anyone one here keep beardies like varanids?

[murrindindi]

Originally Posted by Varanus666

I've been wanting a beardie really bad here recently..and I was wondering if anyone kept them like a varanid. I just don't like seeing them on news paper and plain sand seems too bland to me too. If any of you do, what is the sand to soil ratio you use? I was thinking that there has to be more sand than soil..but I'm not sure. I hope someone can give me some insight. Thanks.

Hi,I would actually use more soil than sand so it holds together better, maybe 60% soil to 40% sand (it`s trial and error).
Here`s a few more pics of them in the wild, taken quite recently...

[Pirarucu]

I have not, but I read a thread a while back on another forum from someone who kept their beardies just like varanids and they did fantastic, plus their health problems completely vanished. I can post the link if you'd like.

[Aaron_S]

Originally Posted by Terranaut

Wasn't there a thread about rmf's beardie on here
Oh nevermind it's dead... I mean the thread.... I mean the dragon....I mean both....ah whatever

That was pure gold.

[Aaron_S]

Originally Posted by Pirarucu

I have not, but I read a thread a while back on another forum from someone who kept their beardies just like varanids and they did fantastic, plus their health problems completely vanished. I can post the link if you'd like.

Who would have thought that our animal ailments were due to husbandry and not some random piece of decor, substrate, prey or just a "bad animal".

[red ink]

60% washed palysand / 30% excavator clay / 10% soil... makes for fantastic burrowing substrate for BDs.

Their natural environment has a lot of sandy top soil then harder clay packed substrate underneath.

Experiment on the mixtures and see how you go.... I would suggest placing the feed bowl on top of a large textured tile though to prevent some cross contamination of the veg matter. Their plant diet in a natural setting is not wet and on the floor so does not contain a lot of substrate particles on it.

[Little Wise Owl]

Originally Posted by Pirarucu

I have not, but I read a thread a while back on another forum from someone who kept their beardies just like varanids and they did fantastic, plus their health problems completely vanished. I can post the link if you'd like.

I would like this link please. I'd love to put my Beardies in a more natural set up.

I think it's frustrating when I'm looking for information like this and places like BeardedDragon.org go on and on about how any loose particle substrate WILL KILL YOUR DRAGON AND THERE WILL BE IMPACTION ALWAYS.

[murrindindi]

Originally Posted by Little Wise Owl

I would like this link please. I'd love to put my Beardies in a more natural set up.

I think it's frustrating when I'm looking for information like this and places like BeardedDragon.org go on and on about how any loose particle substrate WILL KILL YOUR DRAGON AND THERE WILL BE IMPACTION ALWAYS.

Hi, the "new" ideas about housing them in captivity are the higher than normally recommended surface temps at the basking site (around 50c+), and a relatively deep particulate substrate.
Here again is part of their natural habitat in the wild... The dragon in the bottom pic is a P. barbata.


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[Little Wise Owl]

WATCH OUT HE'S GONNA SWALLOW THE SAND AND DIE. lol

What's the humidity at in their natural habitat?

[red ink]

Originally Posted by Little Wise Owl

WATCH OUT HE'S GONNA SWALLOW THE SAND AND DIE. lol

What's the humidity at in their natural habitat?

Humidity is dependant on where they are... they can tolerate up 70% humidity for prolonged periods in some of their natural habitat and as low as 30% in the Longreach area.

Variation in the habitats that I have found them....

[red ink]

What the substrate looks like... ( I was collecting these pics for a mate in the US who was a BD breeder) in the above post.

[red ink]

Some wild ones...









Quick people... get some black top in your enclosures lol.

[Little Wise Owl]

Thanks a lot

How could I achieve a packed down, hardened substrate?

[red ink]

Originally Posted by Little Wise Owl

Thanks a lot

How could I achieve a packed down, hardened substrate?

60% washed palysand / 30% excavator clay / 10% soil is what I used to use for mine (he's on half tile, half straight sand these days).

The more excavator clay ratio you put in the more packed it becomes.

[jarich]

They have a wide range but anywhere from 30-80%

[jarich]

Sorry for the double post but Red Ink can you possibly take a picture of some basking surface temps you find them on?