What's the best sand to use?

[Lickin]

I know all the bad that can come from sand, but I think it is more attractive than all my other options. What I want to know is, what is the best kind of sand to use. I really want to use a purple color of sand but I want to make sure the grains are super small and the color won't bleed. Thank you, sand users, for any help you can give me.

 

[sammer021486]

Your best bet for a sand if you want coloured to is to go to your local DIY store and ask them if they carry coloured play sand.

The calcium and vitamin enriched sands that you get from the pet store encourages the reptile to eat it, and as you mentioned leech the colour and then your reptile is the same colour as the sand, best camouflage you can buy,lol.

 

[slayer]

I have used soil mixes with washed playsand or beach sand with no problems for almost 10 years now. The only "colored" sands I would recommend are decomposed granites. Id avoid any petshop crap.

 

[Lickin]

I actually work at a Pet store chain and have stopped recommending Calcium Carbonate to my Leo customers. I have heard of the soil mix trick before so I think that is the way I will go with the play sand. thank you for the great tips.

 

[Lickin]

Has anyone heard of Fun Sand and know if it is any good or actually "reptile safe" like it claims.

 

[Tony C]

I took a look at their site, and the part about it being moldable without water seems potentially dangerous, if it sticks to itself then it seems there would be a higher chance of impaction if it was consumed, much like there is with calci-sand. Unmodified natural sand is the only choice I would consider to be safe (given proper husbandry, of course).

 

[fallen_angel]

The best sand is no sand, period. Tile looks awesome and holds heat well, we love it.

 

[mindgamer8907]

I don't mean to offend but I second fallen angel's assertion about no sand, though that is your choice to ignore that. On another note I am curious as to what you mean by sand being your most attractive option? I'm probably lost in the wording.

 

[slayer]

I took a look at their site, and the part about it being moldable without water seems potentially dangerous, if it sticks to itself then it seems there would be a higher chance of impaction if it was consumed, much like there is with calci-sand. Unmodified natural sand is the only choice I would consider to be safe (given proper husbandry, of course).

...................... I agree 100%

 

[got spots?]

I have a request. Since I do not place my leos on sand can you take a little bit of yours and pour vinigear on it? I heard that it will dissolve some of it showing how a mild acid will get rid of sand. If this proves true it shows leos may be able to take some sand.

 

[slayer]

The best sand is no sand, period. Tile looks awesome and holds heat well, we love it.

................. I would agree with you if wild leopard geckos lived and thrived in bathrooms, but they dont.

 

[fallen_angel]

They do not live and thrive on sand, either lol

 

[fallen_angel]

Anyone with a leopard gecko has the option to use sand as a substrate, the argument for sand is ALWAYS because "it looks better." All I am saying is tile looks very good too, and if you think the health of your gecko is less important than how the cage looks, that's fine. What do I know, I'm just a breeder :main_rolleyes:

 

[slayer]

On another note I am curious as to what you mean by sand being your most attractive option? I'm probably lost in the wording.

..................... I think this pic of my 9 year old leos and their setup illustrates what Tony C means

sand based soil mixes look great and work great for leopard geckos, plus it allows them to dig and nest naturaly as well as allows a larger heat and humidity gradient for your captives.

 

[gitrdone0420]

Anyone with a leopard gecko has the option to use sand as a substrate, the argument for sand is ALWAYS because "it looks better." All I am saying is tile looks very good too, and if you think the health of your gecko is less important then how the cage looks, that's fine. What do I know, I'm just a breeder :main_rolleyes:

OMG! I thought the same thing. I just wasnt going to say anything.
But I agree with you Jess. Its a shame that the leos health is less important that the looks of a cage.
Leos natural substrate is not sand, by the way. They live on hard packed clay. And even on the hard packed clay, they still die in the wild of impaction. Why would you want to put your animal at risk?

 

[slayer]

They do not live and thrive on sand, either lol

...........Correct. They live on and in rock formations with rocky, silty soil.

 

[slayer]

OMG! I thought the same thing. I just wasnt going to say anything.
But I agree with you Jess. Its a shame that the leos health is less important that the looks of a cage.
Leos natural substrate is not sand, by the way. They live on hard packed clay. And even on the hard packed clay, they still die in the wild of impaction. Why would you want to put your animal at risk?

..............well 9 years and counting with my pair with out a single health issue. Plenty of hatchlings though

any way "What do I know, I'm just a breeder?" lol j/k

 

[slayer]

And even on the hard packed clay, they still die in the wild of impaction. Why would you want to put your animal at risk?

.................... lol Where did you come up with that info? I find this fear of impaction by loose substartes so funny since these animals have evolved for millions of year living on loose substrates.

 

[fallen_angel]

I'm not on my computer and can't remember the image names, but once I get a chance, I'll post pics of our cages, with tile and with paper towels. Even paper towels didn't look all that bad, but it was a big waste of paper and money IMO.

If you really want to get creative, there's always Legos

 

[Khrysty]

I'm not on my computer and can't remember the image names, but once I get a chance, I'll post pics of our cages, with tile and with paper towels. Even paper towels didn't look all that bad, but it was a big waste of paper and money IMO.

If you really want to get creative, there's always Legos

Ahh, Jess...I've built so many lego castle/hides! I always end up tearing them down..but they're fun and adorable while they last!