[bbrower]

hey everybody. I am going to get a panther gecko in about a month and I have no clue what to put in its terrarium? I don't know what kind of substrate that I should put in. I want to just get a reptile carpet but I don't know if that will work. I was thinking of getting some vine stuff to put in it but I don't know if the gecko will fall off and get hurt. This is my first gecko and I really don't know what to put in it. If anybody could help me that would be awesome thanks.

[Elizabeth Freer]

Welcome to GU! This is a great gecko forum . Good to have you on board.

It is very important to do your homework prior to purchasing your panther gecko. He will have a better life if you follow through with this advice.

[bbrower]

Ya I've gone online and looked up some caresheets but some say that sand is bad and some say that it is good. I am thinking of just getting a reptile carpet to put in. that would also be cheaper probably. what else should I get?

[Riverside Reptiles]

While sand is appropriate for some geckos, Panther geckos are not one of them. They don't come from a sandy environment. You certainly could use paper towels or reptile carpet. But they're not very attractive and have downsides of their own. Personally I'd use something like peat mixed with cypress mulch. I think a lot of people use the coco fiber. And there's several brands of "repti-bark" type products that work well.

Vines probably aren't the best of decorations as they aren't much for climbers (although they can climb). I'd go more with stuff like some rocks, cool pieces of wood, cork bark, plants (fake or real), etc.

[bbrower]

Okay thanks. I'll probably just get a couple carpets cuz I don't want to have to change the bark once a week. plus just getting the carpet would be way cheaper.