Substrate help?

[GeckoGirl11]

So, I just found out sand is bad and I'm freaking out cause my leo has had sand for 5 years now. I'm going to change it as quickly as possible and get a reptile carpet, and I want something else like Eco Earth Coconut Fiber Substrate but I can't find it so is the Eco Terra Coco Husk (Brick or bag) or Plantation Soil (Brick) safe?

 

[Ruvik]

I use eco earth in all my tanks and have had no issues with my geckos having impaction. I also tong feed mind so the risk is even less. Even if they would eat itm eco earth breaks down easily in water and would break down even more in acid. If anything though. If you really really want to be safe, get tile. Use tiles and have a moist hide with eco earth in it side the moist hide. I dislike repti-carpet because if they hunt cricket and miss the cricket leading them to bite the carpet their teeth get stuck in the carpet and they struggle to get them out.

 

[indyana]

Unless your gecko is having health issues, no need to freak out. While sand isn't really an ideal leopard gecko substrate, a healthy adult animal with good care isn't going to suddenly get impacted on it. Now that you know it isn't the best, you can certainly make changes that may make your gecko happier in the long run though.

If you would like to use one of those two products, it looks like the Plantation Soil would be okay. It appears to be similar to Eco Earth.
Exo Terra : Plantation Soil / Tropical Terrarium Substrate

The Coco Husk, on the other hand, looks too large:
Exo Terra : Coco Husk / Tropical Terrarium Substrate

 

[Kristi23]

There is a chance for impaction with any loose substrate which is why breeders suggest using paper towel or tile. More advanced keepers have ok luck with more natural tanks, but even then, loose substrate is not normal for them. You're better off trying something like excavator (sp) which is a clay that hardens and is similar to what they naturally live on. There are some areas of loose sand there, but they are not in it non stop and can move away from it. They can and will eat anything loose in the tank. I'm sure you've noticed that geckos lick everything. I know plenty of keepers who recommend natural set ups, but I don't know any who recommend only loose substrate.

 

[Kristi23]

Just to mention it again. Natural set ups are not a bad thing, but you need to make sure you understand what natural is to leopard geckos. You should be able to do a google search online and find some pictures that might help. It's hard to explain, but it's definitely not loose sand like most people think of when they think of desert. It's more rocky and hard packed.