Natural housing ~ Sand sand sand

Chibii

A Bright Reptile
Messages
266
Location
Holland
I know the dangers of sand, but many people in Holland still believe it is good and natuarlistic. And that if you don't put it into you enclosure that you take away their impetus to dig. I get their point, but how could i explain to them why it isn't recommended.

And what can i do to make my enclosure more realistic?
 

Dog Shrink

Lost in the Lizard World
Messages
2,799
Location
NW PA.
You can explain to them that leos are rock dwellers, they don't live on the desert floor, they live in rock formations and crevaces, that only the females dig when they are fixin to lay eggs and at that they should be provided the proper lay box with a lay substrait like vermiculite, or moistened sand.

As far as making a natural enclosure that is safe and enjoyable for your leo, here's a couple pix of my set up just to give you an idea. It is vinyl tiles on the floor, the self stick high end variety that simulates slate, and all the rocks are from my local riverbed.

eros_tank_1-11__2_-wU5ti.jpeg


tank_top_view_1-2011-uZzFL.jpeg


It has changed a bit from it's original construction, since my leo doesn't eat out of a food bowl, and he has an all in 1 suppliment so no need for an extra calcium dish, and I needed to add a second humid moist hide so stonehenge disappeared. And before you ask yes that is a litterbox sitting on top of his hide, he uses it ALL the time, and goes no where else. That is the ONLY desert sand that is in his tank.

eros_tank_10-10-I8UMi.jpeg



In my opinion a set up like this truly mimics their natural habitat moreso than a desert floor type set up.
 
Last edited:

roger

New Member
Messages
2,438
Location
Toronto ,Canada
You can explain to them that leos are rock dwellers, they don't live on the desert floor, they live in rock formations and crevaces, that only the females dig when they are fixin to lay eggs and at that they should be provided the proper lay box with a lay substrait like vermiculite, or moistened sand.

As far as making a natural enclosure that is safe and enjoyable for your leo, here's a couple pix of my set up just to give you an idea. It is vinyl tiles on the floor, the self stick high end variety that simulates slate, and all the rocks are from my local riverbed.

eros_tank_1-11__2_-wU5ti.jpeg


tank_top_view_1-2011-uZzFL.jpeg


It has changed a bit from it's original construction, since my leo doesn't eat out of a food bowl, and he has an all in 1 suppliment so no need for an extra calcium dish, and I needed to add a second humid moist hide so stonehenge disappeared. And before you ask yes that is a litterbox sitting on top of his hide, he uses it ALL the time, and goes no where else. That is the ONLY desert sand that is in his tank.

eros_tank_10-10-I8UMi.jpeg



In my opinion a set up like this truly mimics their natural habitat moreso than a desert floor type set up.

Just to add to what dog shrink said leos will slowly over time ingest sand over a period of time and become impacted.then youve got problems.Leos are not diggers by nature.Whatever they are telling u is wrong
 

Chibii

A Bright Reptile
Messages
266
Location
Holland
Than you so much for your support, i have not been on here for so long. I have been oon the point that that in deed i to hade made the conclusion that they are rock dwellers but many people just don't want to belive it and point me as a bad keeper.
 

Dog Shrink

Lost in the Lizard World
Messages
2,799
Location
NW PA.
The best advice I can offer to that Chi is to go in armed with the proper information and show those non-believers that THEY are indeed wrong and owe you a kss on the feet for the wonderfully intelligent creature you are :)

One of the better articles I found explaining their habitat. http://hubpages.com/hub/Natural-Habitat-of-the-Leopard-Gecko

Plus anyone really wanting to make the best choices for a natural environment should/could research their natural habitat in the world fact book or other reliable resource https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/index.html

Naturally found in the deserts of southern Central Asia, from the southern parts of Afghanistan, throughout Pakistan, to the northwestern parts of India, all a person has to do really is study the composition of these areas to findout that desert doesn't mean barren sand filled waste land. many desert environments consist of many different types of rock, compressed rock, fine sand, clay, and other substraits. Many people don't realise that the Antartica is considered the largest desert in the world.
 
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goReptiles

New Member
Messages
2,639
Location
Georgia
Natural enclosure is great, but these geckos are not native to loose sand deserts. They are nativr to compacted sand, like clay, and rocks.
 

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