Does calci-sand harm a gecko?

[sheepylizzy]

I just thought you would be interested to know that the leopard gecko care book that i've been using says that eating sand is actually natural for geckos as it helps digestion. Also that your gecko may also only eat sand if it's not getting enough calcium, so as long as you give your's enough then you should be ok.
I'm not an expert but the petshop where i got my gecko starter kit gave me calci-sand and all the other petshops i've been to use/sell it.

 

[lillith]

Most pet stores do not differentiate their reptile care advice between species.

 

[Brhaco]

One aspect of this debate that no one has mentioned is the differing basic composition of various "calci-sands" on the market. The big problem is that MOST are composed of "Calcite"-a crystalline, highly resistant form of calcium which does NOT break down readily, either in water or an animal's digestive system. Even worse, the individual grains of these calcite sands are quite sharp and abrasive. This is not a good combination-in fact the only thing worse on the market is the crushed walnut shell "desert blend" type products (hopefully forum members are all smart enough to stay away from these). It's an outrage that these are still on the market as a substrate for reptiles.

However, a couple of sands out there use granulated calcium carbonate (the same material as coral reefs)-not only does this dissolve quite readily, but it also is composed of smooth, rounded grains. Carib-Sea "Reptilite" is one example. These products are much safer. If I were putting together soils for a desert vivarium, I would use one of these as one component.

Often I've seen impactions in animals that were given no or improper supplementation (and thus resorted to consuming large volumes of substrate in an attempt to gain minerals).

Many folks have used sand for years with no problem-but if you want to be completely safe, don't use it. If you're keeping species which require sand in order to thrive in captivity (sandfish, palmotegecko, etc), then go for the calcium carbonate products.

 

[T-ReXx]

I've seen to many horrific incidents on impaction with leopard geckos and sand to recommend anyone use it. This includes play sand and Calci-sand. Loose substrates always carry a danger of impaction, so there's always some element of risk. I do use loose substrates with some animals that require them(sandfish, web footed geckos, Fire Skinks, etc) but leos aren't burrow diggers by necessity, so I only use paper towels/butcher paper. Doesn't look great, but I'd rather be safer than sorry. If you must use sand, make sure you only use it for animals 6 inches+ in size, and use a feeding dish to reduce intake when grabbing for insects.

 

[sheepylizzy]

Most pet stores do not differentiate their reptile care advice between species.

Well the petshop i got my stuff from was a reptile specalist so i think they would know. I would agree with you if it was only a general petshop but it wasn't. It was also recomended to me by a expert that has been keeping/selling reptiles for years and never had a problem with calicisand.

 

[Dead Dreamer]

If leos can't ingest sand, why are they dessert creatures? And in the wild they purposely eat a LITTLE sand to help digest the exoskeletons.

 

[Ehatcher]

Their region doesnt comprise of loose sand. Its more a rocky/clay outcrop with a "loose" content on top of the hard soil.

The sand debate is a topic that is beaten like a dead horse. Properly supplemented, healthy geckos will have a less chance of getting impacted from a loose substrate as opposed to an unhealthy gecko that is not supplemented correctly, though geckos do still lick a lot, and any gecko has the possibilty of getting impacted.

There are tons of people out there who have had success and had leopard geckos who flourished on sand and lived long lives, but there are also people who have had impacted geckos from sand.

Do i keep my geckos on sand? no, i recently moved mine to a rack system.

Should you keep your gecko on sand? That is solely up to you.

 

[JordanAng420]

For real! When can we put this topic to bed and everone agrees to disagree?

 

[Chibii]

I think this is a right thing to do, gecko's do not live on directly soft sand. They live on hard sand more like stone. The sand that they ingest is less then when living on soft sand. If they ingest that they get a larger amount that can be fatal. Mostly beginners will put their loves on soft sand, but you can better be safe and get harder substrate.

 

[T-ReXx]

Sand = possibility of death by impaction.

Isn't that enough of a reason not to use it?

 

[lady.gekko]

I hate calci-sand in general! I find it messy, more so then regular reptile sand. I find it smells faster, - that may just be me! It's just bleh! I don't have anything nice to say about it! Go with Tile, or paper towel!

 

[Topaz]

I have just recently rescued a pair of Leo's who were housed on Calcium sand and sand. I have one almost completely back to normal after impaction, the other may die from it. I have consulted a reptile vet here in Saskatchewan and one from a reptile and bird only vet hospital in Seattle Washington. Both vets have stated that Leo's should never be on sand ever and esp. not Calci sand. Sand causes impaction and that the Calci sand makes it a higher risk as they will purposely eat it to get the Calcium that has been added!!!

As mentioned in the post right before this one, the partial impaction started in the female from the Calci sand has also caused her to be unable to digest and break down her food so now it has further complicated the impaction and she is now unable to pass poop and very little urates at all!

 

[aslchick1]

If it has ever gotten wet you will see that it gets goopy. Mine started getting impacted so I switched pretty much immediately. Mine is now on blended up alfalfa pellets (about the consistency of sand) and doing great.

 

[mrsbntn]

i do not use sand for my leo's. I have my adult uro on sand but he eats out of his bowel and I have never seen him put his face in the sand he just likes to dig in it. My older leo's are on repti carpet and my baby leo's on kitchen towel

 

[thegeckoguy23]

if the gecko needs any clacuem at all he eats the calci sand and they eat some and usually do not get impacted as everyone always says they have a very strong digest system but is they take enough down they well get impacted

 

[AP reptile]

Hey, I am new to this forum but I have been breeding bearded dragons, for a couple years. My vote on this is certain brands have certain grain sizes, I noticed Exo-terra has a very very small particle and I personally think that the grains that were ingested would pass within the next two poops. Also if I was going to use sand I would use Exo-Terra's river sand, it has the smallest particle I have seen and contains no calcium and no other nutrients, it is acually natural too.

 

[thegeckoguy23]

Even if it's only been noted once that a gecko suffered from impaction from sand, that's enough for me to get them off sand.

+1

 

[thegeckoguy23]

Hey, I am new to this forum but I have been breeding bearded dragons, for a couple years. My vote on this is certain brands have certain grain sizes, I noticed Exo-terra has a very very small particle and I personally think that the grains that were ingested would pass within the next two poops. Also if I was going to use sand I would use Exo-Terra's river sand, it has the smallest particle I have seen and contains no calcium and no other nutrients, it is acually natural too.

That still doesnt stop them from eationg a lot of it no matter what you say its not a good idea!

 

[fl_orchidslave]

Every rescue leo I've taken in that has lived in a sand tank turned a yucky brown for several months while being rehabilitated. They were dehydrated and impacted (among other things). The rescues that haven't been on sand maintain their color. Whether its calci, vita, or playsand- too many issues!

 

[GrimmyX15]

My teacher's leopard gecko had been impacted from Calci- sand before when gecko was jvelle, She had to took it to vet and paid $300 for meds and other treatment to get this little gecko better. She said it took her about 4 month for her t recover. As you can see my thead of geckositting? See picture of Liz? that's her. Shoe's currently on reptile carpet. Huge lesson for my teacher. Wow. You really dont want tha kind of stuff happen to your gecko.

Good thing I researched before i get it.