According to VMSHerp, sand is good to ingest.... what??

[Jeff876533]

Quote from www.VMSHerp.com's Keeping Leopard Geckos' Section:

Leopard Geckos (actually all Eublepharine geckos) ingest sand particles to aid in digestion, similar to many birds. These particles act as a grinder for the hard chitinous skeletons of insects. We provide a shallow dish filled with a mix of crushed eggshell, play sand and calcium powder. During breeding season, females can often be seen selecting out the particles of eggshell to help offset the drain placed on their system by egg production. They know what they need!


Hmmmm i think this is really interesting. Does anybody do this here, and what's your guys's oppinions on this?? I think it's very interesting, and i may even do this for one of my pregnant geckos, but i want to hear your guys's oppinions first.


Jeff K

 

[ReptileMan27]

Its a pile of crap, is the best and nicest way to put it lol. Im guessing their refering to calci sand, that was like the first thing about calcium sand that was suppost to make it better and safer then regular playsand. The theory behind that is because it has calcium in it, if they swallow it, its good for them lmao. After reading that load of crap, I defently dont have any respect or would put any stock in them.

 

[leopardgecko95]

Well, this is great to know......NOT! i bought my tremper(Starburst) from there. She was only about 2 months old at the time to...Never buying from them again.

 

[Golden Gate Geckos]

I know of a couple of breeders that put a little sand in the mealworm bowl. Persoanlly, I'm too 'chicken' to try it. Speaking of chicken... I don't think Leopard Geckos have gizzards.

 

[Scott&Nikki]

You know honestly, I can see it being true. And I was actually wondering if that was the reason my leos poop has been so runny. She has been eating a little less and then I caught her licking some filler play sand. I thought maybe that was possible. My opinion is, it is good for them in very very very small doses. In the wild, I think leos might do well being that they may ingest things too big to break down, harder than they expected, etc. In captivity we choose what feeders we know they can handle, so it isn't necessary. I also feel that after however many generations in captivity, their "survival instincts" on the amount of sand to ingest are way off and it can be dangerous. That is my opinion, no one has to agree, just makes sense in my head.

 

[StinaKSU]

I definitely don't know one way or the other, but honestly, I wouldn't find it surprising if its true. And I doubt they'd be recommending it or doing it if they've had animals dying of impactions because of it.

 

[Golden Gate Geckos]

We must keep in mind that what geckos do in the wild and what they do in captivity are two separate things. When they are in the wild, their environmental conditions are optimum, and therefore so are their body functions. When we keep geckos in captivity, their metabolism, immune systems, and digestive systems could be affected.

 

[Scott&Nikki]

We must keep in mind that what geckos do in the wild and what they do in captivity are two separate things. When they are in the wild, their environmental conditions are optimum, and therefore so are their body functions. When we keep geckos in captivity, their metabolism, immune systems, and digestive systems could be affected.

That's exactly my thinking. Plus what I mentioned before. I almost hate to say it, but with all the breeding, we could be changing their "natural instincts" and "natural behaviors". Almost like an organized "survival of the fittest".

 

[SaSobek]

In the wild alligators and crocks swallow rocks to aid in digestion. I could see the benefits of a little sand in the diet. But only very fine sand (not calci sand) and small amounts. I have heard of the recipe being 10-20% fine sand to 80-90% Violate. and that mixture goes into the meal worm dish. Then what happens is the mealworms eat the vionate and get gut loaded with that. Then if it so happens that a grain or two of sand gets eaten with the mealworm that is fine. I think that a low dose like that could be helpful in the digestion. As far as keeping them on sand I would not recommend that because I have no experience with that I keep mine bare with a paper towel.

That is the word on the street here. but every one must go there own way with it.

 

[robin]

why dont you email them and ask them to post here maybe adding more info or email them and ask for further information?

 

[GeckoMandi]

I saw this for the first time a couple weeks back and posted about it in another thead on here somewhere.

I was curious about it to, I wonder what the studies are behind this if any, I think the VMS has really awesome geckos and to my knowledge never had any major problems that I know of I could be wrong.

 

[okapi]

Ive bought from VMS and am happy with their service and geckos. Ive found that most of the information in their learning center is accurate. As for the egg shell, sand and calcium powder thing, Ive actually read that in AFT caresheets before on other sites and even in a book. However all that information was always applied to AFTs, not Leos. I would like to hear what they have to say about their caresheet though.

 

[nevinm]

i have 5 geckos from them, and i couldnt be happier with any of them. when you read that you have to realize that is NOT a pile of crap. they only put a very small pinch in. along with the alligators, and crocs, and looking at dinosaurs and SOOOOOO meny other animals, stones, sand, and other harder particals DO aid in digestion. its like everything for us. anything is ok, or good in small amounts. of course too much of anything will be bad, i mean too much water can kill you. all VMS is saying that a VERY SMALL amount is ok.

 

[yellermelon]

welp, Its like.....we've drilled "SAND IS BAD" into everyones heads for so long, including our own, Its hard to put in perspective "a little bit". As for me, it may do them good...I could see that. But so many people have had such success without it for this long..I mean..its hard for me to say its good for a leo to ingest sand, even though I could see it benifiting in some way. I dont think I will try it, my leos are fine sand free. And I have had a leo from VMS and was pleased with their quality.

 

[Scott&Nikki]

welp, Its like.....we've drilled "SAND IS BAD" into everyones heads for so long, including our own, Its hard to put in perspective "a little bit". As for me, it may do them good...I could see that. But so many people have had such success without it for this long..I mean..its hard for me to say its good for a leo to ingest sand, even though I could see it benifiting in some way. I dont think I will try it, my leos are fine sand free. And I have had a leo from VMS and was pleased with their quality.

You can't really compare it. A "little bit", which they suggest you use, is barely enough to see. Just little specks. I am extremely against sand, but i do agree with this, somewhat.

 

[Sunrise Reptile]

Speaking of chicken... I don't think Leopard Geckos have gizzards.

I KNOW I read somewhere that they do not, but now I can't remember for the life of me where that was.

Those paragraphs in the first post are very misleading! :main_thumbsdown:

 

[dragonflyreptiles]

I use egg shells real onces from the eggs I cook and grind them up in a coffe grinder but Ive never added sand.

Sean is a really nice, intelligent guy with alot of great info.

I think we all do what works for us best and if what we are doing works why change it, if thats what works for him after all his time doing this then it works for him, we all make our own decisions as to how we raise our reptiles.

 

[nevinm]

You can't really compare it. A "little bit", which they suggest you use, is barely enough to see. Just little specks. I am extremely against sand, but i do agree with this, somewhat.

you, criss, and wendy said exactly what i mean. i just wanted to say that i agree with you guys 100%. it is only enought just just bearly catch your eye from the shine of a light on a few grains.
nevin

 

[SaSobek]

like 10-20% of the dusting that goes in the mealworm dish.

actualy that is what i do i just didnt want to get linched and burned at the stake for it. this info was passed down to me by a very well known breeder that most of you know. and it has worked for him for years and i have done it for 2 with no problems. and my babies grow quickly. i think it helps in the grinding up of the vionate. and that stuff is great.

 

[robin]

where does it say "just enough sand you can only feel it"? i mean take the info and twist it to make you the "anti sand people" justified for using sand.
"oh heck i am against sand. you people that use it are bad bad. you kill your geckos and dont care about them but i do put some sand in my geckos dish to aid in digestion. but only just a bit you cant even see it, just feel it, just a couple of sprinkles" :main_rolleyes: