substrate / eggshell question

[LZRDGRL]

Hello,

Someone on the Net recommended to always have a food dish with ground eggshells available for the geckos, so they won't need to swallow substrate to grind the hard shells of the insects they eat.

So I provide my geckos with very finely ground eggshells in a dish. I observed that they also like to sit in it, not only lick it. I wonder if it would make sense to use those eggshells as a substrate for covering the cage floor? They look and feel about the same as sand. Or would it be a health hazard? They would be allowed to swallow it without getting compaction, and they can burrow in it. But maybe too much calcium is poisonous, too?

Don't worry, I haven't done it yet -- I'm asking the experts first.

Chrissy

 

[Mel&Keith]

Hmm, I've never heard of using crushed egg shells before. Is it supposed to be a substitute for calcium? I would just stick with tile or paper towels/paper and a dish of RepCal calcium. That's a combination that's proven to be safe and beneficial to them.

 

[Halley]

I would have to go with Mel, on this one. And although I don’t think there are too many cases of leopard geckos getting calcium overdose, I can’t see it working better that the regular set-up. So to me I would just go with what you have now.