Sand VS No sand for geckos

[geckoqueen]

I have seen some gecko breeders on youtube that have a lot of geckos and from what I have seen so far sand is very safe to use and Gecko breeders should know since they breed so many of them. Also the lady at the pet store said sand is very safe to use. However for baby gecko's no it's not safe because they could eat it. The book I have on gecko's says the same thing. And also they come from the desert which has sand, so it would be safe to say if the gecko can live in the sand out in the desert that they can live with the sand in their cage? So after all this info do you think sand is safe or not to use for your gecko? I mean to say. Have you ever heard of an impacted Gecko living out in the desert with sand?

 

[Halley]

An honest answer from me on ALL of this

I have seen some gecko breeders on youtube that have a lot of geckos and from what I have seen so far sand is very safe to use and Gecko breeders should know since the breed so many of them.

Sand is NOT safe, although a few people use it, it still isn’t safe. Why? Because the gecko can eat the sand and can become impacted, and die a painful death. Easy maintenance, or a cage with sand in it, isn’t worth a gecko’s life. Especially when they will die VERY painfully. Image having sand in your all of your guts, and not being able to defecate or urinate, not the way I want to die.

Also the lady at the pet store said sand is very safe to use.

She is wrong.

However for baby gecko's no it's not safe because they could eat it.

Why do you think adults will not?

The book I have on geckos says the same thing. And also they come from the desert which has sand, so it would be safe to say if the gecko can live in the sand out in the desert that they can live with the sand in their cage?

Not correct either. Leopard geckos do live in the desert, but not in a sand desert, the ground there is like hard clay. So sand is neither safe for wild or captive geckos.

So after all this info do you think sand is safe or not to use for your gecko?

If it was safe, I would use it because it looks nicer, and is easier to clean. I don’t use it because I don’t want my geckos dead.

Sorry if that came off rude, I tried to rephrase it a couple of times, to sound nice, I just couldn’t get it to sound nice and get my point across. I hope I didn’t offend you.

 

[geckoqueen]

It's all cool

I do not think you are rude, your just saying your opinion. People have my opinions on this subject from what I have read so far. I thought the reason why baby geckos ate sand is because they don't know any better, so as in adult they would know the difference by then and not eat the sand. You say the book is wrong but then I think why would a book for gecko's be wrong, if it would kill the gecko. It's supposed to be a guide on how to take care of your pet, not kill it. Ok I agree sometimes the people at the pet store don't always know what they are talking about, some do but not all of them. I have seen breeders on youtube that have tons of geckos and have used sand for years and years on all their gecko's and their gecko's are still alive and well, that tells me something. I have to admit I did not know gecko's lived in hard clay instead of sand, that I didn't know. However I am thinking of using paper towels. Ya may not look fancy but easy to clean and I don't have to worry about my Gecko. :main_thumbsup:

 

[Rich Of The U.K]

Hi there, I'm backing most of what Nicholas has said, the fact remains that there is a risk. Some gecko's are lucky enough in their life for this problem not to happen but it happens alot. Some nice natural stone tumbled tile such as marble or travertine is the way forward...

Gecko's live in dessert areas but not as alot of people think which is in seas of sand... they live in rocky formations... i know this as i have studied them in there natural environment... So they have a very sturdy substrate which isnt loose and i say keep it the same in captivity... based on this... natural rock tiles are the closest thing available...


Regards...Rich...

 

[Halley]

However I am thinking of using paper towels. Ya may not look fancy but easy to clean and I don't have to worry about my Gecko.

Sounds good:main_thumbsup:

And I guess from my standpoint, I still wouldn’t want to risk my gecko’s life for an attractive, and easy to maintain cage. As impaction does happen, and you don’t know for sure they don’t have geckos die from impaction.

Also just out of curiosity can you give links to the youtube videos, and tell me the name of your book?

 

[geckoqueen]

Geckos

Sounds good:main_thumbsup:

And I guess from my standpoint, I still wouldn’t want to risk my gecko’s life for an attractive, and easy to maintain cage. As impaction does happen, and you don’t know for sure they don’t have geckos die from impaction.

Also just out of curiosity can you give links to the youtube videos, and tell me the name of your book?

Name of the book I have. Leopard Geckos. A complete guide to Eublepharine Geckos.
The link for youtube:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=x4v2oXE4Jsk

 

[Kimjorg]

There are a ton of sand threads on here if you just want to searcha little bit you can find so many valuable threads on why you should NOT use calci-sand for your geckos.

 

[geckoqueen]

Geckos

There are a ton of sand threads on here if you just want to searcha little bit you can find so many valuable threads on why you should NOT use calci-sand for your geckos.

Well I'm not going to chance it. I will just use paper towels. I would feel really bad if something happened to my gecko, may or may not but I can't take that chance, it's not worth it. I had him or her a few days and I would cry if something happened to my gecko, she or he is really cool! I don't have a name yet.

 

[Halley]

Well I'm not going to chance it. I will just use paper towels. I would feel really bad if something happened to my gecko, may or may not but I can't take that chance, it's not worth it. I had him or her a few days and I would cry if something happened to my gecko, she or he is really cool! I don't have a name yet.

I'm VERY happy you decided against sand!!!!! I have to say that I disagree with the ideas present in that video though. I don’t think I can say anymore because of the TOS, but I think you get my point.

Again I’m glad you decided against sand, as there is a reason why most people on here do not use sand.

 

[geckoqueen]

Geeko

I'm VERY happy you decided against sand!!!!! I have to say that I disagree with the ideas present in that video though. I don’t think I can say anymore because of the TOS, but I think you get my point.

Again I’m glad you decided against sand, as there is a reason why most people on here do not use sand.

Yea but glad I found out more about it because I love my gecko and my BF does to we picked out together, as long as I agreed to take care of my gecko for 20 or 25 years. I was like sure and I have been taking good care of him or her. So Geeko is my pet but I share with my boyfriend, although he does check on Geeko and my BF does give crickets to Geeko while I am sleeping. LOL.
I'll just say I have been taking care of Geeko for now, until I am sure on a name.
My Bf calls her hershe after that one cartoon, not sure how to spell the name of it.

 

[brad.a.c]

I'm not arguing, but I really don't think it is a matter of opinion. There are HUNDREDS or even THOUSANDS of Leos dying from impaction because of the sand. If that's the case, to me that's not an opinion, its a matter of good husbandry to keep your Leos OFF sand.
To anybody who diagrees I'm not taking a shot at you.

 

[geckoqueen]

Cleaning

Well my Leo is getting paper towels. Like I said easy to clean and no worries at all. And cheap to buy to. I do have the carpet, or looks like a rug, can you just clean that with water and let air dry? I don't know how to clean it but I don't have to worry about cleaning the rug just yet. I just bought my gecko like 2 days ago.

 

[Halley]

My Bf calls her hershe after that one cartoon, not sure how to spell the name of it.

Hershey, like the chocolate?

I do have the carpet, or looks like a rug, can you just clean that with water and let air dry?

Yeah the one I gave a link to is almost dry when I take it out of the washing machine.

 

[Halley]

Oops link was on another tread. The one you started about sand. I think...

 

[brad.a.c]

Well my Leo is getting paper towels. Like I said easy to clean and no worries at all. And cheap to buy to. I do have the carpet, or looks like a rug, can you just clean that with water and let air dry? I don't know how to clean it but I don't have to worry about cleaning the rug just yet. I just bought my gecko like 2 days ago.

Oh, I know she is on peper towels. And I'm sure you are a very good owner, I was just stating my opinion on the sand issue.

 

[jaredm3624]

Well my Leo is getting paper towels. Like I said easy to clean and no worries at all. And cheap to buy to. I do have the carpet, or looks like a rug, can you just clean that with water and let air dry? I don't know how to clean it but I don't have to worry about cleaning the rug just yet. I just bought my gecko like 2 days ago.

The way I clean my carpet is like this....

1) remove from tank and dispose of gecko droppings 2) run warm water in a bath tub (NOT KITCHEN SINK OR WHERE YOU PREPARE FOOD) with soap. 3) swish carpet substrate around in soap water. 4) rinse out all the soap from carpet and let air dry. 5) after it air dries, rinse it again to make sure all soap is out of the carpet and let air dry again.

Hope this helps.