What substrate do you use?

[Cloudk]

I'm curious what substrate other people use. I use millet myself. My dragon loves to dig in it, and if he eats it, it all comes out the other end Please dont try to convince myself or others of what they SHOULD be using. Everyone has their own opinion of what is good for their pet. Thanks!

[perfectly_flawed]

Textured ceramic tiles and nonadhesive shelf liner for my dragons. I don't care to have them living in a litter box or impacted - or ingesting their own waste.
Opinions are a wonderful thing, but when backed by recorded facts, documentation and lots of experience they hold much more weight. If you prefer to have your dragon living in something that is not only unsanitary and a health risk, that's your choice - but please do not state that it's fine. It's not okay for any animal to live in those conditions. Dragons that live in a particle substrate have a much higher chance of impaction, infections, and parasites than those who live in a more sanitary environment.
I'm sorry to sound harsh, but until you've had more experience and you've made some changes for your own dragon, you're really not in a position to try to educate others. Especially not those who have many years of experience. Combined, this forum has more experience than almost any other resource for dragon care. Making an argumentative post because you've been told that you're doing something that is not in the best interests of your dragon is not acceptable behaviour on the boards. You're welcome to post to ask what substrates people are using and why, but please, next time leave the argumentative nature out of it.

[beardielover17]

I've tried almost every substrate out there when I first started with bearded dragons years ago. Through all of my trial and error it has come down to several that I liked, 2 of which I currently use. I liked the non particle substrates for the lack of health risk and more sanitary conditions. I liked newspaper because if was cheap/free and worked well. Non-adhesive shelf liner was good too but often difficult to find for me and but my favorite was and is tile. Tile is cheap, a one time purchase, keeps my dragon's nails trimmed and is easy to clean and is sanitary.

My other choice in substrate is organic potting soil. I only recently started using this as an entire substrate. In no way do I recommend keeping a dragon on soil or playsand without at least a couple years experience and enough dedication to cleaning and replacing it on a daily to weekly basis. I am well aware of the impaction risk involved in using sand and/or dirt but my dragon was not happy on a non-particle substrate and is happier off of it. He is an adult so his chance of impaction is slightly less and to further avoid issues of possible impaction he has increased basking temperatures and is ALWAYS fed out of his enclosure and on my kitchen floor.

I do believe that ingesting the substrate of any kind is harmful. To me it is like the saying, "you don't eat where you poop" and vice versa. These are my beliefs and I make my decision on what I feel is best for my animal's well being and I hope you do the same as well.

If anything do what I did and experiment with other substrates, you may be surprised and find out that you find another one that is even better.

[Jonnyinga]

Tile for me. I love it So easy to keep clean, retains heat well, and it's aesthetically pleasing. I have it in all of my leopard gecko tanks and in my bearded dragons tank.

[Cloudk]

If my baby didn't love to dig so much, i'd probably try the tiles. Not as natural, but i'd at least try it. Typhoon just loves to dog and bury himself so much! I think he'd be misarable. Yes I'm aware of the impaction risk. But i also want my baby to be happy

[JackReacher]

Ceramic tile is the way forward. Only the best for my little man.

[BoogiesMom]

I use tile for all of the above reasons but have played around with the Idea of potting soil but if I did ever do it I would put it in a pan that could be put in and taken out.

[perfectly_flawed]

Sand isn't natural to them. They don't live in loose sand, but on hard packed clay soil with a very thin loose topsoil. Providing them with a soft cloth or a small container of playsand removes the risks of impaction and living in an un-natural unsanitary environment.

[ewstokes]

i have textured ceramic tile and underground sandboxes.

[Beardo]

Reptile carpet for me, I dont reccomend it to anyone though.(pet store suggested it...) The only way to get it clean is taking it to a car wash, pressure washing it, then soaking it in bleach and giving it plenty of time to dry. Will be switching to coarse sand soon.