zoomed Zoo Med XR-10 Excavator Clay Substrate, 4.5 Kg

Product Information

Important: Reptile carpets are specialized equipment and are NOT the same thing as regular “human” carpets or astroturf. Do not use any of these in your terrarium. 4. Large River Pebbles (over 2 cm / ~0,8″) Keep in mind that healthy reptiles do not get completely impacted due to accidental ingestion of substrate. We can think of no more hotly debated topic in the world of bearded dragons than finding the best substrate. Everyone has a firmly held opinion. The problem is that, on the whole, those views are based solely on one person’s experience.

They also won’t allow your Dragon to dig and as this is a natural behaviour it’s always recommended whenever possible especially in gravid females.

Reason #1 Allows Your Reptiles To Dig

That means that they can naturally survive and thrive on a variety of ground cover. When observed, bearded dragons will move to different types of environments based on what their needs are at the time.

A DIY blended substrate consists of safe materials, such as coconut coir, organic topsoil, and sand. This allows for a natural-looking habitat and encourages digging behavior. By retaining moisture, they can contribute to high humidity levels ( see our article on maintaining proper humidity levels in your enclosure). Improper humidity levels can easily cause a respiratory infection. Using a loose substrate like this gives her the ability to act on her instincts. This is important to us as bearded dragon owners. We want to give our little girl the best possible home, and we’d hate it if she couldn’t dig and burrow like she loves to do.

Safe Substrates For Leopard Geckos

Excavator clay doesn’t come with any risks for impaction. One of the primary concerns with buying substrate is whether or not it will cause impaction in your reptiles. Impaction is defined as intestinal damage caused by consuming dirt. Since digging is already in their nature, you can study and watch how your reptile behaves in certain environment. Our vision is to have a varied landscape that provides our bearded dragon with harder clay to scratch around and build in and softer Repti Chips to dig and burrow in. Our enclosure will have several levels and plenty of places for Bacardi to move around, climb and explore. Tile is a versatile option that can mimic the look of natural stone. It is easy to clean and retains heat well.

This type of blue tongue skink needs a moderate humidity level. The best options are aspen, coconut fiber, and cypress mulch. Indonesian Blue Tongue Skink Substrate Although because of its downsides and possible dangers I cannot recommend coconut coir to leo hobbyists, I have to say that I have been using it with no issues for many years. It was the safest and the simplest natural substrate available locally at the time I got my leos, and we had gotten used to it. Sure, they can get impacted if they have been ingesting cups of substrate every feeding which is very unlikely. You can also create hollow points along the flat surface that are fairly large and fit your hand-molded clay designs into them, making both your design and the substrate look more natural as if it were pulled straight from the desert.

The Controversial Coconut Coir (Eco Earth)

Being a more solid substrate, it is safer to offer live feeder insects on as it gives them fewer places to hide. It’s also very easy to clean when your beardie poops said insects out! We also like that Repti Chips are affordable, have little to no dust (making them unique among other loose substrate options), are easy to change out (a shop vac makes short work of them), and don’t otherwise make a mess. We are happy with our choice of substrate for sure! Other studies have found that healthy bearded dragons (juveniles and above in age) tended not to eat the substrate at all. Those that did passed smaller bits with no incidence. The carpet-slate combo sounds like a fine solution to me. Just make sure you wash the carpet regularly – ideally weekly – to avoid bacterial build-up. You can get two carpets and simply swap them because they need some time to dry. The issue is that it only takes having one problem to regret a poor substrate choice. It’s like people who don’t use their seat belts because they’ve never been in an accident. It’s silly logic. Don’t wait until after you have a crash!