Best Substrates for Bearded Dragons: Sand, Tile, or Carpet?
Sand, tile, or carpet? What’s really safe for your bearded dragon? I’ll never forget the call. A first-time owner named Jen had just lost her 4-month-old bearded dragon, Spike. He’d been on calcium sand since the pet store recommended it. The necropsy showed a compacted gut full of sand. She was heartbroken. And honestly? She’d been given bad advice. Picking the right flooring for your bearded dragon’s tank isn’t about looks. It’s about safety, hygiene, and letting your lizard act like a lizard. The three most common options are sand, tile, and reptile carpet. But each has real trade-offs. So here’s what you need to know. ...