Calcium sand

I know sand itself is not the best choice for geckos as when they feed, they may ingest sand as well, and have impaction. But I heard that calcium sand is supposed to be ok. The reason I ask is because I need something on the bottom of the tank because I'm using a heating pad, and I don't think paper towel will be enough to keep it from being too hot on the bottom, even if I layer it a dozen times.

If it is not, and you have a better solution that can work with the heating pad, that would be great.

*edit*

This link that caught my attention, it says calcium sand is ok, and so does the bag...

http://www.videojug.com/film/how-to-care-for-leopard-geckos

Meh. I'm gonna go with a no on that one. Why even risk it, ya know?

I don't think the heating pad would make it too hot with paper towels (I've never used them before though..)

Have you considered reptile carpet? I, personally, think it's prettier than sand...and easier to keep clean.

See I wasn't entirely sure, and maybe it will be ok if I don't feed him on the sand. I'm going to have a mealworm bowl, but if I get crickets...I could always get a flat rock for feeding....I unno.

I have not heard of reptile carpet before, but I'll look it up when I get back from work.

Reptile carpet and paper towels is what I use, they both work great! If you are using a heating pad and it seems to be getting too hot you may need a dimmer (rheostat) to control the temps. I dont 'knwo if you already have a thermometer, but you will need that to make sure the temps stay where they should be. I use a rheostat along with my thermometers and with paper towels or repti carpet, and it works great, never too hot.

Oh, and I'd say a definite no to the calci sand, it's just too risky.

Paul and my reptile vet said an 100% NO on this. They can´t absorb it!! It is even more dangerous than normal sand.

I keep my adults on play sand. I've had at least 2 of my current 11 geckos on play sand since 1997 and NO, NONE, ZIP, ZERO, NADA issues. However, for young animals I'd avoid any loose substrate other than coconut fiber and only use it in hide boxes.

Reptile-intended carpets scare me as they can snag toe nails and rip them out.
Calci-sand and vita-sand routinely impact leos at a local large chain (nationally known) pet store with a baseball stadium named after them.

Paper towels, butcher's paper, blank newsprint (most should be acid free these days), and slate (not too keen on this) are "safer" substrates.

If you're worried about heating and papertowels, worry about heating and any substrate then. The solution, get a VERY good thermostat to regulate the heat to a specified temperature. Also have a back-up digital thermometer that you can use as a secondary line of defense to monitor temperatures. The probes for both of these items should be placed directly over the heating source from WITHIN the cage (heating source should be external of the cage). I've had leo geckos on a 2-layer of paper towels within sterilite sweater tubs (model 1854) since 1999. The tubs are in 4 foot wide melamine racks with 5 shelves (holds 20 sweater boxes or 30 shoe boxes), wired up with 3 inch wide flexwatt that is controlled with a Helix DBS-1000 thermostat. Heating and paper towels should not be a worry for you or anyone else.

And to further make a point for all the paranoid out there. Yes I consider calci-sand and more marketed reptile sands evil. However, I've kept mexican hognose snakes on repti-sand since 2002 with no ill effects. The first ever leopard gecko I owned (and still have) has been on play sand or sterilized arroyo (dry wash bed) sand since 1997. His first born son, born July 97, has been on sand (play sand or arroyo sand) since 98. At work*, we use play sand in almost all of our tanks. Some tanks it is straight, while others we mix play sand with orchid mix potting soil (it's a fine soil I believe made by Black Gold), or orchid mix and coconut fiber. I'm currently raising 5 hatchling collared lizards on straight sand at work; they hatched Jan 5th.

Shoot, here's a list of what's on sand, or mentioned sand soil mixes at work:

- desert kingsnake
- sonoran gopher snakes
- western hognose snake
- Arizona mountain kingsnake (he gets silver leaf oak leaves too)
- painted desert glossy snake
- western diamondback rattlesnake
- madrean alligator lizard
- New Mexico whiptail lizard
- Great Plains skink
- long-nose leopard lizard
- mediterranean gecko (introduced species to the state of NM)
- Texas banded gecko (he's on straight, plain ole' play sand!)
- Great Plains toads
- Woodhouse's toad
- Mexican spadefoot toad
- Couch's spadefoot toad
- western green toad
- collared lizards
- twin-spotted desert spiny lizards
- marbled whiptail lizard
- gila monster (straight on surface layer, 60/40 coconut fiber to sand mix for subterranean layer)
- desert and ornate box turtles (I want to fix this [them being on sand], but the habitat they are in will not afford me this chance yet!)
- crevice spiny lizard
- that's everyone that's on play sand, or mentioned mixtures

The above animals have been on these substrate set-ups since AT LEAST June 2003 when I started as the intern at my place of work. I am as of July 05 the Naturalist, direct supervisor for the Nature Center and our student employees (intern [my former position] and work-study). I have a modest vet budget and to date we have NEVER had to take an animal to the vet because it was impacted on sand or any of the sand mixtures we use. Those mathematically challeneged that'll be 5 years of employment for me come June 08. 5 years, no issues!

Leopard geckos come from a semi-arid to arid environment. They DON'T have paper towels, solid slabs of slate, reptile carpet, or blank newspaper/ butcher's paper to live on in the wild. They have moist subterranean desert soils and surface rocks nestled with loose sands and gravels, and regional sand-based soils.

As a person, particularly those of you on here that are no longer considered minors, and as an keeper of animals it is your responsibility to properly house yourself and your animals. If these animals are properly setup and cared for, be it artificially (paper towels, etc) or pseudo-naturally (play sand), you should not have problems with impactions. How do these geckos avoid impaction in the wild? Find the nearest wal-mart, costco, target, grocery store, swipe a debit or credit card, and go eat their natural food item on such? To that I lol'd!

oh, and slate scares me as a solid layer of substrate in an aquarium. From what I've gathered most here do not secure (silicone) the edges of slate to the aquarium, instead it is left loose so it may be removed and cleaned. The edge where slate meets a surface, if not tight fitting, allows for a gecko to potentially wedge it's toes between the slate and a walled surface (glass, wood, whatever). This can equate or stuck toes, ripped off toes, gnawed feet (gecko freaking out and trying to free itself), etc. That about ranks up there with large chain stores keeping their knowingly impacted leos on calci- or vita- sand and not taking them to the vet.

Also forgot to mention regarding the "work*" in my previous post...

*DISCLAIMER: Any reference to work in my posts DOES NOT reflect upon the views of my place of employment or my employing, governing body. The views expressed are personal opinions and/or experiences that of myself.

Calci sand is worse then regular play sand. Go with something safe like paper towels,newspaper, etc..

chris however abrupt you were to the point . i like your style. i keep mine on play sand and have never had any issues. thanks

What I don't understand is how the new person above me, can state his opinion, when almost EVERYONE on this site says no. Why? I say 100% no on the sand. company's say anything to move products.

I also agree that calci sand, like all other sand when used with LEOS is a 100% no. Unlike play sand, when wet, calci sand globs together. Think of how this will affect the intestines. This will make it even harder for digestion causing an even greater risk of impaction. Most reptile sale companies can and have been lieing to you about products said to be safe. They are in it for the money, not the satisfaction of making a safe, helpful product.

I think everyone can also guess what breeder is on my "Do Not Buy" List!

Leopardbreeder said:

I think everyone can also guess what breeder is on my "Do Not Buy" List!

Click to expand...

was that really necessary?

He doesn't even have a single leo yet!

ok guys i agree calcium sand isnt a good idea because leos have a short digestive system and it can pose a danger, however i have had 3 leos on calcium sand for 2 years with no issues. however i recently switched to play sand. play sand is safer and for you paper towel issue add a lamp dimmer thats what i have my babies on. stay away from sani chips for hide boxes. dear god sani chips are soo bad and my leo was pooping wood for 2 weeks because he liked to eat it out of his hide box. sad thing is it says it was made for leopard geckos on the bag but it could have killed him so screw the labels and take opinions from this site instead. also i would suggest to feed your leos in a seperate place if they are housed on sand or make sure you dont leave food in the tanks after they eat because they do get too much sand in their mouths when feeding. using a dish is cool too but carful of the escapees.

Most of the advice on this site is paper, now you are stating different. What is the best way? So you admit yourself that sand is bad, so why use it? Wouldn't it be easier to just used paper instead of taking them to another tank each day?

pay attention to what i said. i said i used calcium sand with no issues but it poses a danger. play sand i think is perfectly fine, yes it poses a slight risk but my leos do not eat off of it so i am perfectly satisfied with keeping sand. i would not use it for a hatchling but an adult is ok in my book or IMO.

everything in life has risks, you can get hit by a car tommorrow but that doesnt mean you should stay in the house because you dont want to take chances. so if you choose sand i think its just fine but for extra precautions you can hand feed, take them out for feeding, or only leave food in their dish for a scheduled period of time before removing it.

How do you know your geckos don't eat the sand? Are you with the 24 hours a day? Its a fact that leos CAN become impacted, if your geckos mean so much to you, why would you risk their lives?

just use slate or ceramic looks good and heat up nice. And i think everyone needs to get off their high horses about sand if some1 want to use it it's there right to do so and no1 else problem.