If you must use non-loose/solid substrate, tile can be good. You just have to find a tile with a rough surface, not the smooth tile. Otherwise, the following solid substrates are appropriate:
If your beardie is 12+ months of age, confirmed healthy with no mobility issues or history of digestive problems and you are confident with husbandry, I would strongly suggest a safe loose substrate (this page is very informative if you want to know why). The following non loose substrates are best:
If you're using tile, use slate or ceramic tile with a rough surface so the beardie doesn't slip around (this can be very frustrating for the animal).
Honestly, as long as the beardie is over 8 months of age, healthy with no history of impaction and the setup is correct, I'd use a safe loose substrate. I recommend checking out this page for a more in-depth explanation as to why. To put it simply, beardies will not suffer problems as a result of loose substrate as a whole, but rather loose substrates can cause problems if the beardie is compromised (too cold, extremely small, suffering a medical problem, etc) or if the wrong loose substrate is chosen (just as there are some bad solid substrates, there are bad loose substrates). Many Central beardies in the wild also live on loose substrate, so will appreciate the opportunity to dig. If the beardie is healthy, an older juvenile or adult and well-cared-for, I'd use one of the following substrates:
If the beardie has a medical condition, is a young hatchling, or you are not confident the beardie's enclosure setup is correct, tile will work.
If you are scared to house the beardie on loose substrate despite the beardie being 8+ months of age and healthy and well-cared for, provide a dig box. A cardboard box or small pet litter tray with a depth of 6+ inches will work. The dig box should be filled with one of the loose substrates mentioned above.
I get reptisand with no added dyes or calcium. It was about $10 at my local pet store, but they're typically cheaper than Amazon. Amazon has it for a bit more
It's actually a bit cheaper on Petco if you're able to get it there. I get the 10 pound bag. If you wanted other options just in case I have this copy and paste list:
natural play/decorative sand, Natural aquarium sand, and Reptisand are just a few. You can use any aquarium or reptile sand that are mineral-free and undyed. And any chinchilla sand (not dust it's too powdery). Or children's play sand, but make sure it's non toxic. If you get play sand, most people like to bake it for a little to sanitize and sift out all the big pieces, but I've used Amazon play sand without baking and it was alright.
The aquarium sand the other commenter mentioned is linked to Petco, and if it's still on sale it's the same price for double the amount.
I would not recommend many enclosure mats for beardies. Reptile carpet harbours bacteria and can catch teeth and claws, potentially resulting in injury. Sand/rock mats can be difficult to clean, and the rocks can fall off the mat and potentially be swallowed, resulting in an intestinal blockage.
The following substrates are best for young beardies (under 8-12 months of age), beardies with a medical condition (or unknown health) or for keepers not confident with their beardie's husbandry:
Once the beardie is definitely healthy, 8-12+ months of age and husbandry is definitely correct, I'd recommend one of the following substrates:
Until you are confident with husbandry (lighting, heating, enclosure size, diet, etc) and the beardie is definitely healthy, I would use a safe solid/non-loose substrate. The following are examples of safe solid substrates:
Once you are sure husbandry is correct and your beardie is healthy, the following loose substrates are great:
AVOID the following:
I personally use a playsand/topsoil mix with tile under the water and food bowl to limit the amount of substrate she kicks into the bowls.
You can use a cardboard box or small pet litter pan with a depth of 6+ inches. It can be filled with one of the following substrates:
I personally recommend loose substrate as long as the beardie is 6+ months, healthy and husbandry is otherwise correct.
The following loose substrates are safe:
I personally use a soil/sand mix because it's cheapest.
If your beardie is young, has a diagnosed medical condition or you are not confident the setup is correct, the following can be used:
Substrate is very controversial, so people are going to give you a lot of different answers. In my personal opinion, a safe loose substrate is the best for healthy, well-cared-for dragons. I'd recommend reading this page for more in-depth info as to why.
If you are confident with husbandry, the bearded dragon is healthy and has no history of digestive problems, and they aren't super tiny, I would recommend using one of the following:
If the bearded dragon is very young, has a medical condition (or you are unsure of the dragon's health) or you are not confident with husbandry, use a non-loose substrate. The following are the best non-loose substrates:
If you are scared of using loose substrate and choose to use a solid substrate despite the beardie being well-cared for and completely healthy, provide a dig box. Beardies love to dig and often have a strong instinct to burrow, so unless the beardie has a diagnosed permanent medical problem, you will need to provide a space for them to dig. A small pet litter tray or cardboard box with a depth of at least 6 inches filled with one of the safe loose substrates mentioned above will work.
I personally use a mix of playsand and topsoil. I have tile under the water bowl and salad bowl to limit the amount of substrate she kicks into the bowls.
https://www.amazon.com/Zoo-Med-ReptiSand-Pounds-Desert/dp/B0002DIZKC/ref=sr_1_9?dchild=1&keywords=hamster+sand+bath&qid=1605638219&sr=8-9 IS THIS a good sand? it has calcium though.
The following are great:
I personally use a mix of soil and playsand because it's the cheapest. If you do get playsand, make sure it says 'washed playsand' on the bag, or wash it yourself. Unwashed playsand can be dusty.
natural play/decorative sand, Natural aquarium sand, and Reptisand are just a few. You can use any aquarium or reptile sand that are mineral-free and undyed. And any chinchilla sand (not dust it's too powdery). Or children's play sand, but make sure it's non toxic. If you get play sand, most people like to bake it for a little to sanitize and sift out all the big pieces, but I've used Amazon play sand without baking and it was alright.
natural play/decorative sand, Natural aquarium sand, and Reptisand are just a few. You can use any aquarium or reptile sand that are mineral-free and undyed. And any chinchilla sand (not dust it's too powdery). The aquarium sand is the best deal right now. Reptisand might be on sale there too just make sure it's the white one and calcium free.
It is. It's hard to find online, but Petco and Pet Supplies Plus always seem to have it when I go in person. Its on Amazon, but it's $20 rather than it's typical in store price of like $10.
Here's a link to the exact one I use: Zoo Med ReptiSand, 10 Pounds, Desert White https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002DIZKC/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_apa_i_wpGdFbEKGDEBF