Cancer in Leos...

[thestack510]

I've been noticing posts about different types of cancer in Leos. To those of you that have been affected by this, I have a question. Do you use Vermiculite as a hatching medium? Vermiculite can contain asbestos, which is known to cause cancer. If this is a common factor in your cases we may have found the culprit.

 

[Golden Gate Geckos]

Actually, vermiculite may only contain minute traces of asbestos. Many years ago, there was a large vermiculite mine in Idaho that was shut down because there was asbestos found in the same geographical area. Today, vermiculite is completely safe even though many retailers no longer sell it due to the bad press.

 

[thestack510]

I was thinking that if eggs are kept on Vermiculite, coupled with heat and humidity it could permeate the eggs, and that even minute traces are enough to affect developing embryos.

 

[nats]

Marcia is correct (as usual :main_yes.
Vermiculite is no longer a health threat.