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Best Substrate For Egg Laying

will11780

will11780

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I just picked up 3 new beardies 1 male and 2 females the guy i got them from had said that they had been breeding when i got them and there cage home i felt that there was some what felt like eggs in ones belly putting them back in there cage the guy just had sand from lowes in there cage which i dont like using because of the chance of impaction i need to know what i can do as far as substrate for egg laying and still not have to worry about impaction i thought about just putting a litter box with something in it instead of covering the whole cage with sand or soil or whatever you all think is best need help fast this will be my first clutch ever so as much help as can give will be great. Thanks.
 
I used organic potting soil with success in the past. The female is in a lay box for such a short period of time your risk of impaction isn't too high especially since most females aren't all that hungry until the eggs are all out. Adult dragon's intestines aren't as kinked as younger ones are so if a little happens to get ingested it shouldn't be as difficult to pass.

I know others who sucessfully use Eco-Earth and play sand.
 
Thanks that will help me cuz she started digging in the little bit of sand that is still left in the bottom of the cage ive got to go get a litter box so i can give her more space i took some soil that ive sanitized earlier in the oven and put it in a shoe box type tub and made it damp hope she holds out for a few more days still need to get incubator setup and holding temps dont know if she will make it or not though i will get some pics of up later before and after she lays her eggs
 
Good luck with the whole experience. You may want to place some sort of cover over the sides of the enclosure for now to give her some privacy. Usually that helps things go along well.
 
i have a 6 qt sterilite tub filled with a water and playsand mixture in the corner of my tank. you want it to be just moist enough so that it stays together when you form a ball. you can also form a laying area in the corner of your tank by piling up this moist sand into a "berm" of sorts. as far as sand goes though, ive never had a problem with using washed play sand for adult beardies. good luck on the eggs!
 
What kind of play sand do you use is it the sand u get from pet stores or can i just get some sand from like menards should i mix any soil with it or moss,etc. Thanks for your help cuz this is new to me and really hoping for good color babies the male is a trans pastel and female is snow at least thats what was told again thanks for your help on this matter
 
We use Eco Earth which is Coconut Fiber Substrate. You put some in a container and add water and watch it grow. It will triple in size . I all so put some in a small Rubbermaid container and put it in there cage so just in case i miss her digging she will lay her eggs in that container. .Just had a citrus an hour ago lay her eggs . 30 nice eggs:thumbsup:
 
will11780 said:
What kind of play sand do you use is it the sand u get from pet stores or can i just get some sand from like menards should i mix any soil with it or moss,etc. Thanks for your help cuz this is new to me and really hoping for good color babies the male is a trans pastel and female is snow at least thats what was told again thanks for your help on this matter
Click to expand...


i just use washed play sand from lowes or home depot. you can mix with peat moss if you like, but ive had luck with just sand.
 
will11780 said:
What kind of play sand do you use is it the sand u get from pet stores or can i just get some sand from like menards
Click to expand...

I would be cautious using bulk sand sold for construction purposes. Without knowing where it came from, you don't know what residual chemicals may be on it.
I work for a mining company and one of our byproducts is feldspar sand. Local lumber yards get a load of that occasionally to sell for construction purposes.
The last stage of the process that sand goes through is a caustic scrub. While it's safe to work with, using it to level pavers or mix concrete, I wouldn't ever use it in relation to my animals. I wouldn't even want to expose my skin to it for too long if it was wet.

I don't know the chemicals they use in the making of the playsand sold at Lowe's, if any, but since one of the purposes it's sold for is to fill a sandbox for kids, I doubt there would be any harsh chemicals left on it when it's bagged. The liability risk would be too high.
 
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