Gecko and sand

[Matt1851]

Ok guys so i had some sand i had for my fish tank a while ago that i cleaned out and whatnot, its very fine sand and i wanted to see if i could put eddie on it since he was on sand at the pet store, i put the sand in and all his stuff back in and he is acting like his good old curious self and licking everywhere/including the sand, im guessing that means take it out but is there any chance i can leave it in?

 

[snakegirl]

there your animals, do what you want with them, HOWEVER sand is risky! CAN and HAS lead to reptile sickness and death! some people use it and nothing happens, others use it and the reptiles lick it blocks there systems gets very sick and then dies. so its a risk.

 

[Eric1969]

there your animals, do what you want with them, HOWEVER sand is risky! CAN and HAS lead to reptile sickness and death! some people use it and nothing happens, others use it and the reptiles lick it blocks there systems gets very sick and then dies. so its a risk.

I bought my gecko almost a year ago and they had him in fine sand so i left him with that, thinking if I changed it it may freak him out. I just had him at the vet yesteray, has not been eating for a week now. They took an xray and he has 2 blockages, even though he has gone to the bathroom, some is still stuck. Also has an infection from something in his mouth. I for now have paper towel over the sand until I can get my tile cut to put that in... he is on a liquid diet supplement they gave me to use with a vial to feed him and said they should get a 5 min warm soak everyday, which I never heard of.. good luck.

 

[Matt1851]

there your animals, do what you want with them, HOWEVER sand is risky! CAN and HAS lead to reptile sickness and death! some people use it and nothing happens, others use it and the reptiles lick it blocks there systems gets very sick and then dies. so its a risk.

im well aware that its a risk, i actually had him on papertowl, i just thought sand looked more natural, i was also thinking if i feed him outside of his terrarium that would cut back on the sand ingestion, and alsooo i dont have one of thoes things for my heatpad that controls the temperature it gives off and the sand definatly helps alot better than using 20 sheets of white paper and a peice of cardboard under some paper towl

 

[Eric1969]

im well aware that its a risk, i actually had him on papertowl, i just thought sand looked more natural, i was also thinking if i feed him outside of his terrarium that would cut back on the sand ingestion, and alsooo i dont have one of thoes things for my heatpad that controls the temperature it gives off and the sand definatly helps alot better than using 20 sheets of white paper and a peice of cardboard under some paper towl

Even though you dont feed him on the sand, I have read where they still lick it and eat it at times for some reason. Keep that in mind. I learned the hard way... 160 vet bill.

 

[RagginOut]

im well aware that its a risk, i actually had him on papertowl, i just thought sand looked more natural, i was also thinking if i feed him outside of his terrarium that would cut back on the sand ingestion, and alsooo i dont have one of thoes things for my heatpad that controls the temperature it gives off and the sand definatly helps alot better than using 20 sheets of white paper and a peice of cardboard under some paper towl

It's your animal. It's your risk. You know what the consequences are if things go poorly. Why chance it?

 

[Matt1851]

It's your animal. It's your risk. You know what the consequences are if things go poorly. Why chance it?

ok i just left him on the paper towl i think im gunna get the reptile carpet soon

 

[RocksMama77]

I would stay away from sand. I get nervous about cocoa fiber as lay box material. I would suggest tile or laminate for flooring. I had repti-carpet one time and the fibers off of it would make prey get stuck and then she would take in the fibers as well. Couldn't be good.

 

[rubym]

I use tiles and it looks good and it is safe. Also you pay 1 or 2 each tile and not have to keep buying paper towels or washing the rep carpet.