Sand inpact

[Chibii]

I have some questions, i have my gecko's on paper towels because of this. But on my school they have tree gecko's on sand. I find this very odd, because the crickets walk around and the health of these animals are not that well either. My question was, gecko's in the wild have impact to but so why do we not follow nature? If you know what i mean...

 

[Olimpia]

I get what you're saying. I try to give my geckos the most natural environment I can while at the same time keeping it safe. And that should be the balance for your pet geckos, snakes, birds, etc. I try to use a combination of ecoearth, pebbles, and mulch as substrate and so far my geckos are thriving.

I know people like to say that geckos never see sand in their natural environment, but that's not entirely true. If you ever go to a dry/desert landscape, you will find tiny particles of rock that have been eroded away by wind (aka sand) plus dirt and clay. This is as true in Mexico as it is in Morocco or Turkey. So I don't understand the hype about geckos not being kept on loose substrate. I think you geckos probably want to kill themselves from the boredum on paper towel lol.

Now, I think that using something that we know is dangerous, like calcisand, is being irresponsible with your animal. Tremper uses fine sand for his full grown geckos and we all know how well his animals are doing. So I'm going to take his word for it when he says it's safe. But in the end it's your animal, and you just have to do what you think is the best call.

Sorry if this sounded all over the place lol I'm doing 50 different chores at the same time.

 

[Chewbecca]

Are you saying why don't we follow nature and keep leos on sand?

If so, it's because sand isn't what leos naturally live on.

 

[STUTFL]

Maybe wild geckos do get impacted too ... maybe they also get eaten by hawks. I keep my leo indoors and on flat rocks, 'cuz I want him as safe as possible.

 

[Chibii]

OK, so they live on rock's originally. So why do we keep them on sand? And Olimpia, thanks for your reply. Can i use you text above as a QUOTE in my book? i find it very intresting lol.

 

[Olimpia]

OK, so they live on rock's originally. So why do we keep them on sand? And Olimpia, thanks for your reply. Can i use you text above as a QUOTE in my book? i find it very intresting lol.

Haha sure I guess. I'm not exactly an expert or anything, but if you liked what I said then go for it.

 

[Gregg M]

it's because sand isn't what leos naturally live on.

I all fairness, you can not say that until YOU have been out in the Middle East collecting reptiles in their natural habitat... If you have ever seen museum wet collections, you can check stomach contents... I have checked stomach contents of Eublipharidae, and most had a fair amount of sandy soil in their stomaches... There are also pictures of leos in the wild floating around the net and they are found on sandy soil in their range...

Most of the people who claim to know where leos are found in their natural environment have never been outside the continental US, nevermind Pakastan... LOL

 

[LizMarie]

Its hard to recreate a natural living environment in captivity and I think a lot of issues arise because some of the things used in "ALL NATURAL" habitats aren't natural or they are but have been chemically treated or have additives, ie. Calcium Sand! To my understanding impaction won't happen to every leo that's housed on sand and it probably unlikely if well taken care of from what I've read but you should know the risk and make your own educated decision on whether or not to use it.

Would I personally use it? No. I don't want to take the risk and personally seems in like a P.I.T.A to clean.

 

[Chewbecca]

Ok, fine. I cannot say with 100% accuracy that leos do not come from sanded areas.

And I guess in all fairness the likeliness of them being found on sand (or a sandy soil-type substrate) in the wild is stronger than one being found on paper towel in the wild.:main_laugh:

I all fairness, you can not say that until YOU have been out in the Middle East collecting reptiles in their natural habitat... If you have ever seen museum wet collections, you can check stomach contents... I have checked stomach contents of Eublipharidae, and most had a fair amount of sandy soil in their stomaches... There are also pictures of leos in the wild floating around the net and they are found on sandy soil in their range...

Most of the people who claim to know where leos are found in their natural environment have never been outside the continental US, nevermind Pakastan... LOL

 

[Chibii]

Oke thanks people, i will try and retch some experts at wild animals. This was rely helpful, and i will try and make the perfect habitat in my vivarium for them lol.