The big debate, what is appropriate substrate?

[Northernlights]

Short background: My son got an albino leopard gecko as a pet and now has went off to college and he is now mine. I have of course did most of the care during it's life. Leon is now 8yrs old, healthy and active. Back when we got him cali sand and reg sand was popular and the breeder had the babies in bark when I bought him. After reading many stories about impacting we removed the sand and tried the same reptile bark and he disliked it right away and seemed to irritate his feet. So I immediately removed it the same day. I've read newspapers are good, then they aren't because of the ink and the gecko can easily burn their feet over the heat pad. The same with paper towel but the added threat of getting impacted by eating the paper towel. I have now been using a coconut fiber soil which is said to be good for them with low risk of getting impacted. But I worry with the humidity and the truth behind the soil. What is everyone else using?
I would assume we are doing o.k with him. He's survived this long, is active and healthy and enjoys the company of a mack snow female for the past few months.
Any help would be great!
Thanks

 

[lisa127]

I use newspaper.

 

[Dinosaur!]

i use paper towel with no issue. if you are concerned about the heat, you can fold a coiuple layers over to make it thicker. But if you want something that is asthetically pleasing, easy to clean, a good conductor of heat, and ZERO risk of impaction, tile (slate or otherwise) works very well. You can give him a humid hide with the coco fiber (and the female a laybox seeing as you put them together) but i would reccomend not using a loose substrate as the "main" substrate i hope this helps a little

 

[Northernlights]

Thank you so much! I like the tile idea. And I actually have some tile here and a little plastic box for the soil, awesome how things work out sometime! Look forward to learning much much more . Thanks again!

 

[Dinosaur!]

no problem! and welcome to the forum!

 

[Tongue Flicker]

How old is the leo? As long as it is a healthy adult, using coco fiber or regular play sand poses no issue. I have mine on a bio-active coco fiber, sand, laterite mixture in over a year now and haven't even cleaned the enclosure since putting it there since the poop is broken down quickly by the isopods, springtails and beetles.

Then again tiles, paper towels, newspapers works just as well

Welcome aboard!

 

[SciencePam]

I use this stuff Armstrong 12 ft. Wide Royelle Sheffley Black and White Residential Sheet Vinyl-61338405 at The Home Depot

I used it for my bearded dragon without issue. It is very easy to clean. I added 1 slate tile over the UTH because it cuts down the heat and it looks cool. You can find other patterns too

 

[Olympus]

Yea, the answer really depends on who you're asking! lol. I kept all my adult leopards on washed play sand and I keep my AFTs on soil and peat moss.

 

[Northernlights]

How old is the leo? As long as it is a healthy adult, using coco fiber or regular play sand poses no issue. I have mine on a bio-active coco fiber, sand, laterite mixture in over a year now and haven't even cleaned the enclosure since putting it there since the poop is broken down quickly by the isopods, springtails and beetles.

Then again tiles, paper towels, newspapers works just as well

Welcome aboard!

Leo is 8, and his tank mate Eva is 5. I did find it kept very clean with the coconut fibre. I love this forum, feel very welcome!

 

[Northernlights]

I wasn't really planning on breeding them when I put them together. Leon seemed lonely. He would come to the glass and accept some attention but kept looking for something else. He has climbs, and many different kinds of hide outs. So after research saw a female would be his best bet for a tank mate and found someone who needed hers gone asap. So we kept her separate for a yr in another room, and then side by each for another few months. They have been in together for only 3 or 4 months so far and seem to get along great. They are always together, very cute . I guess tho I should do research on raising babies encase it does happen.

 

[Dinosaur!]

if you have a sexually mature male and female together (unless one happens to be sterile, or you have mis-sexed them and they are both actually females) it is not a matter of "if" they will breed, it is a matter of when. just be prepared to face the consequnces if anything goes wrong, and research till your brain is numb!


as for the substrate, i used to use sand myself (newbie!) and i kept it that way till i nearly lost one of my girls to impaction (RIP Tenshii). i personally have no qualm with people who use loose substates or sand, as long as they are experienced, know the risks and consequences, and know what they are doing. The only time a loose substrate will ever be used again in my tank, is the moss/perlite in their moist hides. Im a big fan of not taking the risks, and just using impaction risk free substrates... mainly for my own piece of mind really!

 

[reptile keller]

i keep my females on reptile carpet.