my beardie gilbert

Question
Hi there. i am getting really confused about keeping my 6month old gilbert the beardie. i got him saturday and looking on the internet i am geting confused. i am having a 4ft viv built and would like to put some live plants in there 4 him. but not sure which 1s and also i have corn kerbals for its bedding. but 1 site is saying no and the other yes. could you please help gilbert and me his keeper.
thank you
nickie

Answer
Hello Nickie,

Live plants are great for an enclosure. However with something like a Bearded Dragon you have to be careful because live plants will increase the humidity. Too much humidity and he can get sick. So you will need plants from arid environments and a digital hygrometer to measure the levels. If it gets too humid you can have problems.

Here is a list of plants that are safe for herp habitats:

http://www.anapsid.org/resources/plants2.html

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Corn kernals are not advised. The rule with reptiles is if you see controversial information. One website saying one thing and the other saying no. Then its safe to assume that somebody somewhere has had trouble with it.

Say one site says Sand is OK, another site says Sand is Not OK. You will go with Not okay just because it has obviously done something that the other people do not want to risk. Make sense?

So if you see something that says "no" to one thing and another place says "yes" its usually safe to assume No.

Safe substrates (beddings) include, ceramic tile, linoleum flooring, slate rock, indoor outdoor carpet, reptile carpet, newspaper, and paper towels. My favorites are ceramic tile and reptile carpet. If you get ceramic tiles then be sure when under the heat light they do not get too hot. They will absorb a lot of heat and you don't want Gilbert's feet or stomach getting burned.

Reptile Carpet is by far the best in my opinion.

Good luck
Yexalen