Is Sand Safe for Bearded Dragons?

[@gryaznygreeb]

The first time I heard of animals eating earth because of vitamin deficiency was a human doing it! An environmental science teacher told me she was undiagnosed anemic as a child, until she began eating dirt repeatedly, and her parents asked the doctor. The doctor determined she had a natural problem with getting enough iron, and eating dirt was an instinctual response to it. She also related it to animals doing the same thing. I never thought of it being a possible factor in impaction. Thank you for dharing your knowledge and experience with us!

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

Very awesome story! Thank you for sharing. Always happy to share info

[@NathanielBurke-px4ue]

​@@ChiefSweetsUniverse so can I just use play sand for my beardie. Cause we have a lot of it so I was going use that instead of buying new sand

[@glorias.2930]

You're seriously the best! You explain everything so clearly. I look forward to every new video. ❤

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

Thank you so much

[@acestories8974]

I had a leopard gecko when I was a kid, and she was on sand. The crickets that we fed her would jump into her water dish and then run around on the sand, and she ate them. We were inexperienced at the time since the pet store owner told us to free feed her. I haven't put my geckos or beardies on since she died, but I'm willing to try again. I don't free feed anymore

[@cruxing]

You’re an absolute legend bro! All your videos are supper informative and straight to the point. Keep up the amazing work. Can you please clarify what types of sand are bad for bearded dragons. I heard that calcium sand is bad and am not sure about coco fiber or crushed walnuts, any others? Also any loose substrate should be organic right? Thanks

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

Oh! Darn I should have said that too. Yes don’t use calcium sand, ground walnut shells, or in my opinion coco fiber as they aren’t natural substrates. They are man made from coconut shells calcium deposits and walnut shells. Stick to classic sand clay and dirt. Appreciate you a lot!

[@rovertorrov3217]

Chief is right.... "what are you doing? Sand is gonna kill your beard dragon!" Despite the debate, we went with an excavator clay/repti sand substrate. The little guy is very happy with his lifestyle. You just have to be mindful of the husbandry. Good light, good heat & gradient. Keep them hydrated and up on their veggies and occasional baths for hydration... they're perfectly fine. It's not the sand that's killing them. It's us... bad husbandry.

[@Beardie_Man]

Thank you, you’ve just calmed down a very nervy new baby bearded dragon owner! 😂

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

Happy to help

[@Beardie_Man]

@@ChiefSweetsUniverse I looked up online that it irritates their eyes and scales and instantly started panicking but thanks to you not anymore so thanks a bunch man!!!

[@vendex1875]

Can you please make a step by step tutorial about setting up a incubator for dragon eggs

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

I’ll add it to my list

[@brandondl1995]

I’m so glad to have you as a source of information. Very helpful man! Would love to know a good uvb recommendation

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

Thank you! I use zoo med 10.0 t5s and Arcadia 14% t5s

[@Chawk95]

I have some cleaning questions for you, it's been hard to find clear answers on this so I'd love to hear your thoughts. How often do you do a full replace on your substrate? Do humidity levels effect bacteria build up in the soil and how do I manage that? Any other general cleaning pro tips?

[@jessward3025]

Thank you soo much!! I am very skeptical on info on the internet but I have watched your channel for sometime and see you know what your doing. I just bought a bearded dragon (juvenile) I was looking for correct info and your video really settled my fears. Walter ( beardie) and I thank u.

[@tribalbabymum]

Thanks for this information!

[@IkeAboutReptiles]

So True Brother! You should set up a Pateron!

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

I might but for now I do have the channel subs on KZbin

[@jeffreymagni1272]

Preach it :-) Same here I've been keeping BD and Leopard Geckos on an off for over 30 years and can say I have never had a problem with loose substrate... EXCEPT when Calcisand first came out.. that killed my gecko, but looking back my supplementation was inadaquate and the animal had a craving to eat lots of the sand which I suspect caused a GI blockage that killed it. That said I wouldn't touch that product again.. but really like Terra Sahara from the Bio Dude. That said there are some good DIY methods too that I would like to try out.

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

Exactly yeah calcium sand is just bad since it’s legit just calcium made into a sand like material so Leopard geckos will definitely want to eat it. Yes I like the biodudes stuff and am a fan of many diy methods myself.

[@jeffreymagni1272]

@ChiefSweetsUniverse right on.. I saw your video on DIY substrate and going to give it a whirl soon on a 5x3x3 I am setting up this winter for my BD..

[@araniananda2284]

hi chief do you keep rankin dragons. It would be very helpful if you could make a video on them

[@ABurghouts]

Awesome vid! Want to make an enclosure with dried excavator clay to lock down some rocks and branches and sand mixture for my Daragon to dig in. That save too?

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

Thank you! Yes that’s perfectly fine

[@Godlovesbeardies]

What if I soak the freeze fried insects that I have?

[@juexotcpet]

Nova inscrita adorando o canal ❤ Meu dragão barbudo é um bebé de 4 meses. O criador que me vendeu me passou essas informações sobre o substrato e quando posto fotos vem muitas pessoas falando que estou cuidando mau do meu animal, mas graças a pessoas como você, sei que estou cuidando muito bem dele. Encomendei um tubo arcadia t5,14% 10 uvb para um terrário 1.20x60x60cm, mas no momento uso uma UVB em foco de led 10.0 Repti tech (vivtech), já usou dessa? Dizem que é top. E tambem uma exo-terra 10uvb (compacta) mas mesmo assim estou seguindo seus conselhos e comprando a arcadia. Muito obrigada!

[@Entirely_Luck]

I just adopted a 2yr old beardie, when I got him he had a crappy t8 uvb, and poor diet, since taking him in, I’ve gotten him a nice Arcadia uvb, and switched his diet correctly, and I’m trying to update his enclosure, he tries to eat the sand, the logs, everything, idk what to do but I want him to have a nice enclosure

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

Definitely give him a multivitamin once a week. Or you could switch him to repashy calcium plus since it’s an all in one calcium multivitamin. It does sound like he’s got a deficiency of some sort

[@rogermcclure4602]

So I just inherited two berries I did put sand in the habitat tanks they came in could you post some lights that would be helpful I want to make sure they have the right loghting

[@le_epic_shit4119]

Just what i needed haha, i did not know what substrate to use and everywhere on the internet they say that sand is not good. You explained this very good. Thanks!

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

Happy to help! Thank you

[@posiedstrawberry9260]

I have two bearded dragons and I’m worried about putting topsoil and play sand in there cages cause they lick everything and I don’t want anything happening to my baby’s :(

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

Yeah licking is how they get a feel for the environment that’s normal. If they somehow lick the substrate up they will just poop it out

[@fernandonavarro2135]

Is zilla desert blend okay for my adult bearded dragon?

[@todo4real]

Nice video man keep up the great work m, also what’s a good beginner gecko for a teenager?

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

Thank you! Good beginner gecko can be a leopard or crested gecko for sure

[@JennP55]

Hi ChiefSweets!! Love your videos!! I’m getting a baby in a few months and have everything set up in my 120 Gal New Age ecoflex enclosure- Question: should I put a waterproof liner under my Australian Desert Habitat sand? And how thick should my substrate be for a baby? Thanks!!

[@nexrole884]

How do you clear their poop from the sand?

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

they have sand sifters that you scoop the poop and the sand falls through. I grab the poop with a paper towel and the sand around it and throw it away

[@nexrole884]

@@ChiefSweetsUniverse Okay. So I either use a sand sifter or just grab the poo with a paper towel. I was wondering if the latter would be better since I reckon the sand around the poo would still have some 'remnants' on the substrate.

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

@@nexrole884 exactly thats why I use the paper towel method you are correct

[@lewisbawden5563]

What about baby bearded dragons?

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

This applies to bearded dragons of all ages

[@cheriescholtz2350]

Bro we need your help...my beardies are not drinking enough water

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

It is very common for them not too if they are hydrated. I have a video on this as well kzbin.info/www/bejne/rZ6TfaNsps1oh9Esi=cueRAcqAHDJ0MkzQ

[@lukecanning1271]

Thanks as always! We bought some kids play sand and noticed it’s full of a lot of small rocks. Do you think that’s ok to use? Or should we sift it out?

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

Oh yeah that’ll be fine I actually wish mine had small rocks haha. If you buy Australian sand which is sourced straight from Australia where the beardies are from it’s also pretty rocky

[@lukecanning1271]

Oh sweet, ok! We ended up sifting the first bag but kept all the rocks so we can mix them back in now that we know it’s safe! Thanks for the reply, we feel a lot better now.

[@Jungleroomreptiles]

Some Reptiles eat the earth,Sand or rocks (stones) to help with digestion 💚

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

Yes they do!

[@caycay_vlogs]

Ever since I have had my bearded dragon I have used tile as substrate. Im only a teen so my parents help out with him at first, but now I mainly take care of him. I have been wanting to transfer him to loose substrate whenever we get his new cage soon, but my mom’s been worried about impaction since my bearded dragon has been raised with hard substrate. Is this true? and if I do end up getting loose substrate, is there a good way to get them to transfer substrates better?

[@JennP55]

I apologize if you’ve posted and I haven’t seen it yet, but how do you CLEAN your Sand/Topsoil mix? Love your Videos!!❤

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

Thank you so much. So you can bake the soil if you want at 250f for 2 hours or you can put it right in. I do like washing my play sand as it’s very dusty and if you wash it it’s not dusty at all

[@JennP55]

Can you show a video of how you clean poop out of the substrate?❤️

[@FBJ-cv3qq]

@@JennP55You scoop it out like Kitty Litter.

[@chloeleepretorius1597]

is it safe to mix sea sand and potting soil for your bearded dragon?

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

Yeah totally fine make sure no glass or trash is in the seas sand and your good

[@jayisk82]

Hello! Do you think it is possible to replace the Peat moss with Coir-peat Brick? And also do you think I could use this mix for a baby pygmy? Thanks for the video! Great as always

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

Yes you can totally use coir peat if you want.

[@AlexAllenKale]

Hi I have a question my bearded dragon’s UVB bulb broke but I don’t have any money to buy a another but I have calcium with D3 will he still be okay if I give him some?

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

Beardies cannot absorb d3 without uvb unfortunately.

[@AlexAllenKale]

Thank you for sharing this information I’ll try as fast as I can to get one

[@AlexAllenKale]

What would you recommend to buy one from

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

I get mine from pangea reptile they are very cheap @@AlexAllenKale

[@AlexAllenKale]

Ok thank you

[@jiahongyang6321]

great videos! But I am still wondering can I use top soil and play sand mix for juveniles?

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

Yes you can I put my babies on it at 1 month old

[@giovannicruz327]

Is it fine if I put my beardie on straigh sand only play sand as long as his husbandry is perfect?

[@giovannicruz327]

Never mind watched the whole thing now lol

[@iswhatitis_ayy]

Can you keep isopods in just sand in a dragon tank?

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

It’ll be too dry for them I would keep them on a mix

[@iswhatitis_ayy]

@@ChiefSweetsUniverse okay bet! I have top soil and play sand mix anyways. I jus wanted to make sure for a friend that isopods can't go in with just a sand mix

[@crazy11917]

I saw your video on a bio active set up for bearded dragon but how to you deal with your bearded dragon eating the clean up crew like isopods

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

Haha now one trick is add them in at night and make sure they have lots of rocks and places to hide. Cause if they do walk out they will get eaten sometimes

[@Im_a_person746]

My bearded dragon terrarium is next to a window so would that give them more uvb?

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

Nope glass blocks 99% of uvb

[@saragaiser4832]

Your videos are awesome thank you so much! I have the Jurassic Australian sand for my baby beardie I just got. He ate a little sand when he went to eat cricket and hasn’t pooped today should I be worried?

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

Thank you! Nope as long as temps are ok and you have proper uvb he will poop it out. You can offer some romaine lettuce to help hydrate him so he has a easier time pooping it out as well

[@saragaiser4832]

@@ChiefSweetsUniverse Thank you so much for answering me! He hasn’t pooped yet but will give him some romaine tomorrow! I am waiting for his Arcadia light to arrive tomorrow as well I just got him and have lived by your videos

[@ShiNoKarasu]

I can't find Quikrete Play Sand in my area and the places that will ship it to me are selling it for $300 to $500. I don't know if it's in bulks or not. Do you have another recommendation for play sand I could use for the enclosure?

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

You could use reptisand in its place

[@texas_255]

Should i use just playsand alone or would you prefer mix with topsoil ? Or dont matter ?

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

Doesn’t matter whichever one you want

[@texas_255]

@@ChiefSweetsUniverse thanks will be ditching the boring carpet mat asap 🤣

[@instant_gamingyt6053]

I got 50ib bag of playsand from Homedepot for 3.00$ compeard to a a 10ib bag of reptisand for 17.00$ at petsmart and my bearded dragon likes the playsand from homedepot way more

[@amandawunstel2]

So i can use straight play sand for my substrate?

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

Yes

[@amandawunstel2]

@@ChiefSweetsUniverse Thanks!

[@jc-vi3dm]

Quick question, do beardies need uva lamps and can you tell me what is a good one for my baby beardie

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

The uvb lamp gives off little bits of uva

[@jc-vi3dm]

@@ChiefSweetsUniverse is 60 watts uva good for a 20 gallon tank?

[@rrome.]

does every reptile need UVB? I don’t mean to sound stupid, but sometimes I search up on google if a specific gecko needs UVB, and it says no. thanks!

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

Yes every reptile does benefit from uvb.

[@rrome.]

@@ChiefSweetsUniverse thanks so much!

[@Floki-l3h]

Is white playsand from lowes good?

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

Yes that works

[@tiffanirichardson]

when getting an arcadia uvb light on reptile basics or online in general does it come with the fixture or is that a separate purchase? Can you use any fixture ?

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

You can use a t5 uvb fixture. The kit includes the bulb and fixture. In Pangea reptile they have a Pangea t5 with reflector lamp for $35 and the bulb for $22

[@tiffanirichardson]

@@ChiefSweetsUniverse Thank you so much

[@Galaxyrides]

Is it good to put a 2 month on vita sand or playsand mixed with topsoil?

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

I wouldn’t do vita sand as it’s calcium sand and that’s not good for them. But playsand and top soil is perfect

[@Galaxyrides]

Ok thanks 😊😊​@@ChiefSweetsUniverse

[@DallasStorm43]

I have seen beardies that were 100% on point with lights, bulbs and everything and still have impaction issues. Most beardies are from Southeast Australia where the land is hard and dry. So for my opinion, I will never use loose substrate.

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

There is always a reason for it they could have been sick as well. The dragons we have in the hobby are from heavy sandy clay dirt areas. Not the hard packed areas. Still extremely sandy. In all my years of keeping breeding and helping others I’ve never seen anyone have impaction. It’s extremely rare to be honest

[@richwilson7017]

Risky. Talking about pregnant women. Lol. Thanks For the vid. Makes total sense. Common sense it sounds like.

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

😂 bro I actually got scared saying it out loud I was like oh what am I doing 😂

[@jasonk2947]

Explains why my wife ate sand during her pregnancy

[@CalebsAquarium]

I've had my bearded dragon close to 8 years now and had him on tile because I was told that sand was just a no no because of impaction. Ive been doing tons of research, including your video, and am building his permanent new home a 4x2x2 with sand, excavator clay, some australian sand, and a bit of topsoil here as we speak. Look forward to the result and hope he loves it. Lots of big stones for him to climb and bask as well. I used these landscaping stones for my uromastyx and he loves climbing all over them.

[@24kHoopz]

I use the sakrete play sand

[@aryasatyarizkypradana1601]

Ayy gonna ask some questions, does the Exo Terra Dessert sand is ok for Adult Bearded Dragon? Kinda anxious to buy it 😭

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

Yeah that’s great just stay away from the calcium sand

[@ShiNoKarasu]

What kind of topsoil can I use with playsand?

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

Any organic top soil with no manure in it

[@vikkigarcia420]

New beardie mom here! I got haggled into getting the duel 10watt uvb lights. Can I still use them but just change the bulbs? Ur videos are great! Any extra advice?😬

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

I don’t know if I’m familiar with that one what’s the brand name?

[@jessicalittle608]

When I went to the pet store, I almost got one of those coil bulbs and then a reptile enthusiast employee recommended the Reptisun hood light 10.0 UBV, T5 High output. Is that enough UBV for my baby

[@bethg9991]

The most sensible guy i have ever heard in regards to reptiles🙏🏼 the amount of times i have been bashed for using sand as a substrate even though he hasnt once eaten the sand in 6 years he doesnt even lick it to taste his surroundings. I dont feed him in his tank so the risk is unbelievably low. Yet facebook mums know better!😊👀🤣

[@glorias.2930]

Aside from Fluker's Repta Calcium, what other vitamins/supplements should I provide? I put two fist-size rocks in my baby bearded dragon's enclosure and had to remove them because he started biting them. Made me wonder if he needed more vitamins/minerals. Can you please do a video on supplements?

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

Yes that would be a sign of a vitamin deficiency. I would offer reptivite without d3 every two weeks

[@smoothbandit4977]

Just watched your video on how to make substrate I’m going to buy all the stuff just wondered if it was still good for a juvenile bearded dragon ?

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

Oh yeah perfectly fine for a baby dragon

[@SirDinoKing]

If my bearded dragon has lived on carpet for 1.6 years do you think it will be OK to use sand and topsoil now? Or will it give environmental stress?

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

Yeah it’ll be totally fine. I’ve done it to dragons before

[@SirDinoKing]

Okay thank you so much man!

[@KlydePeterOjascastro]

Is it ok for a hatchling to live in the sand. Other says that i should wait for 4-6mons. Thanks for your very informative videos.

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

Yes I put mine on substrate at 1 month old

[@KlydePeterOjascastro]

@@ChiefSweetsUniverse thank you sir and more power!

[@julianto4361]

For the sands/substrate, if you are not using a bio active one (E.g isopods), how often do you change them completely?

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

Once a year

[@samuelodonnell5701]

Once a year if your spot cleaning every time they go to the bathroom

[@PatrickKend]

You are the only reptile expert I follow and take advice from. Isn’t this video applicable to my Leopard Gecko too?

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

Yes totally applies to leopard geckos as well. All reptiles really

[@PatrickKend]

@@ChiefSweetsUniverse thank you

[@HerrKarthus]

can you make a video on HOW to feed a beardie, i know you did alot for what to feed but tips for actually feeding insects would be cool

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

I’ll definitely make a short cause I think it would only be a minute long explanation

[@glorias.2930]

@@ChiefSweetsUniverseYou would be surprised how many of us might want a video like this. 🙂

[@ais6875]

沙子會唔會塞腸

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

Not with proper hydration and husbandry

[@kimb.3050]

Thank u for this! Makes so much sense. Switching to sand. Just makes more sense to me. He's looking like he may be in the beginning stages of MBD and I'm so upset and desperate to find ways to help my boy ASAP!

[@EarthsGeomancer]

We are not supposed to simulate the wild, we simulate something better than the wild to improve the quality of their life and their health.

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

Very true but we do have to simulate some part of the wild like temperature, uvb exposure, and how they obtain moisture cause that’s how they stay healthy.

[@Crochetjay]

I agree but saying loose substrate is okay will make more people that don’t have proper husbandry think it’s okay for them to use

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

That’s why I said you have to use proper uvb and make sure your setup is good like having proper temps, good hydration, etc. Also mentioned that what bad uvb is. Also mentioned that if they do get impacted then they now know they have bad husbandry. To make sure people for sure knew to make sure there husbandry is up to par.