The Big Question: Sand vs Everything Else

tHeGiNo · 01-06-04, 01:51 AM

Ok, after reading a few threads I deemed it necessary and useful to myself to create this topic. I understand why sand is a substrate which should be avoided. The reasons are clear to me, so this does not need to be stated. However what I am looking for is an alternative. Not paper towl or news paper. I therefore must ask the big question: What is the best substrate for Pogona Vitticeps? By best, of course, I mean an efficient, clean substrate which tends to the bearded dragons needs before the owners needs. Which is how it should be. I ask that you use factual answers, and state WHY the substrate in question is the best. I am sure this will be a great debate, and it would be great to get some of the experts like EyeSpy in here. Please do not just post a substrate and call it a done deal. Expand.

drewlowe · 01-06-04, 10:14 AM

Wheat bran and bed a beast. The reasoning it will break down in the stomach unlike sand.

Phox · 01-06-04, 11:42 AM

I agree with Drewlowe! Bed-A-Beast, it looks nice and its easy to clean up accidents

. I believe I remember seeing a post from EYESPY saying that thier has yet to be any reported cases of Beardies being impacted from coconut husk(Bed-A-Beast). I have a few pics in my gallery if your unsure of what it looks like.

tHeGiNo · 01-06-04, 04:50 PM

I know what it looks like as I use it with my frilled dragons. However, I am more interested in what is best for the dragon rather then what looks nice and whats more efficient for myself. If you meant it is best for the beardie as well, then even better!

QueenHerper · 01-07-04, 01:12 AM

Yesterday's News: No, I'm not talking about the newspaper. Yesterday's News is actually sold as a cat litter, however, it is becoming widely used by many dragon owners. If you decide to use this, remember to get the ORIGINAL UNSCENTED formula. Dragons love this stuff and have fun tossing it around and ''swimming'' in it.
Reptile Carpeting- This is one of the most popular choices out on the market today. It is easy to clean, inexpensive and best of all... SAFE! To clean, simply hand wash it with some dish detergent, make sure to rinse it off VERY well and then allow it to air-dry. I would recommend keeping a second carpet available to replace when you are washing the other one.

Sandy

tHeGiNo · 01-07-04, 04:31 PM

Would that not too pose a large risk of impaction? Or is it digestable?

chamitch · 01-07-04, 05:07 PM

has anyone ever had a problem with impactionusign sand?
if so were u feedig out of a dish or free range crks?

kinda makes sense if u are feeding free range crks then they will get sand evertime they eat. but out of a dish ive never seen a beardie eat sand but obviously would get a little

later

tHeGiNo · 01-07-04, 05:48 PM

Overtime, this stuff adds up. Ask eyespy how many dead animals she has seen whose death has been brought upon through impaction. I'm sure she has a list longer then the wish lists Santa Clause gets.

QueenHerper · 01-07-04, 08:21 PM

I myself have never used the Yesterdays news its but i have heard really positive stuff about it. from what i have been from asking about it. If ingested it kinda swells up and turns into mush in the belly. so then it would be ok if accidentally ingested. The one thing i read thou is to make sure your dragon stays hydrated cause the YN needs the water to absorb and get mushy. from what i have read i would say it is healthy and and would be digestable if eaten. Another substrate that you may try are rabbit pellits they are completly digestable and they look nice also. the only problem with them is that when they will swell up like dog food does and may cause more of an oder in you cage. just means you will have to take the soiled pellets out right away. Which one should do anyway.

sandy

tHeGiNo · 01-14-04, 10:42 AM

Common now! There has to be more then this to say on the topic!

Dragon_Slave · 01-14-04, 10:49 AM

Sandy,
Your post about Yesterdays News and Reptile Carpeting looks familiar, did I write that? Lol. I could have sworn I wrote that... or did you get it from when I edited your site? It just looks so familiar... hmm... lol.

Anyway... I agree with Yesterdays News being good, and paper towels, and reptile carpeting. I never, ever recommend sand or wood chips.

Greg West · 01-14-04, 11:00 AM

I will add my 2 cents to this topic.

USE WHEAT BRAN - Heres why:

Advantages:
-Digestible
-Controls the odours from poop etc, as it seems to cover the smell almost completely. My girlfriend always complained about the smell with sand, but I never hear any complaining about the smell any more.
-Cheap - a 25 lb bag is $20.00 and it lasts forever.
-Can be spot cleaned and remove the waste, and leave the rest
- When cleaning you dont have to totally rearrange the cage as you would with reptile carpet.

Disadvantages
-You can not leave standing water that has spilled in the cage for too long as it seems to mould/ go bad pretty fast
-dusty - your dragons dont look as brightly coloured in bran cause they tend to get dusty, but i don't think this is a problem other than asthetics

I would say no to sand obviously, but without my own personal proof

I would also say no to reptile carpet as if your dragon craps on the carpet when you aren't home and it sits there all day, it is most likely you will smell it as soon as you enter the room.

The most beneficial reasons for me to use wheat bran would be that it is easily digestible, and it keeps the smell down in the cage.

Hope that was an answer you were looking for.

Greg West
Cornelsworld Terrariums

drewlowe · 01-14-04, 11:45 AM

Greg, I was under the impression that if your beardies poo smelled rancid that it is a sign of coccidia. I may be mistaken but i know it's one of the parasites.

chamitch- sand can build up over years by tounge flicking. Sand can be a slow killer (chronic impactation).

Sean Day · 01-14-04, 11:55 AM

Good post Greg, I especially like this-

Quote:

Originally posted by Greg West
I would say no to sand obviously, but without my own personal proof

Way to many people posting second hand info on the substrate issue with no personal experiences.

Greg West · 01-14-04, 06:27 PM

As far as I know if the poo is really smelly, then yes it could be a sign of coccidia. If the poo is out in the open on top of reptile carpet or sand it will smell regardless whether or not the animal has coccidia.

I believe it is totally dependant on the food they eat as well as if there is a type of odour eater present. I feel the bran seems to act as an odour eater as it almost absorbs the moisture from the waste. I know that is is used for cleaning up oil spils as well, so it must have fairly good absorbtion qualities.

This is based on my own personal observations. Out of the people who have followed my recommendations, I only know of one person whjo wasn't totally happy with the change, and that was because there was standing water that was left in the cage that made the bran go bad.

I spray my beardies every morning with salad and their food, and I have never had a problem with the bran going bad. It seems to be only when a water bowl is used or lots of water is poured into the cage.

Greg West
Cornelsworld Terrariums