Newb question on substrate :D

Dwarf Puffers

Dwarf Puffers

Registered user
Dec 11, 2006
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NS, Canada
what should i use for substrate for leopard geckos x 3?

I have some stuff ("Plantation Soil: tropical terrarium substrate") that is about the size of a brick and almost as hard as one, supposedly you soak it in a couple litres of water for a half hour and it expands, kinda looks like finely chopped mulch atm
 
I only use reptile carpet or u could also use slate tiles. Anything else can potentially harm them. There is a chance that they might eat the substrate and become impacted.
 
WOW I was looking at that link. Thats a lot of cash for a geko!
 
Ok, here is my 2 cents worth. I learned my lesson well with putting down a gecko due to impaction from care at petco.
I would stay away from that stuff that you want to use. Bad.
Now here is what I do.
If you have a young gecko, paper towels. Its the easiest and best thing to use for the young ones.
Now for the larger adults 35-40 grams and up, I use sand.
People freak out on this and it is a hot topic but there is nothing wrong with sand as substrate for adults. They like to dig and move the stuff around and it gives them a variety things for them to move around on. If you dampen it, it becomes hard as well. So you are safe there on that. If you do a mixture of slate tiles and sand, half the tank with that. you should be fine as well. Been keeping geckos for years on this stuff and I have no problems. I personally got a bad gecko from petco and had to put her down due to her not eating from impaction. It does happen, but if you are careful and do not keep little ones on it, you should be fine. Young geckos are clumsy and will eat the sand going after a cricket.

So a good style cage?
I like slate with sand 50/50 with rocks or grape vine for them to climb on. And I like to give them lots of hides.
 
jojo22 said:
WOW I was looking at that link. Thats a lot of cash for a geko!
Click to expand...

Keeping and Raising geckos isn't cheap and if you want to go into fancy morphs, you can pay any where between $65-$1200 us on a gecko. On average some of the more pricey ones run between $400-$500 us.
But a good setup cost money as well and food isnt cheap after awhile either.
 
I use slate tiles for my two adult leos. I wouldn't use sand even with adults as when hunting their food they can get a mouth full of sand. Also, they will eat the sand as a source of calcium since they are always in need of calcium.
Make sure you are housing together either all females, or 2 females and a male, as males cannot live together. If you have a male in there, be prepared to end up with eggs, as it usually happens. I have 2 eggs incubating right now and I can see 2 more on the way.
I give my give vermiculite in her moist hide, which she enjoys digging in sometimes. Both the male and female would rather climb on things though. Remember, heat rocks are bad if not regulated.
Just my thought from my 4+ years of keeping leopard geckos.
 
just wondering how long 35-40 grams is :) (just curious)
 
well my gecko is around 8 inches and weighs 55/60grams, depending on the day. A healthy 5+ inch gecko should weigh 35 grams..or more. I use a postage scale to weigh my leos..
 
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