How can I get my Bearded dragon tank to smell better?

Question

Every time my dragon takes a poo I clean it up, but the smell is still their all over the house. I clean the tank out every week and wash all the items in side everyday. I use all kinds of different sprays to cover it up but that does not work. I even thought about feeding my dragon only fruit because it is the only thing he eats and does not smell but I know thats not right for him. I use calcium sand which I change every month. Could the smell be in the sand? what should I do? Beside change the sand my dragon refuses to step on news paper. He wont eat or climb down off the branches and will fight to the death if you put him down in it.

Answer 1

It probably is the substrate. I am personally against any kind of particle substrate for that very reason along with the risk of impaction. When they poo, they also expel liquid which is quickly absorbed into the sand. Its a breeding ground for bacteria.

My dragons cages have ceramic tile for the substrate. Its so easy to clean. I had them cut to fit the bottom, cost me a total of $10 to get tile for a 40 breeder. When they poo, I use a Lysol wipe, followed by a wet paper towel, then dry with a paper towel. Once a week or so i pull them all out and give them a thorough cleaning and bake them at 200 degrees for 20 minutes. I have ZERO smell and unless I drop and break a tile, I never have to buy a new substrate. I HIGHLY recommend you looking into it for the sake of the smell and the health of your beardie.
One thing, if you choose to try the tile, make sure you get one with some texture to it for traction for them. It also helps to keep their nails filed.

One other posiblilty, have you had a fecal done lately? Poo is going to smell but an overpowering lingering smell could be because of an underlying cause such as parasites. Something else to think about.

If you want, email me I can send you some pics of my setups so you can see the tile. Also feel free to email me with any other questions and/or check out one or both of the following forums I belong to:

http://dragonzone.rapidboards.com/
http://bearded-dragons.com/boards/index.php

Answer 2

don't be responsive to if this enables yet reptiles are companies to bacterial infections do no longer sparkling the tank with bleach as this could kill them attempt asking at a puppy shop for an anti bacterial spray purifier specifically for reptiles replace the water oftentimes and sparkling out any left over nutrition oftentimes this could help yet while the undertaking persist you decide on veterinary scientific care could properly be a fungal an infection or perhaps some variety of mouth rot no longer properly up on bearded dragons yet I even have an iguana and that they could pose comparable issues good success

Answer 3

I use reptile carpet-sold at most pet stores. Typically, despite what packaging says, sands and other substrates can be harmful to digestive systems and I stay away from them. The carpet can be interchanged easily and then washed in the washing machine to ensure that it is clean and sanitary. I highly reccommend this option! :)

Answer 4

A vet told me to use news paper as a substrate so that it could be changed everyday. I didn't like that idea because it looks terrible. However, I did find some thin beige carpet that looks nice and was cheap so I could change it more often with less hassle. You may have to increase the other sources of calcium to accomidate.

Answer 5

switch to regular play sand it clumps really nice and the whole mess comes out in one scoop- also they wont lick the play sand so they dont get impacted from it. then I always ad a few teaspoons of backing soda to the play sand after cleaning and mix into sand it works good for odour.

Answer 6

You should use reptile carpet, sand can impact him.