Can i use normal play sand for my bearded dragon's cage?

Question

and how old does he have to be before i can put sand in the cage?

thanks

Answer 1

The trouble with play sand isn't just the threat of impaction.

It hasn't been sterilized so it may contain all kinds of creepy crawlies such as mites and ticks (parasites).

I'm neither saying use it nor don't use it, I'm saying I wouldn't use it.

I'm personally an advocate of solid disposable substrates (paper).

If you're unfamiliar with the term impaction:

Impaction is basically blockage of the digestive tract usually caused from swallowing sand, dirt, rocks, or wood chips.

Answer 2

it is recommended that you never use sand, due to the risk of impaction and death. Instead, it is completely safe to use unfinished tile that can file down claws, of non-stick padded shelf liner.

If you have to use sand (which I strongly advise against using) the beardie needs to be atleast 6 inches long, NOT counting the tail.

Answer 3

my beardie is on sand and shes healthy

Answer 4

Yes. This actually makes a pretty good base because it's easy to sift and clean. You just want to make sure the lizard doesn't eat too much of it. It won't actually hurt him in small amounts, but you don't want too much getting in his stomach.

Crickets won't be a problem. He'll just gobble them up. But put his veggies in a big enough bowl that they won't spill out. The sand will stick to apple or lettuce and end up getting swallowed.

As for size, it really doesn't make much difference. A baby can live with a sand substrate just fine. Give it some things to climb on, but other than that, no need to worry.

Answer 5

Dont use sand use reptile carpet if you use sand he may leap for a cricket and miss and get a mouthful of sand which if he swallows can cause impaction which can be fatal

Answer 6

First, shifting sand clean does NOT removed bacteria and small particles of fecal matter.

Second, and Eeeek!  PLEASE do not use sand for your Beardie!  Most sites you google will recommend waiting until the reptile is at least 18 mo., but I would strongly recommend NEVER.  But, don't take my word for it - ask your qualified reptile vet.

This lizard, with proper care and nutrition can live for ten years.  Why risk it?

Sand (and loose substrate) impaction is the number one killer of lizards of all types.  Treating impaction requires a qualified reptile vet's help, antibiotics, a high protein liquid diet (and learning how not to aspirate the animal as you force feed it, or having to take it to the vet daily for medicating and feeding), liquid calcium, and hours of time, not to mention the vet bill.  And the vet WILL tell you to get the animal OFF the sand IMMEDIATELY, an onto aged newspaper; paper toweling; or plain white paper.  And, after maybe a couple weeks of all that time and money - the animal can still die.

Do some research on the topic of impaction, and its causes.

Take good care of your pet, and keep him healthy.  He will be with you a long time, with proper care.

I hope this has been helpful.

Answer 7

I normally avoid this question because there is so much argument as to whether it is okay or not, but I've decided to give my opinion, even though I know plenty of people will disagree. Oh well. I think play sand is fine. I've used it with no problems, and I know many people who have used it with no problems. I've never met anyone who's had a reptile die from impaction. This leads me to believe impaction isn't as common as some people will try to have you believe. I know a lady who produces hundreds of beardies a year and is well known here in the Texas reptile scene. She keeps her hatchlings on play sand and out of thousands she has produced over the last 10 to 15 years, no problems with sand whatsoever. The way she taught me to do it is to take something like a green aquarium net from the pet store and use that to sift the larger pebbles from the sand. This leaves nothing but fine sand which can easily pass. I have heard calcium sand and similar products are bad, however, since they can clump when wet. There you go, that's my two cents.

EDIT: "Been there: done that - I think!", do you have any statistics to back up your claim that impaction is the leading killer of all lizards? I would be willing to bet there are worse things a captive lizard can face, such as parasites, metabolic bone disease, improper diet, poor husbandry (temperatures), etc. And since you say "lizards of all types", I'm assuming you mean wild too? I would think a wild lizard's main cause of death is predation.