Substrate for older beardies

[SpikeBeauCloud1]

Hi, I've recently been looking into a loose substrate (ecoearth, soil, etc) for my 7 and 6 year old beardies. I've switched between tiles and carpet through out their entire lives. I've noticed that some of my 7 year old beardies nails have been twisting, like her weight was too much. So I was wondering if there was any type of loose substrate that will be softer on her nails as well as her joints. I don't want anything that has a high risk of impaction or anything else of that nature- as my 7 year old isn't the brightest.

 

[HoomanSlave]

Hi, I've recently been looking into a loose substrate (ecoearth, soil, etc) for my 7 and 6 year old beardies. I've switched between tiles and carpet through out their entire lives. I've noticed that some of my 7 year old beardies nails have been twisting, like her weight was too much. So I was wondering if there was any type of loose substrate that will be softer on her nails as well as her joints. I don't want anything that has a high risk of impaction or anything else of that nature- as my 7 year old isn't the brightest.

A blend of 50% play sand, 30% organic topsoil, and 20% excavator clay makes a great and natural substrate mix that's not too expensive to make or maintain.

 

[SpikeBeauCloud1]

A blend of 50% play sand, 30% organic topsoil, and 20% excavator clay makes a great and natural substrate mix that's not too expensive to make or maintain.

Thank you. So my 7 year old is female, and she's never been gravid or anything, is there a chance this could entice her to try and lay eggs?

 

[HoomanSlave]

Thank you. So my 7 year old is female, and she's never been gravid or anything, is there a chance this could entice her to try and lay eggs?

She's around the age when beardies stop producing eggs, and if she's never laid before she isn't likely to start. I don't think there's much of a chance of her trying to lay eggs at this point.

 

[SpikeBeauCloud1]

She's around the age when beardies stop producing eggs, and if she's never laid before she isn't likely to start. I don't think there's much of a chance of her trying to lay eggs at this point.

Alright thanks, and one more question, sorry! What should I do to maintain the substrate you listed? How often should it be changed, what to look out for? I am mainly worried about mold or the beardies inhaling it or something.

 

[Skybug]

Alright thanks, and one more question, sorry! What should I do to maintain the substrate you listed? How often should it be changed, what to look out for? I am mainly worried about mold or the beardies inhaling it or something.

I use a coco fiber playsand reptibark spagnum moss, it gives the substtate a nice bounce to it, id just spot clean how you did with ur tile setup, , u can add a little water to ur subtrate mixture , you dont want it wet just enough to get them blended, if ur doing a naturel setup setup, id get springtail, Earwig and some other cleaner cree bugs, if ur feeding super or meal worms u can throw a couples in there too

 

[SpikeBeauCloud1]

I use a coco fiber playsand reptibark spagnum moss, it gives the substtate a nice bounce to it, id just spot clean how you did with ur tile setup, , u can add a little water to ur subtrate mixture , you dont want it wet just enough to get them blended, if ur doing a naturel setup setup, id get springtail, Earwig and some other cleaner cree bugs, if ur feeding super or meal worms u can throw a couples in there too

Alright, thank you!