reptile carpet always! Sand is actually very dangerous as your beardie might accidentally eat it and resulting in impaction.
There are quite a few options available as a substrate but we always recommend using reptile carpet. Reptile carpet is the best and safest substrate for bearded dragons. Your money and how much effort you want to put into keeping it clean will determine which Bearded Dragon substrate is best for you.
The majority of these substrates are available from any pet or hardware shop. If you are purchasing from a hardware store, ensure that the material is free of harmful chemicals that could hurt your beardie.
I have been working in the publishing business for over a decade now. I love reptiles and I love talking about them. I have years of experience in herpetoculture. I have cared for many reptiles including bearded dragons, geckos, and skinks since childhood. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The following are the main types of bearded dragon substrates. Not only that, but those flecks of waste can easily fall through the sand and collect at the bottom of the enclosure.
This creates a breeding ground for bacteria and harmful pathogens. Many think that sand is a suitable option because it mimics their natural environment. But would you want to live in a litter box around the clock?
But it should always be contained in a digging box. Never use it for the substrate. Doing so is just asking for diseases and health problems. Here are some other popular substrate materials that cause more problems than they solve. Gravel is even worse than sand when it comes to ingestion. Gravel is small chunks of rock, which can look appetizing to a beardie. Unfortunately, swallowing gravel can lead to choking. Even if your lizard manages to swallow it, the piece of gravel will almost always cause gut impaction.
Beyond those issues, gravel can also harbor bacteria and disease. Expert Tip: You can use gravel in small contained spaces where water flow is ideal. But you should never use it as a substrate. In other words, it contains sharp shells and dust. The shells can be quite sharp, which is not great for bearded dragons. Your lizard could easily cut itself. Another problem is the walnut dust. Your reptile could breathe it in and experience irritation or respiratory infections. Also, steer clear of similar products like corn cob litter.
Like sand and other loose-particle substrates, wood chips will lead to impaction issues if ingested. Another major problem with mulch and wood shavings is the oil they produce. Many natural wood species have oils and fumes that are toxic to bearded dragons. Many soil mixes are pretreated with fertilizers and other chemicals. They are designed to help plants flourish. However, those chemicals are not safe for reptiles. Millet is rarer than other substrates, but you can still find it in many pet stores.
Basically, millet is a grain. Millet has all of the same issues as sand and wood chips. Your beardie could eat it and experience impaction. Expert Tip: This substrate can also rot and produce mold! Pellets are quite absorbent, too. Many experience mold and bacteria problems. Plus, the pellets can soften and create a disgusting mash. Hay and moss are suitable for hiding boxes and small private areas.
It can hold onto moisture and grow mold. Plus, hay is quite itchy. Individual hay strands are sharp enough to cause some discomfort for your beardie. The cons are following: these pellets can cause allergies in humans and bearded dragons. It is also rather expensive and too soft for digging. To remove any poop, you will have to look for it around the floor and scoop it. What is more, rabbit pellets will get moldy if your bearded dragon spills any water on it, which increases chances of a respiratory infection due to inhaling of mold spores.
Because of it, you will have to replace the bedding frequently. Alfalfa bedding substrate Pros — easily digestible, absorbent, natural. It is also good for some light digging. Cons — alfalfa has a strong smell that many people hate. It can also crumble and cause dust to accumulate in the terrarium, potentially causing a respiratory disease in your bearded dragon.
Another drawback of alfalfa is that it gets moldy when the air is humid or when there is a water leak on the substrate this can also cause respiratory infection. Bacteria and fungi might also colonize alfalfa pellets and can make your beardie sick if ingested. Sand substrate — reptile sand, play sand, non-silica sand Pros — looks attractive, naturalistic, easy to change and clean, good heat conductor, good for digging.
Sand has been linked to gut impaction impaction in intestines resulting from swallowing the substrate. Sand is also dusty and it makes feeding live insects hard. When your bearded dragon eats live insects from the sand, it will swallow some of it. It is also absorbent and a good heat conductor. The green carpet also looks attractive.
The carpet liner will come in a roll that you can cut to the needed size. Just measure the surface that you need to cover and cut. Overall, carpet liner is very convenient and easy to clean. Bearded dragons are one of the most popular reptile pets.
They are tame, hardy, and give hours of fun to watch, whether chasing crickets around their terrarium or headbanging in a show of a dominance. Although they do require some live feeding, this usually only consists of crickets and roaches, with the beardie enjoying nutrient rich salads and other foods. Bearded dragons naturally hail from Australia, so they are accustomed to living in sand and dirt. Unfortunately, these reptile pets can suffer from a condition called impaction.
This can be caused by consuming food that is too large for them or if they eat rocks or stones that are too large for them. Buying the best bedding for a bearded dragon not only mimics their natural living environment but should avoid potentially fatal impaction.
Zoo Med Vita-Sand is a natural sand with no artificial colors. It has been fortified with extra vitamins and beta-carotene, and the fine sand ensures that there is no risk of impaction, even if your beardie eats a mouthful with his favorite cricket snack. The sand makes it easy for bearded dragons to burrow and is made from natural quartz desert sand that closely mimics the sand of their natural environment.
Some buyers have commented that it tends to be dusty because of how fine it is, and if you buy one of the colored variants, it can stain your beardie a little, but neither of these factors should negatively impact your pet lizard.
The shells retain heat well , which is great for your bearded dragon, and the size and weight of the crushed shell encourages them to dig and burrow , which offers an effective method of temperature control. The crushed walnut shells are also cheaper than quartz sand, and its low price combined with its great features is why we have chosen the Zilla ground English Walnut shell as the best bedding for bearded dragons for the money.
While the quality and size of the shell is good for adult bearded dragons, this bedding is not suitable for hatchlings or juveniles because the pieces are too small. Made from mulched cypress, it retains heat and Zoo Med claims it is easy to clean. The pieces are small enough that they should prevent impaction but not so small to create dust.
Too much dust can lead to respiratory problems for your lizard. Although this cypress mulch has a lot going for it, the inability to burrow into the substrate does put us off. You will likely want to provide another area for burrowing, which means buying additional substrate, and because the Zoo Med cypress mulch bedding is on the expensive side, the cost will quickly add up. It comes in either loose or compacted brick. The loose can be used straight away but works out more expensive.
The bricks need to be soaked and left before use, which can get a bit messy, but they take up less storage room when not in use. Whichever variant you choose, the bedding can get a bit dusty when it is dry, and it is recommended that you keep it damp with regular misting. This should become part of your humidity management practice. The dustiness also means that the coconut fibers will stick to your dragon when they are wet or damp, but it will dry and should fall off in time.
The coconut fiber is good for cleaning. Pros Bricks are easy to store Coconut fiber has minimal smell Easy to spot clean Cons Preparing bricks can be messy Loose bedding is expensive 5.
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