Rocks as substrate ?

[Musilitar]

Hello there,
I'm new here, and only recently started with keeping leopard geckos.
When i bought my gecko i went to a reptile shop (local, no chain) and the owner is a biologist specialised in reptiles.
He advised me to use sand, and so i did.
So now i have sand in my terrarium but i came across this forum and did abit of looking around and saw that all of you seem to really hate sand, and i believe you all.
That's why i want a new substrate, but i don't want to use paper towel or repti carpet because i want to create a natural enviremont.
SO, my question: would it be ok to make a surface of all rocks, with a very very tiny bit of sand used to fill little gaps ? This way my gecko will not have a chance of getting impacted and it will heat well ? I use a heat lamp btw, i know you don't recommend it but i won't use a UTH no matter what.
Also if it would be ok, should i need to clean to rocks, if so: how ?
Thanks in advance, you seem like a nice forum and i can't wait to get a response!

 

[Golden Gate Geckos]

As long as the rocks are not of a size that could be ingested, it could be a potential substrate. Have you considered using slate or rock tiles? The are inexpensive and make a nice looking substrate.

 

[efx*]

Welcome to Geckoforums!!

I think slate would be your best bet.

 

[Baker14]

Welcome to the forums!
Even with using a little bit of sand to fill in the gap could possibly be dangerous. Leopard geckos lick their environment quite a bit so he can easily lick between the rock. I suggest using slate tile grouted instead of sand to fill the rock. Its not about creating a natural environment. Its about making an environment that is safe, practical, and keeps the gecko healthy. Their natural environment isnt a pile of sand. They live on hard, packed down clay, with some grass, and a "little bit" of sand swept over it. For now, until you deside to change your substrate, throw out the sand and put paper towel for now.Why wont you use a UTH? They are the easiest way to achieve the proper temp. Do you have a digital thermoemeter? If not, how do you know you are achieving a temp of 88-92 under the warm hide? How many hides do you have? Do you have a moist hide?

 

[Musilitar]

Wow baker, that's even more questions then i asked !
At first: i'm from belgium and don't understand American temperatures, i do have the right temp, i have 3 hides: cool, warm and moist which is in a reptile den.
The rocks are very very big, about 10 inch square (it's a guess, i don't understand inches too good either, but very big and natural)
For me it IS about natural enviremont, but it has to be a SAFE natural enviremont.
I don't use an UTH simply because the shop owner advised a lamp, and back then i believed him so ...
The sand i would use to fill the gaps isn't neccesary, so i could also not do that.
Thanks for all the replies!
Btw, my gecko isn't very curious, all she ever does is lay in her hides ...
And if i use sand to fill the gaps it would be very minimal and not harmfull.
I find slate, if i am correct what it is, too flat, and well i don't like the looks of it.
But would these rocks be safe ? And again, do they need cleaning, if so, how ?
Thanks !
EDIT: Baker i now know they DO NOT live on sand in the wild, that is also why i'm changing it, please don't use automated answers to a specific question, no offence, i was just mislead by the shop owner ...

 

[Baker14]

I just wanted to make sure everything is perfect for you and your gecko. Im not sure what you mean by automated answers, but I wanted to make sure you new the dangers of sand, even if it is minimal sand. Can you get some pics of the rock you are using? Is it smooth? Sharp? Bumpy? You can easily use grout in between. It looks alot better then sand. Also, In your above post, you said you would never even think about using a UTH, and now you said you were mis informed, when did you learn the pet store employee mis informed you? They are much safer and are better when helping geckos to aid in digestion.

 

[Baker14]

I forgot, If you have an albino, tremper, bell, rainwater, etc, they are sensitive to the light and will have trouble hunting and finding their way around the tank.

If you took offense to what I said, I didnt mean it in that way. Im here to help, just like everyone else.

 

[SteveB]

Actually I see nothing wrong with using a heatlamp in this particular application. If he is using lots of big rocks that are not going to be flush with the bottom of the cage, they won't be heated effectively by an UTH. Rocks will absorb and radiate heat from a lamp and as long as they are reaching the right temperatures it should work just fine!

 

[Musilitar]

I took no offence Baker, i'm really glad you all are willing to help!
I just have a normal morph so the light is no problem, and what exactly is grout ? My English isn't that good ...
Well the rocks are quite smooth and differ in shapes, but they would not be harmfull for the gecko.
I don't see why UTH are better, but i just never thought about an UTH since i didn't know about it, you say it helps in digestion, and i assume you are talking about belly heat, well if i use a lamp on my rocks, the rocks will get warm on surface which also provides belly heat so i think it will be fine with a lamp.
Also thank you for your reply SteveB, i will certainly use this rocks as substrate now!
Yay! My dear gecko is going to be safe
Greets Musilitar

 

[Baker14]

Yes, you are right, You can achieve the right temps with both a UTH and a lamp, but I personally think that it is easier to achieve the right temps with a UTH. I had to adjust my lamp quite a bit to achieve a temp of around 90-92.

Grout is the filler type thing used between house tiles. You get a bag of this powder type stuff and add the right amount of water, spread it in between the rocks you have, let it dry, and ther you go!

 

[Musilitar]

Ok thanks baker, i will get this stuff, then my gecko will be all safe!
So umm one more question, when i'm gonna change it out, i assume i will need to take my gecko out of the tank, and well, will this cause alot of stress ? Is this also a good moment to weigh her ?
Thanks in advance.

 

[Baker14]

Youll have to get a temporary tub for her to be in for like one night. This may cause a little bit of stress, but im sure she will be fine. Yes, you can go ahead and way her.

 

[Musilitar]

Oke, will do, thanks again !
This really is a lovely forum with very smart people, helpfull and good explanations.
I will surely stay here and ask what i need to ask

 

[Baker14]

No problem, always glad to help. Cant wait to see the finished product. Be sure to post pics!!

 

[Musilitar]

I just wanted to let you all know that my gecko is very very very happy with her new substrate !
When we had to take her out to change it, i didn't dare to do it so my mom did and she bit my mom ! I was all suprised ! Guess my gecko doesn't like people
And when it was all done and stuff and the temperature was ok we put her back, this is where the suprise came: she spent 1 hour exploring, licking, staring, walking around!
Before i had never seen her out her hide, and now she was happily exploring!
I was very happy to see that, and now every morning i wake up she is outside her hide too !
The problem is that she sees the reptile den as cover, she never goes in it, but always lays in front of it
So, yeah i'm very glad i did this, my gecko is safe, eating well, shedding well.
Thanks for the help, pictures may come later.
Greets Musilitar