Wood Chips

[Halley]

I have noticed that a lot of people have started to use wood chips, for their gecko enclosures. I use paper and don't plan on switching. But are there advantages to wood chips? Wouldn't this make heating default? I would think feeders would escape between the cracks as well. Can somebody please list the pros and cons of wood chips for me?

 

[rhino43grr]

http://www.geckoforums.net/showthread.php?t=21440

 

[Halley]

Yeah, I no that they are not good, I even responded to that thread. But why do people think that it is a good idea to use these. I figured there must be some Pros. Can somebody just lists a few of them for me, or is it just pet stores, saying to buy it, when really they have no idea?

 

[PacHerp]

In my opinion, you should not use something as substrate that can be ingested by your gecko. When it comes to wood chips, I've personally never known anyone to use them... and I would not recommend it.

 

[Halley]

In my opinion, you should not use something as substrate that can be ingested by your gecko.

I guess that leads me to another question. I have seen some chips in the pet store that are way too big for a gecko to eat. They also don't give off splitters. Would this be okay, for some of you to use as a substance? I know that they are not, and I fell the same way, but what are the Pros of these. I know there must be some; otherwise I would not see post of people using them. I’m just really curious about this subject.

 

[ReptileMan27]

Theres no real pros to using wood chips,sand,etc.. for leos besides it looks nicer. Otherwise then that its just danger..

 

[bitterbeauty]

I think the pro is only that it is somewhat more cosmetically pleasing than other methods. However, I think reptile carpet looks very nice and there is no danger with it.

 

[PacHerp]

Nick, think about it... wood chips? to me... that can't be comfortable... lol... I just wouldn't feel comfortable going to sleep at night with my geckos living on wood chips as substrate... you will be surprised what they can 'eat'... no matter how big or small it might be... splinters or not.

 

[rhino43grr]

people use them because that's what the place they buy their gecko from tells them to use, same reason people insist on using sand and calci-sand. these are likely the same people who insist on using a uvb light instead of an under tank heater because all reptiles need uvb lighting and know nothing of calcium dishes or humid hides.

i think you're exaggerating the percentage of people who use wood chips, personally. i've never seen them used by anyone with even basic knowledge of leopard gecko care. keeping leopard geckos on wood chips would be like keeping hamsters on sand, it might not kill them, but it's still not right.