[ilcapo21]

I currently have repti-bark in my Bogerti setup, im going to the store today to get some things, and one thing is sand, does anyone have any experience with this stuff.

Zilla Lizard Litter - Substrate - Reptile - PetSmart

If so, is it good to use for Coleonyx?

Also what brand do you guys recommend for substrate? I dont know what to get other than dont get calcium sand.

Input appreciated, Thanks is advance

[jpg]

I use calcium sand

[acpart]

I have been going back and forth about what kind of substrate to use. I hesitate to use sand because of all the warnings about sand for leopard geckos and these guys seem so similar and even smaller. I know there are other small gecko species kept on sand, but I don't keep any of them. I have finally settled on ceramic tile and a number of smaller containers with either moist coco-fiber or a mixture of coco-fiber and desert sand (mostly coco fiber).

Aliza

[dykey]

Following what Aliza has said, as far as I am aware, the best thing to use for banded-geckos is cocofibre, especially if your gecko is a juvenile. I have recently got a Mexican Banded Gecko, and I bout a new viv too, which came with a nice red coloured desert sand but I am advised that I shouldn't use the sand for a seven month-old gecko, and that I should also wean the Gecko onto sand gradually, as a mix. It just seems to be one of those subjects where different people will give you different answers, but I just choose to play it safe really? Hope that helps?

Lou

[gbhil]

Sand + cocopeat has worked great for me for quite a long while. Even switched my wife's Rhac enclosures to it not too long ago.

For tropical bandeds (mitratus and elegans) 2 parts cocopeat + 1 part sand + 1/2 part water. Keep the mix moist.

For desert bandeds 1 part cocopeat + 1 part sand + 1/2 part water, but let the water evaporate.

I'd say that Zilla stuff in your link would be fine for desert species, provided all the dust and super-fine particles were removed, and you keep it very dry.

[ilcapo21]

i went to petco looking for substrate, the guy there advised me to not use the walnut shells with such a small species bc of impaction. He has his leopards on sand, so i ended up buying repti sand. I already noticed the difference, before with the repti bark, they wouldnt lay down directly on it, now there burrowing down a bit so 1/4 of their body is in the sand, and they sleep right on it. It looks much nicer too. I was going to get the walnut shells, but when i got there i realized the pieces of walnut were a little too big to put with such a small animal, when you see it in person the pieces are about the size of a large pin head.

[ilcapo21]

Thanks for the input, they seem to be doing well on the repti sand, so im gonna stick with that unless i see any problems arise. Ill look into coco fiber though. thanks again

[Lucky]

I am new here so I do not know alot about geckos, in truth the only gecko I ever had was a banded gecko, Coleonyx variegatus, I kept her on calcisand with now problems for years. As for the walnut shell stuff I would not use it with any thing that eats its food off of the ground. When I was young and not so in the know, I took the word of someone at a pet store and used that stuff for a nile monitor and it ingested it and died from impaction, granted nile's are messy eaters. Just my personal experience.

[acpart]

My bandeds seem to be doing great so far with one container of only coco fiber and one container of a mixture of coco fiber and desert sand, They probably like the mixture better because I have a couple of pieces of slate over it so they can hide in there. THe first 2 eggs have come and were buried in the coco/sand mixture.

Aliza

[captivebred]

I have used sand for over 20 years on my Coleonyx variegatus with no ill effects. For Coleonyx mitratus I use cocofiber mixed with sand and for Coleonyx elegans 100% cocofiber. Everyone has their preference, that's just what has worked for me.