Leopard gecko substrate.?

Question

I have 3 adult leopard geckos and have been using newspaper on the bottom of their tank since I got them a couple months ago. I want to use some type of sand substrate. I have heardd from a few people that child's play sand works well but i have also heard that there is a risk for impaction. can anyone tell me a sand- like subsrate with the lowest risk of impaction?

I would also like to know which products DON'T work well. which products have you had trouble with?

Answer 1

the risk of impaction is higher with babies, so you want tomake sure that they are over six inches before you use sand. Since yours are adult, it should be fine. Calcium enriched sand is the best becuase it is inevitable when you use bedding that something will be ingested. The sand passes throuh the gecko easily as long as he is healthy. Also, make certain that the geckos are well fed and not fighting over food. A gecko that is impatient will get a mouthfull of substrate more often than one that is more claculating on how he eats.

I absolutely HATE walnut shell bedding. It is large enough to gum up the herps system, but small enough to eat. Sand will wash out easier, and some minerals can be absorbed.

To help the natural process of things, feed wax worms in beween the feeding of other insects. They are full of fat and protein and work as a natural laxative to ease impaction. It aslo helps pass the exoskeleton of crickets and meal worms that do not digest well. It actually works wonders on bearded dragons that lose function in the hind legs from eating too many/too big of crickets.

Warm water baths also help things move along. 10-15 minutes every few days as you clean the cage. Just enough water to sit in, as geckos don't swim. Always watch just in case.

There is a celveland, ohio based company called Fiber Core that sells a recycled newspaper bedding called Eco-Bedding. It is 100% bio-degradeable, ingestable, hypoallergenic, and the geckos love to hide in it. PetSmart used to carry it in the wood bedding section, but it has been discontinued due to supply/demand issues. You can order it online. Just google Eco-Bedding, Fiber Core Cleveland to find the website.

Hope that helps!

Answer 2

I would not use sand at all as a substrate. Some do use play sand but the chance of impaction is to great. What we did for our guy was to buy some indoor/outdoor carpeting and put that in the bottom of his home. You scoop the poop on a regular basis tehn wash the substrate itself like once a week. (if you have 2 you can alternate them between the tank while your washing the other one.)

Answer 3

There is a calcium sand you can get at your petstore that people have "better" luck with. Dont dont dont use childs play sand. Personally, I use brown paper towels for my tank, and it looks ok. I'm just not willing to take the risk of impaction, it's a miserable way for them to die. There are also "carpets" you can get at your petstore. You have to be careful about anything you put in there, as they will ingest any type of substrate that they may get in their mouth when they eat. Also, it's never a good idea to keep same sex animals in the same tank, if they are males they will kill each other eventually.

Answer 4

there is special reptile sand at pet stores you can try those, but no matter what kind there is always a risk of impaction. I have 3 iguanas a water dragon and 3 anoles and I use repti-bark for them it helps keep humidity up, is smells nice and looks pretty and I doubt that a gecko would eat a wood chip. but also consider reptile carpet, there is no chance of your geckos getting impacted with that. though if you really have your heart set on sand go to petsmart or a place like it and look around to see what they have most reptiles dont have problems with the reptile sand. I would not use childrens play sand. good luck!!!

Answer 5

I have a pair of leopard gecko that I breed. I use vita sand. It's a calcium basde sand. You can buy it at most pet stores. I buy mine at Petco. it comes in glow in the dark, purple, etc. It only has to be changed every six months. It's safer than play ground sand. You can use newpaper, paper towls, etc. Don't use industrail sand, or blasting sand.

Answer 6

No, i do no longer advise utilising coco fiber as a substrate for 2 motives. One it may reason impaction as that could be a unfastened substrate. 2, coco fiber will advance the humidity too lots if it gets moist. i want to advise you employ paper towels, newspaper, shelf liner, reptile carpet, astro turf or any unglazed tiles which includes slate. they are all good substrates and could no longer advance the humidity.

Answer 7

I have a lepard geko for about 1.5 years now. I use a calcium enriched sand. I bealive it's called Vita Sand but im not sure. I'ts good for about 6months and only costs a few dollars a bag. It works great.