water dragons and white proso millet

Question
QUESTION: Hi Heather...I was just wondering is white proso millet a good or acceptable substrate for water dragons? I've been using chip fir bark for about 2 months but my vet told me to change it because even though my WD never suffered from impaction due to the fact he is fed in a dish...its better not to take the risk. So I just want to know if white proso millet is good because my friend has an iguana and he told me that WD and Iguanas can use the same substrates and he uses white proso millet for his iguana.

ANSWER: Hello Jose, that is not a good substrate for a Water Dragon or an Iguana

I suggest Eco-Earth (compressed coconut fiber), Organic Potting Soil, or Reptile carpet.

I use Eco-Earth and Organic Potting soil for my 2yr old CWD and have never had a problem with it. It holds moisture and isn't very expensive. However still feed in the dish even though it isn't known to cause impaction ANY particulate loose substrate can.



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks very much I'll buy it asap...also I was wondering...why are coil uvb lights bad?? I removed mine this weekend and replaced it with a mercury vapor bulb..but I was just curious to know why its so bad, because apparently my WD was loving it, but just to make sure nothing happened I replaced it.

Answer
Hi Jose,

Sorry I'm not very experienced with the lighting topic. I know which ones are bad and which ones are good but other then that I'm not very good with them. Try to ask Tracie another reptile expert here, she has the most information on that.

I do know that they have been known to cause serious eye problems and are possibly linked to other medical problems.