[tjs84c10]

I was just wondering how many people on here are breeding vipers , I have a few questions to ask if there's somebody to answer them.

[RFB2]

I had them a few years back. What do you need to know?

[tjs84c10]

well I bought a 2.4 group from jmg reptiles and what he tells me seems to differ from what I have found online. He uses calci sand which he says he has never had a problem with but seems to be a highly debated issue. He said he uses sand because he has never had vipers use a nest box before. but I have read elsewhere that people have had luck with nest boxes. I like the idea of sand but don't want to lose what I have invested. they are on paper towels for now to make sure they are doing there business correctly. what did you use for substrate.

[RFB2]

I used to use sand and smooth stones about 1 inch in diameter or a little larger. I would lay the stones out uniformly across the tank. Then I would add non course play sand and use it like grout.
After I was happy with the layout and the depth of sand I would spray with water and brush the sand off of the stones. When finished it would look like a cobble stone path way. I would leave the corners of the tank as just sand so that my vipers would lay the eggs in one of those four spots. I really like this method because it kept a some what natural look while limiting the amount of sand that may be ingested at feeding time.

When it comes to setting up your guys properly. It really is a mater of opinion. When calci-sand first came out I kept a lot of my dessert and savanna lizards on it. I never have lost an animal to calci sand. Personally, I think the biggest turn off is the price. Do some research in the forums you will find a lot of good ideas that will work.

[René]

I've got 1.2 vipergeckos and keep them (just like mu other geckos) on playsand.
Never had any problems with it. I even keep the hatchlings on playsand from day 1 and haven't lost a single one.

Think about this, do vipergeckos live on cobble stone paths in nature too?
Or do you find lots of impacted geckos while walking through South Pakistan (where these geckos live)?

René.

[tjs84c10]

how are you preparing the playsand before you put it in the tank. are you straining it through screen to make sure it is a uniform size, rinsing it washing , ect.

[René]

The only thing I do is strain the sand through a screen. Nothing more, nothing less.
In my experience geckos don't get impacted from when hunting prey-items.
When they charge and miss, they spit out the sand they've got in their mouth.
Geckos start eating sand when they've got a lack of calcium.
When just dust your prey-items with calcium and vitamins on a regular basis and gutload your insects the geckos probably won't suffer from a lack of calcium.
Keep an eye out for egg-laying females. They need lots of calcium for egg developing.