Best substrate for leopard geckos

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Choosing a substrate can be one of the more confusing aspects of setting up a tank for leopard geckos. There is much debate over which substrates are safe and best for your specific age and size of a gecko. Paper towels, though not as attractive in a terrarium as some other options, are one of the most popular substrates available. For juveniles and hatchlings under a year old , paper towels may be your best choice as a substrate. For adults, there are more choices of substrates available to you, but with all the recommendations, making a decision can be confusing.

Best substrate for leopard geckos

Leopard gecko substrate is a controversial issue. Many sources recommend against using any kind of loose substrate sand, soil, etc. This is an example of folklore husbandry — popular myth and pseudoscience that have become a standard of practice in leopard gecko instead of science and facts. Here at ReptiFiles, we base our recommendations on scientific fact, not hearsay. Loose, naturalistic substrate can actually be the best kind of substrate for housing leopard geckos. A more detailed explanation is provided further down the page, which you can jump to here. These are the best substrates that ReptiFiles recommends for use with leopard geckos. If you are concerned about impaction, these make decent alternatives to loose substrate. These substrates are particularly dangerous to leopard geckos because they either emit VOCs volatile organic compounds that can make your gecko sick, or they pose a severe impaction risk if accidentally swallowed. Avoid these substrates at all costs and stick to the list in the previous section. Sand and other loose substrates are very controversial as a leopard gecko substrate. The most vehement opinions are usually supported by claims that sand causes fatal impaction in leopard geckos by turning into a cement-like sludge inside their intestines. After extensive research and thought on the matter, we at ReptiFiles have concluded that sand is safe for use with leopard geckos, but only if it is used correctly.

It comes in two colors — white and orange — but is free of dyes and chemicals, and is not the same as calcium sand. Kevin, the gecko, also only had a single rock and a small little rock watering hole I was wondering what else I could add to help.

When it comes to leopard gecko setups , one of the most asked questions is what is the best substrate for leopard gecko enclosures. This question is easily one of the most debatable questions because there are lots of variables that you need to consider. So what is the best substrate, and what do you need to consider? There are numerous things to consider. Here are some of the things to think about before selecting your substrate. There is a movement for bioactive enclosures.

When choosing a substrate for your leopard gecko terrarium, there are many options available. However, making the wrong choice could lead to serious health problems down the road. The best substrate for your leopard gecko may also vary depending on the age and size of the lizard. The ideal leopard gecko substrate will be compact, easy to clean, and impossible to accidentally ingest. The ideal habitat will also feature some plants real or artificial to provide shade and hiding spots as well as a shelter for sleeping and cooling down. Leopard geckos are generally fed mealworms and crickets. When eating live prey, geckos are known for getting very excited about the hunt often chasing prey around their habitat for quite a while. Unfortunately, sometimes these specialized tongues also pick up pieces of harmful substrate when eating. During digestion, loose substrate may compact in the intestines, causing digestive distress which can eventually lead to death.

Best substrate for leopard geckos

They are small, easy to care for, accessible, and entertaining. These nocturnal creatures are native to hot sandy areas in the Middle East region , which are typically a semi-desert climate. They eat live insects like crickets. Knowing all these facts about the Leopard Gecko makes it easier to determine what the best substrate choices are for them because their BEST habitat is one that mimics their natural environment. Leopard Gecko owners tend to feel strongly about what substrate works best for their terrariums. This is largely because substrates are such a personal choice for individual habitat goals, their climate, or their cleaning preferences. With all of this being said, read ahead to get an idea of what the best substrate choices are for Leopard Geckos! This is almost always going to be something as close to the natural habitat as possible. Similarly, if your gecko is young or prone to eat some of its substrate when it feeds, then sand or anything with small particles is not going to work either.

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In This Article Expand. After extensive research and thought on the matter, we at ReptiFiles have concluded that sand is safe for use with leopard geckos, but only if it is used correctly. First of all, they are a breeding ground for bacteria. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Please help. Paper towels: Absorbent, easy to replace, and cheap. When one is soiled, remove it for a thorough cleaning and replace it with the second piece. It is sand-shaped, fine calcium carbonate. Though they are easy to clean, paper towels hold moisture that can raise the humidity too much for desert dwelling reptiles. So sand is bad, right? We recommend purchasing two rolls so one can be used in the enclosure while the other is in the wash. Also, there have been case reports of leos accidentally ingesting pieces of paper while shedding their skin — which could be even more dangerous than a bit of coconut fiber or sphagnum moss.

There are a lot of different substrates out there that you can use for your leopard gecko. But what is the best substrate for leopard gecko?

Instead, there are a number of alternative substrates that are easy to find, install and safe to use. After caring for animals in her veterinarian practice, Lianne went on to study biology and research water quality and chronic disease at the University of Saskatchewan. Also, there have been case reports of leos accidentally ingesting pieces of paper while shedding their skin — which could be even more dangerous than a bit of coconut fiber or sphagnum moss. Even worse, calcium carbonate is an antacid, meaning that it reduces the amount of stomach acid. If you still, for any reason, prefer reptile carpets, get one from a proven manufacturer and check if it has been designed with leopard geckos in mind. This means that while some wild-type leopard geckos are fine on loose substrate, others may have more sensitive digestive tracts. Unlike the previously mentioned paper substrates, it ensures that reptiles can get a good grip when walking. Despite many informed negative opinions, this product is still on the market, so a novice person to the hobby may still end up with it. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. Please help. It also has live plants and branches.