Substrate Kweshtchon

[Wretched]

So, other than impaction... Why is sand so bad?


Ive tried a number of different things, and my geckos seem to like the sand the best. But they are diggers. They like top make thier own hides, and watching them dig is CUTE! *Ahem* I didnt say that.

I like to build naturalistic vivariums. Nice desert terrain and the like. yes, I know papertowels are best for leetle babies, but other than impaction risk, what are other things that are wrong with it, as most i talk to are vehemently against it.


Calcisand?
vitasand?
Crushed Walnut?
Silica?

any way, just trying to expand my knowledge

 

[Val]

Other than the risk of impaction? What better reason than that do you need?

 

[Wretched]

Other than the risk of impaction? What better reason than that do you need?

Its a simple question. Waht -other- reasons are out there? There is no 'need'. Just a desire for knowledge.

 

[Val]

That's all the further I've gone with the research of why not to use sand because that's all that matters to me. But here's a piece taken from a website about their natural habitat/

Habitat
Leopard geckos are found in dry areas. They prefer rocky desert and semi-arid grassland over open stretches of sand. They're crepuscular and nocturnal, spending the daytime in rock crevices or burrows.

So sand isn't really 'natural' for them at all.

 

[PaulSage]

Sand is pretty difficult if not impossible to clean and sterilize. Even if there wasn't a risk of impaction, I wouldn't use it for that reason. Same goes for wood "decorations".

 

[acpart]

Maybe you could have the best compromise by making a digging area in your tank. I think the safest thing would be eco-earth (the stuff that comes in dehydrated bricks). I use it in my nest boxes. You could make a nest-box type area,which I did for one of my male geckos who likes to dig, or if you want it to look more naturalistic, you could wall off one end of the vivarium and put digging material in there. If it's just a small area, it's less likely that the feeders would get in there so the gecko wouldn't get a mouthful when hunting. Where I am it's in the 90's now and all 3 of my geckos in one of my breeding tanks are spending the day sacked out in the next box (eco-earth) which is cooler and comfy.
Aliza

 

[happy gecko]

To be honest I don't think sand is that bad I think it is a nice substrste for leos, but you didn't hear me say that because for 1). I don't want to start a nuclear war & 2). I don't want to be considered the outcast of Geckoforums.net. Here's what I think:

-chossing the right sand goes a long way. I think Reptilite is the best sand on the market. I use to keep reef aquariums so I am experienced with CaribSea products (creates Reptilite) and I can tell you it is different from other sands. Aragonite is the most soluable form of sand and dissolves the easiest. Reptilite is made using aragonite. Also, since this is a calcium sand means it is softer then quartz and is a lot smoother.

-unlimited access to water, calcium suppplement, and exercise also greatly help. If well hydrated, it is easier for sand to slosh through the geckos system if it is ingested, though it is unlikely if you feed mealworms because the geckos would be eating from a dish. The only other reason would be to get calcium, but if it has a ready supply of supplement in the tank, that would be countereds as well.

These are just my opinions though.