There are seven different types of substrate for Bearded Dragons:
- Reptile carpet, lino, fake grass or astroturf.
- Newspaper or paper towels.
- Ceramic tiles or slate.
- Rubber, shelf liner.
- Alfalfa pellets.
- Wood chips.
- Sand (e.g. play sand or calcium sand).
What bedding do bearded dragons need?
Substrate, or bedding material, should be easy to clean out and non-toxic to lizards if they accidentally eat it. Newspaper, butcher paper, or other recycled paper products (such as compressed recycled paper pellets) are preferred because they are easy to replace and non-toxic if ingested.Safe Substrates For Bearded Dragons
- Paper Towels – Pros: Cheap, easily changed. Cons: Not the most natural looking substrate, and you may have to change them often.
- Newspapers – Pros: They’re free, easily changed, and more absorbent.
- Reptile Carpet – Pros: Looks nicer.
- Tiles – Cons: Very easy to clean.
Enclosure Material
- Glass. A popular option, glass terrariums are sturdy, widely available, and usually come with a screen lid that improves airflow and helps regulate the low humidity dragons need.
- Wood and Glass.
- PVC Plastic is another option.
- Screen.
What can I put in the bottom of my lizard tank?
Suitable substrates include newspaper, certain types of sand, wood/bark chips, soil and/or peat moss, plastic turf and indoor/outdoor carpet.The Best Substrate for a Bearded Dragon
- Sand and Similar Materials. In the wild, bearded dragons live on many different types of substrates.
- Reptile Carpets. Another substrate that you can use for your bearded dragon enclosure is reptile carpets, or cage liners.
- Newspaper.
- Bark and Mulch.
- Ceramic Tiles.
What soil is safe for bearded dragons?
Because bearded dragons come from the desert, it’s easy to market sand as a desert substrate. In truth, a bearded dragon’s natural substrate would be a mixture of hard packed dirt, clay, and rocks.
What should I put at the bottom of my Beardies tank?
Due to the above, loose, sand substrate still provides a more natural environment for a Bearded dragon, and for this reason, we recommend it for your Bearded dragon’s substrate over other substrate types.
Should bearded dragons have sand?
Sand mixed with clean soil that has not been treated with any fertilizers, pesticides, etc., can also be used with adult bearded dragons. If you keep your bearded dragons on sand, reduce the risk of impaction by offering food on a shallow dish rather than placing it directly on the substrate.
What do you line a bearded dragon tank with?
Newspapers make an excellent substrate for bearded dragon tanks and have proven to be quite easy to keep clean. Some owners have claimed it isn’t as pleasing to the eye as an option like sand, but if you’re worried about problems like impaction, newspaper is a much safer option.
Do Beardies need sand?
It is not recommended that you keep young bearded dragons on sand, or any kind of loose substrate. Newspaper, paper toweling or reptile carpet (though watch for loose threads or areas that can snag dragon toenails) would be better choices. Adult bearded dragons can be kept on these same substrates.
What can I use as lizard bedding?
Substrates such as coconut fiber and forest floor are great at holding humidity for tropical species, whereas sand and walnut based substrates will be more appropriate for your desert dwelling dragons.
What can I use as reptile carpet?
Carpets. Small pieces of indoor-outdoor carpet can be used as substrates for many reptiles, particularly lizards. Often sold in packs of two (which allows you to clean one piece while using the other in your lizard’s cage), carpets are soft on your lizard’s feet and they provide better traction than paper substrates do ..
Bearded Dragon Tank Setup: Supplies
- Enclosure.
- UVB light.
- Heating element, thermometer, and hygrometer.
- Basking rock or log.
- Flooring.
- Some shallow dishes for water and food.
- Live feeder insects and tweezers.
- Adequate space in your home.
What do bearded dragons like to sleep on?
Though bearded dragons usually sleep lying on their stomachs, there are many other positions some may use. In the wild, some bearded dragons will sleep up in a tree, vertical position.
Do Beardies like soft bedding?
Beardies love soft and fuzzy blankets for the comfort they provide. But that isn’t always the case for all of them. If you have a bearded dragon and want to get it a blanket, do so. It won’t help keep the animal warm, but your beardie will love the comfort it brings.
How often do you have to change a bearded dragons bedding?
With this daily care, your bearded dragon’s vivarium will need a full clean once every month or so. This will include removing all of the decoration and accessories, cleaning out the vivarium with a pet-safe disinfectant and replacing the substrate.
What does a bearded dragon need in its tank?
The tank size will have to increase as the beardie grows. Adults require a 20-50 gallon long glass aquarium tank. Because beardies love to climb, provide vertical space with lots of branches. The safest and easiest substrates to use are paper, newspaper, paper towel, or slate.