my home made terrarium

[ballingerjonathan]

Hello my name is Jonathan Ballinger i am new to the leopard gecko hobby but i have been working on a terrarium i hope everyone likes it and if anyone would have any suggestions for me on what i could do different then please feel free to say something and i do have some questions on heating and stuff but i will ask that later

i do have pictures but they are to big to post as an attachment but u can view them in my profile i do apologize unless someone can help me lol

 

[im faster]

Get rid of the sand and replace with tial and it looks good. what are you doing for a moist hide?

 

[ballingerjonathan]

i havent decided for the moist hide but i am working on a 10 gallon aquarium that will have a moist hide and the grey looking rock under the hides is also made out of foam

 

[geckogirl3]

get rid of sand

 

[ballingerjonathan]

thank u how did u do that

 

[geckogirl3]

saved them to my computer then clicked on the paper clip in advanced and loaded them

 

[ballingerjonathan]

how come sand is such a bad thing lol

 

[ballingerjonathan]

oh ok sweet

 

[geckogirl3]

[/IMG][/IMG]http://geckoforums.net/picture.php?pictureid=6706&albumid=868&dl=1312204049&thumb=1

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some of the photos

 

[geckogirl3]

how come sand is such a bad thing lol

impaction

 

[ballingerjonathan]

but i was told by someone at petco that the sand i bought was a good sand cause its vita sand but if its not what would be a good substrate to use

 

[geckogirl3]

lie

 

[ballingerjonathan]

so maybe its a good thing i havent got a leo yet lol and maybe its a good thing i finally posted something on here so people could help me and should i use a uth or no

 

[LeopardShade]

but i was told by someone at petco that the sand i bought was a good sand cause its vita sand but if its not what would be a good substrate to use

Unfortunately, people don't always know what they're talking about at various big chain pet stores like Petco. It doesn't matter what is said about the types of sand sold, such as it being "safe" and "100% digestible", it's all to just sucker you into buying it.

I've said it before and I'll say it again here. any loose substrate used with leopard geckos, whether it'd be sand or reptile bark, should always be viewed as a potential danger to the gecko's health.

Leopard geckos, when striking for food, could accidentally chomp up a mouthful of sand, with or without the food item. This sand, as with any loose substrate, in large amounts, is not digestible and builds up in the gecko's GI tract, forming a fatal blockage. This is known as impaction. Signs of impaction include loss of appetite, lethargy, and constipation. If left untreated, impaction could lead to death.

Even the lines of calcium sands, which claim to be digestible and edible, are worse, because it contains calcium, which geckos are naturally and instinctually attracted to, which could cause them to ingest the substrate on purpose!
Sadly, it seems to be a big cause of premature death in leopard geckos, and it all can be prevented with just using a solid substrate (paper towel or tiles work best).

 

[LeopardShade]

I apologize for the double post, I'm currently sending this from an iPad and cannot scroll down on my previous post to edit it, but yes, do use an UTH. Leos absorb heat through their bellies, and it aids in digestion.

 

[ballingerjonathan]

im sure ur right but how is a solid substrate natural to a leopard gecko please dont get mad like i said im new to all of this

 

[ballingerjonathan]

and it wont hurt the foam rocks i made will it

 

[im faster]

They are not from the desert as most think.. they are from rocky areas

 

[ballingerjonathan]

oh i see but i really like the way the sand looks lol

 

[im faster]

With you being new using sand is putting the gecko at a big risk for impaction..

its a choice you have to make..

is the risk worth it?