Bearded Dragon Enclosures
What is the substratum of right of use of a bearded dragon?
Bearded Dragons Substrate
The substrate (sometimes called flooring) is the material used to line your dragon's housing. In its native environment, Beardie live in sandy desert areas. Playground sand is often used because it is relatively free of dust and easy to maintain, although there have been reports of intestinal impaction. Substrates can also include wheat bran (pest free and rated for human consumption), outdoor carpet, padded platform nonstick coating, and paper towels. Other good substrates are newspaper, pea rock or aquarium gravel.
Be careful if you use any type of loose substrate on the decoration, as many dragons will try to dig under their cage furnishings and can be trapped or crushed wellplaced without furniture. Good substrate must be clean and safe. Be careful of substrates that can cause damage to your dragon.
Materials to be avoided:
The following are bad for one main reason – impaction. A lot of stores may try and say you are right, may be even using them themselves, but they are wrong.
Each of the following has been proven to cause impaction and death to Bearded Dragons (and other reptiles) and should be avoided:
– The ear of corn: Hard, large and indigestible for Beardie.
– Walnut Shell: It seems harmless, but the edges are very sharp and could kill your dragon very easily. There have been documented impaction deaths in Bearded Dragons this. It also goes under a variety of brand names, to check the package label carefully before you listen and buy in pet stores.
– Calcisand: The problem with this product is twofold. First, they like the taste of it and can eat in the absence of sufficient calcium in your diet. Secondly, can form an indigestible bolus group and in your digestive tract.
– Repti Bark: very fibrous and could easily end up causing retention and is known to end up lodged in the vent.
– Original Lizard Litter (made of kenfa tree) and Jungle Blend.
Substrates such as mulch, ground tree bark, or corn cob should not be used because they can hold moisture and promote bacterial growth.
Any of the wood shaving like cedar or pine should also be avoided – cedar had dangerous aromatic oils and pine can get affected if swallowed.
You should also be careful with bleach in case the Dragon, the heat of your lights can cause toxic fumes of chlorine.
Substrates used:
There are several substrates well. The use of one or the other depends on severall factors – like age of the Dragon (s), their numbers and others.
A very important tip: It is very important to ensure that you never use sand in your beardy 's cage until they are bigger than 6 inches long – not including the tail.
All the best to you and the dragon (s)
Florian Ross
About the Author
Florian Ross developed comprehensive guides to help people succeed with their bearded dragon pet. Find out more tips about raising a Bearded Dragon and how to have your bearded dragon lizard live two times longer with his popular free ecourse .
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my outdoor bearded dragon cage
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