Aaron

Hello everyone.

Just thought I would ask a few questions to try clear a few things up.

Now substate is a huge debate regarding these animals and i agree calci sand should not be used as it actually encourages them to eat the sand due to it being made of mostly calcium. I also agree not all loose substrates are suitable but play sand everyone says causes impaction.
The last time I checked bearded dragons originate from Australian deserts?? Are we not trying to mimic their enviroment as much as possible I.E heat lamps, u.v etc so why do we deny them sand? I use sterilized play sand. People state they have had beardies impacted through sand how true is this. Is it a tiny minority? Is it because the beardie is starved and has no choice? Is it because they used calci sand?

My next question is water? People state to mist the dragon a few times a day!! Yet again last time I checked the dragons are from Australian deserts where It is not humid at all but dry. Surely high humidity which is easily obtainable in a viv fitted with a heat bulb would cause respiratery problems! Also wont spraying a bearded shock or suprise him. Also it has been researched for years that some parts that these fantastic creatures originate from have little or no water at all and get all fluids from food? I admit i bath mine 1 - 2 times a week so they can absorb fluid through their vent but I have read care sheets stating a minium of 3 times a week. Would this not lead to respiratery problems. Also is it not proven they will not drink from a still water source so why have water bowls that they can just feciate in and kick sand in.

Its just 2 points I see alot of in care sheets and all care sheets state the same dont use sand and mist a few times a day and bath more a less everyday. Surely this is doing the opposite than mimicing their natural inhabitat.

Excuse my grammar.

Thanks

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R.I.P Ralph.

Next Reptile to the collection. Panther Chameleon.

tristis

Particulate substrates do not cause impactions. Low level, long term dehydration causes impaction and soaking is just a band aid for bad husbandry.

As you can see me and my lizards are big fans of sand/soil mixes


It all starts with people keeping thier animals in an enclosure with a shallow substrate, screen lid and very high wattage heat lamp. No substrate depth to hold moisture which the animal can dig down to access means a lizard that cannot regulate its bodys own moisture level. A screen lid and too high a wattage bulb that basicaly just drys out and allows the escape of all the heat and moisture in the enclosure means a very unhealthy pet, aka. lizard jerky.

Aaron

wow that looks awseome. See I keep mine on sand and he loves to dig. do you moist the substrate? any chance of more pics of the setup u have : )

__________________
R.I.P Ralph.

Next Reptile to the collection. Panther Chameleon.

tristis

.................... Water is added by the gallon every few months.

Here are a few other past and present setups of mine that use/used dirt mixes.

Ackies setup


juvie Savannah monitor setup


Adult Savannah monitor setup


Leopard gecko setup


I used to keep my Nelsons milksnakes in a naturalistic setup with a good foot of soil in it, but after a few years it just became a pain in the ass finding and digging up the eggs.

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'Tis better to be silent and be thought a fool, than to speak and remove all doubt.'
Abraham Lincoln,
16th president of US (1809 - 1865)

spenner112

Totally agree with both of you i mean in the wild they do perfectly fine so they will feel even more at home in the cage with there natural substrate like i dont see the point in repti carpet which lizard lives in the wild on carpet hhaa and i like my thanks to look good whats the point in having a reptile if your not guna make it look nice
Jordan

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