Substrate Needs

[Master_Lazell]

Ok so I got a leopard gecko on my birthday November 1st, and have been keeping her ( I named her Cleopatra ) in a 20 gallon and she seems fine. She is eating fine, and is pretty active at night. She is really small so shes kinda scared of me still though. She measured 3 7/8 inches. The reason I am posting is because I have been seeing online that potting soil is not an ok substrate for her, which is what I use for my anoles. I looked to see what WAS acceptable and only found that the best are reptile carpet, and paper towels. I dont like the idea of any of these because they seem quite ugly, though I dont want her sick from the soil. I also saw that sand was unacceptable, although I learned that they are from the desert 0_0, doesnt make sense to me since the desert is full of experts, but im the noob.

SO that said, what can I use that will look good and natural for her? I will post pictures of her in the picture area. Thank you guys for your concern.

 

[LeapinLizards]

Potting soil could potentially be VERY dangerous. Not only is it loose, and the little gecko could ingest some of it while hunting/snapping at food, but a lot of potting soil comes with fertilizer mixed in with it (although since you are using it for your anoles, I assume you get the PURE soil mix, no additives). I can also imagine that once it gets ingested, it turns into mud...

Repti carpet, paper towels, and ceramic tiles or slate are the best for them. None loose or able to be injested and cause impaction.

As far as desert...where leopard geckos live it is mostly rocky area, with not a ton of sand...or at least that is what I've read and understand from other members here

 

[Retribution Reptiles]

Well Calci sand some people do use for adults, you don't want to take the risk of an impaction. Really Repti Carpet is very good esp for younger geckos. Alot of people that use paper towels like the easy clean up and normally have more then just one gecko. The things in the cage that you would really want to have are 3 hides, 1 moist 1 cool and 1 warm. Water dish deep enough but not too deep to drown the gecko. for my girls i tossed in some artificial vegetation your choice. i would like to believe that most people would tell you that an undertank heater on one side. how you decide to go about all of this is really up to you. that's what's go great there are a lot of options to personalize your own tank. as always please if i have forgotten anything please anyone please fill in or correct what i have said already.

Thanks,

Ryan

 

[leonut]

Well, like heather said, there are several things in potting soil that could make it dangerous. Althogh i have to wonder, "sure theres no sand where leos come from, but theres GOT to be soil right? Although probably not as loose as potting soil, Theres still soil. Although they live in the montains, theres still soil in the montains. just kind of an interesting thought.

 

[Geck-O]

I've seen someone use sand coloured reptile carpet. I thought it was real sand.

 

[nats]

Well, like heather said, there are several things in potting soil that could make it dangerous. Although i have to wonder, "sure theres no sand where leos come from, but theres GOT to be soil right? Although probably not as loose as potting soil, Theres still soil. Although they live in the montains, theres still soil in the montains. just kind of an interesting thought.

According to one of my gecko books, the soil around the area where leos are most often found, is a hard "clay like" mixture.
So that would mean, no loose soil. And they hide in the crevasses in rocks during the day, so they don't dig burrows like some folks suggest.

Maybe I could just take a nice weekend trip to Pakistan and find out for myself

 

[leonut]

According to one of my gecko books, the soil around the area where leos are most often found, is a hard "clay like" mixture.
So that would mean, no loose soil. And they hide in the crevasses in rocks during the day, so they don't dig burrows like some folks suggest.

Maybe I could just take a nice weekend trip to Pakistan and find out for myself

If only we could round up all 13,460 (and counting) of GF's members and take a trip there to see. :main_laugh:

Yes, I'm sure you're right and the majority of it is clay like. But take oklahoma for example. the majority of oklahomas dirt is clay too, but, there are also places that are competley loose soil. Another thing is, the majority of the mointans in pakistan and india were formed by plate tectonics. Now i would think that plate tectonics would push up a lot of dirt too :main_huh:. just a theory though.

 

[LizMarie]

not only might soil have chemicals and fertilizers it can also hold a lot of humidity and if it gets dry with can cause dust that I see eating into eyes, nose and mouth and getting all irritated. I personally have use carpet and paper towels and they actually aren't that bad if you tank is nicely decorated but if you want a more appealing look I say tile.

 

[Master_Lazell]

UPDATE

Thanks to everyones help here, I have gone from what I have heard and re-done her cage. here is the link to the pictures before with soil and after with carpet. tell me what you think http://www.geckoforums.net/showthread.php?t=30497


Oh and to all those concerned for the fertilizer in the soil... as I said I had it for my anoles so obviously, it is purely organic. Thank you for your concern though, and what a great help you have been! I hope other newbs like me see this thread. You are all so very kind.

 

[nats]

If only we could round up all 13,460 (and counting) of GF's members and take a trip there to see. :main_laugh:

Hey, I bet we could get a heck of a discount with that many people!!

And while we are on the subject of sand, ponder this; how do you suppose
leos in the wild get the calcium they need?

I dont think the local population puts out little bowls of ReptiCal for their wild leos :main_rolleyes:

 

[thekooliest]

Hey, I bet we could get a heck of a discount with that many people!!

And while we are on the subject of sand, ponder this; how do you suppose
leos in the wild get the calcium they need?

I dont think the local population puts out little bowls of ReptiCal for their wild leos :main_rolleyes:

Of course they don't the roll all the mealworms in a vault of ReptiCal...:main_thumbsup:

 

[leonut]

Hey, I bet we could get a heck of a discount with that many people!!

And while we are on the subject of sand, ponder this; how do you suppose
leos in the wild get the calcium they need?

I dont think the local population puts out little bowls of ReptiCal for their wild leos :main_rolleyes:

I've wondered this myself. maybe they chew on animal bones like mice. :blank:

 

[nats]

I've wondered this myself. maybe they chew on animal bones like mice. :blank:

Haha!! I posted that like I actually knew the answer!! :main_rolleyes:

I do know that in the wild, they eat small lizards, lizard eggs and small rodents.
That would not explain how the little ones get their calcium though!! :main_huh:
The soil may also provide calcium.
Keep in mind, their soil is a compacted mixture of sand and plant material, guite unlike the cleaned and sifted sand we buy in bags, so it probably passes through their gut with no problem, providing they arent wolfing down hugh mouthfulls of it :main_laugh:

There HAS to be something in their invironment that is providing calcium!!??

I'm being driven crazy by my own question!! :main_laugh:

I will look it up in my book when I get home.

 

[nats]

OK, I cant find any answers in my book!! :main_angry:

Would anyone care to chime in?

I can understand adult wild geckos hunting and eating other lizards, lizard eggs, rodents, whatever, but what about the ones to young to manage these things, where does their calcium come from?

Are they getting it from the soil or rocks? Maybe from the moisture that filters through the rock and leaches calcium from it? :main_huh: