bearded dragon ...would this work?

[mouse]

i got 2 bearded dragon babies (4 months old), and can't use sand as substrate. i'm using paper towels and a piece of carpet, but the crickets all get under the paper towel and hide. so now i was wondering (seen something in walmart) the rubbery shelfliners they got, could i put those in the tank and maby put the other liner (some kind of tied todgether bamboo mat similar to the mat ppl take to the pool)on top. the rubbery mat is so that the bamboo mat don't slip in the tank.
would that work?
i have not bought either, but it should be better than the paper towel.
dianne

 

[chad11990]

whats wrong with sand?

 

[mouse]

since they are still babies and could swallow sand while hunting the crix, the sand would get impackted and it would kill them. babie beardies can die easily...sand, dehydration and what i didn't know but found out the hard way...giant mealworm. i had 3 dragons, one ate 4 giant mealworms and died 2 - 3 days later because the mealworms i guess started biting him from the inside...i only seen a red steak across its belly under the skin...so no more mealworms for my dragons till they are older.
dianne

 

[danread]

Hi Dianne,

sand is fine to use for baby beardies. Just make sure you dont use sharp sand, the best stuff i have found is childrens play pit sand. Sieve it first before using it to remove any large lumps that may cause impaction. Dehydration is not usually a problem with beardies, as llong as you are feeding enough vegetable matter.

Cheers,

 

[Iktomi]

Also, giant mealworms are waaay too big for baby beardies. Good rule of thumb is to never feed anything bigger than the space is between the eyes of the beardie. All sorts of problems can come from big meals, i.e. hind quarter paralyzation.