We tend to think that the enjoyment and satisfaction of caring for an exotic pet can only come from observing them from a distance. That’s because many of these creatures are not social by nature and will actually prefer to be without affection and touch. But if you were looking for an exotic animal that would be happy to play and interact with you, then you might be interested in raising a bearded dragon.
Inquisitive, friendly, and highly sociable, these fun creatures are docile, making them the ideal pets for hobbyists who want a critter they can hold and be affectionate with. Of course, caring for a bearded dragon doesn’t simply end with playing with it. Securing the proper habitat should be your first concern.
Discover our choice for the best substrate for beaded dragons and find out how it can improve the health and happiness of your new little friend.
Zoo Med Excavator Clay Burrowing Substrate
For bearded dragons, Zoo Med offers a variety of substrate choices. But one of their most popular is the Zoo Med Excavator Clay Burrowing Substrate (Click here to check for product prices and availability).
Designed for Burrowing
In their natural habitat, the bearded dragon will burrow and hide during the night in preparation for sleep. Another thing you’ll notice is that as you approach the winter months, your bearded dragon might become listless, manifesting a significantly reduced level of activity. This is what experts call brumination, which signifies that your bearded dragon is normal and healthy.
During this time, your dragon will want to hide in its substrate to protect itself from predators. Of course, there won’t be any in your containment. But because your bearded dragon won’t know this, it will still behave in the same way it would in the wild, so it pays to provide the right substrate to offer it the shelter it’s looking for.
That’s why the Clay Burrowing Substrate from Zoo Med makes such a good choice. Allowing you to create tunnels and holes in your space, the clay will hold its shape perfectly. This mimics the terrain and rock formations in your pet’s natural habitat. By creating tunnels, burrows, and holes, you can provide your lizard enough areas to hide and keep safe as it prepares to sleep or goes through the process of burmination.
All Natural and Safe
If you’ve read up on your bearded dragon care sheet, you probably already know how important it is to keep your pet away from chemicals and synthetics. There are a lot of substrates out there that use artificial colors and ingredients in order to achieve a certain aesthetic or to alter its consistency. While they might make your containment look better or make it easier for you to create the topography you want, you have to consider the effects of these ingredients on your pet. Even trace amounts of chemicals in their habitat can cause significant impact as the years roll on. And as you would expect, these additives can negatively affect your pet’s health.
Made from all-natural and organic materials, the Zoo Med Clay Burrowing Substrate doesn’t pose that risk. This substrate promises to keep your pet safe from any chemicals and harsh ingredients with its unique, all-organic composition. So even with long-term exposure, you won’t have to worry about the dangers it might pose to your pet.
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The Perfect Foundation for a Beautiful Set-Up
Of course, aside from the satisfaction of caring for an exotic pet, there’s unique enjoyment in setting up its home. Being able to create a replica of their natural habitat, this substrate from Zoo Med can also help you establish a beautiful aesthetic that can make watching your pet the most satisfying experience.
Without any artificial colors or dyes, this material comes in a vibrant red clay color, providing an interesting contrast with your bearded dragon’s natural skin color. Building tunnels and creating landscapes with this material can be incredibly satisfying, allowing a beautiful terrarium set-up any exotic pet owner can be proud of. What’s more, the material makes it possible for you to put decor in place without worrying about it moving around, so you can be sure that your decorative efforts won’t be easily dismantled by fun-loving beardies.
Safe Against Ingestion
A common problem that bearded dragon owners face is the fact that their pet might ingest some sand during feeding. This can impact their stomach and intestines, causing the development of a variety of health problems. Fortunately, the clay substrate molds in place and is absolutely dust-free. This ensures that you won’t have to worry about your pet eating the material accidentally.
Maintenance Made Easy
The bearded dragon will produce semi-hard stool, which will simply rest on the clay, allowing you to pick it up without making a mess. This makes it exceptionally easy to keep your containment clean, and spot treatment becomes a breeze. Of course, over time, the clay will develop an odor. If you can locate where the odor is coming from, then you can simply scoop out that part of the clay and pat down new clay to cover up the pothole. In effect, the burrowing clay can resist a complete replacement for over a year, as long as you’re performing proper care and maintenance techniques.
Final Thoughts
Your bearded dragon can be a very fun, and satisfying pet to own. But you need to be sure that you’re providing it the right habitat to keep it healthy and happy. The right way to do this would be to create an optimal habitat for it to feel safe and secure. The clay substrate bearded dragons from Zoo Med is a highly recommended choice for most bearded dragon owners. Easy to maintain, affordable, and fun to mold and shape, this material can help you create the perfect terrain and topography to keep your bearded dragon as close to nature as possible.
Click Here To Read Independent Third Party Reviews Of This Product!
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The video below offers an additional third-party, independent review for the Zoo Med Excavator Clay Burrowing Substrate to offer our readers an independent opinion of the product.
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