Can I use large river rocks for my bearded dragon?

Question

not the small ones but the larger ones...-http://www.therightstuffatthelake.com/images/riverrock2.jpg

Answer 1

If you mean for a basking area, or a few for aesthetic appeal, then yes. But if you mean for a substrate, then no. There would be crevices the animal could break its leg in, not to mention its prey insects would vanish into them, and he'd end up starving.

If you choose to use rocks from outdoors, I would recommend that you:

1.) Soak them in a 1 part bleach to 6 parts water solution for an hour.

2.) Then scrub then with iodine free salt and a tooth brush; rinse well, and allow to dry thoroughly.

and

3.) Bake them at 350 degrees for 1/2 - 1 hour. Allow them to cool completely before placing them into the habbit.

You don't want to introduce mold; fungus; parasites; bacteria of any sort into the Beardie's environment, so that's the safest way to assure the rocks will be sterile.

And just in case:

GUT LOADING CRICKETS for REPTILES:

The number one problem:

Dried up and malnourished pet store crickets and mealworms. These food items are essentially useless. A dehydrated and unfed cricket contains almost no nutrients at all; refrigerated mealworms are even worse. A lot of the variety in nutrients found in wild insects is actually in the stomach content - usually plant material. We need to duplicate this to provide the best for our reptiles; without the risk of illness/disease/parasites which can result from feeding our pets wild insects.

Please note that wax worms, while fattening, are not nutritious.

Basic Dry/Staple Cricket Food:

Equal amounts of dry Iguana food, dry dog food, chick starter mash, oatmeal (you can add dry baby food wheat/rye/barley, etc. as well; even shredded wheat - no sugar).

Grind these items together. Place in a small lid/bowl for the crickets to eat. Store the unused portion in the refrigerator or freezer, until needed.

Supplement daily with one of the following: sweet potato, bananas, zucchini, oranges, carrots, strawberries, assorted squashes (acorn, yellow, etc.), grapefruit, green beans, apples, kale, spinach, cactus pads, and just about any other nutritious item you can think of (do not use white/yellow potatoes - these are starchy and only good if used as a moisture source during shipping, and NEVER use Avocado - it's poisonous to most animals).

Provide the dry food and kale at all times (kale is readily available during the winter months, too), rotating the other food items through in succession. The key is variety, and to provide an assortment of varying nutrients. What you are trying to do is offer your reptiles crickets with guts 'loaded' with fresh foodstuffs.

The crickets should be gut loaded for 1-2 days prior to offering them to your reptiles.

Also, provide fresh clean water in a lid/bowl, adding a sponge or folded paper towel to prevent drowning.

Don't offer more crickets than the reptile(s) will consume within: 1.) a few hours if it’s a lizard, salamander, frog/toad, or 2.) a few minutes, if it’s a water turtle, so you know the crickets will still be full of the good stuff when eaten.

The crickets should be dusted (shaken in a plastic bag gently to coat them) with vitamins (keep these refrigerated) and calcium D3 powder 2-4 times a week, depending on the age of the reptile.

Be sure to remove any uneaten crickets so that they do not soil your pet's environment/water or bother your pet, once it is full. Crickets CAN turn the table - and feast upon your pet! Or aggravate them, causing stress and even cessation of eating.

Also be sure the crickets are the correct size for the reptile. The cricket should be the same size long as the reptile’s head is wide.

Enjoy your Beardie!

I hope this was helpful.

Answer 2

Yea you can i use them for mine and they love them. the flat surface is perfect for basking. i bake mine in the oven at 300 for 20 minutes then let them cool off and wash them real good.

2 bearded dragons

1 leopard gecko

2 ball pythons

1 red tail boa

Answer 3

yes; just be sure to scrub them, bleach them, then (if you really think you need to) bake them.

Answer 4

bake them in the microwave and make sure no mites or parasites are on them

Answer 5

they love them :)

Answer 6

Bleach them, and thats fine. But make sure there is no bleach on it when you give it to him. Just washing them will not make all the germs and parasites go away.

Answer 7

As long as they are cleaned well to avoid any parasites.