PLEASE Do not ever use sand in your cage

[XoVictoryXo]

I just want to stress this to my fellow pet owners, Using Calci Sand is how my boy got a prolapse. It is horrible and devastating, You may think it is fine and safe, and the pet store owners will tell you it is fine, but it is NOT, it can be fatal.
Just want to share my horrible experience so maybe I can save some other little guy.
It should be outlawed/illegal to sell!

 

[JSmithGirl]

Interesting post. I do not use sand for the fear of impaction especially with Leos. It has happened to me in the past more than enough. Good advice id say!

 

[AnthonyRenna]

I don't use sand but for those who must use children's play sand as it doesn't contain calcium. When there is calcium they will eat the sand to supplement their diet. If you do use children's play sand it is vital still to feed in a seperate tank to avoid accidental ingestion of sand. Personally I'd rather not take the chance of harming my gecko to make my tank look "cool"

 

[JSmithGirl]

I don't use sand but for those who must use children's play sand as it doesn't contain calcium. When there is calcium they will eat the sand to supplement their diet. If you do use children's play sand it is vital still to feed in a seperate tank to avoid accidental ingestion of sand. Personally I'd rather not take the chance of harming my gecko to make my tank look "cool"

I 100% agree...especially if they are babies I am really against anyone using sand of any type.

 

[thehotchik1000]

Calci sand is terrible and ill never recommend it to anyone for any type of animal. But the sand thing in particular has been debated many times. It all comes down to your husbandry with using sand. It's also the type of sand as well. Some play sands are safe to use as long as you maintain excellent husbandry. I personally use some sand in all of my Leo enclosures. I've kept and bred leos for around 6 years. Never having any impaction issues. It's not about risk or no risk. It's more the level of your husbandry. Not trying to start an enormous debate but it is a fact These animals are exposed to dirt, slate, rocks, sand, in their natural habitat. If your husbandry is spot on you won't have issues. Now Calci sand on the other hand is a death trap waiting to happen.


Check out what's new on my website... www.Homegrownscales.com

 

[nickexotics]

Calci sand is terrible and ill never recommend it to anyone for any type of animal. But the sand thing in particular has been debated many times. It all comes down to your husbandry with using sand. It's also the type of sand as well. Some play sands are safe to use as long as you maintain excellent husbandry. I personally use some sand in all of my Leo enclosures. I've kept and bred leos for around 6 years. Never having any impaction issues. It's not about risk or no risk. It's more the level of your husbandry. Not trying to start an enormous debate but it is a fact These animals are exposed to dirt, slate, rocks, sand, in their natural habitat. If your husbandry is spot on you won't have issues. Now Calci sand on the other hand is a death trap waiting to happen.


Check out what's new on my website... Homegrown Scales

You've only been using sand for 6 years. After 8 years my uncle had an ugly death from playsand and trust me it had nothing to do with bad husbandry. he had top of the line equipment and treats his herps like gold. Small amounts began staying back in the intestines over time that ended up in a nasty infection and not even surgery saved him. Using any sand is only pleasing our selfish existence.

 

[josabby]

In nature, there is an ecosystem to break down bad bacteria and lizards in the wild develop a resistence to it that Lizards in captivity do not have. Even when people clean feces with a litter scoop the bacteria is still in the sand until it is completely changed. That's why I just use paper towels. My Leos have been much healthier ever since. My beardie as well.

 

[XoVictoryXo]

You've only been using sand for 6 years. After 8 years my uncle had an ugly death from playsand and trust me it had nothing to do with bad husbandry. he had top of the line equipment and treats his herps like gold. Small amounts began staying back in the intestines over time that ended up in a nasty infection and not even surgery saved him. Using any sand is only pleasing our selfish existence.

Thank you for posting this!
I started this thread for awareness. Not debates. and to pleade with you, if you love your geckos, please get that sand out of the tanks!

I now use repti carpet and paper towels only!

 

[thehotchik1000]

It's definately the type of sand as well. Hey I'm not going to debate with you. Put it like this. Sand made with quartz does not build up in the animals intestinal track. Sand made with silicone does. Using sand is an experience level thing. You can take this with a grain of salt. But I wouldnt recommend sand to anyone that doesn't fully do their research. Just like I wouldn't advise someone to breed an animal without them fully doing their research. The sand thing actually has been debated by many o people that have been caring for Leo's much longer than me. Use the search button there's a ton of great info in some of these old old threads. Some of them might make you think twice. But use whatever sub makes you comfortable. If its paper towel great, astro turf whatever....


Check out what's new on my website... www.Homegrownscales.com

 

[Riverside Reptiles]

You've only been using sand for 6 years. After 8 years my uncle had an ugly death from playsand and trust me it had nothing to do with bad husbandry. he had top of the line equipment and treats his herps like gold. Small amounts began staying back in the intestines over time that ended up in a nasty infection and not even surgery saved him. Using any sand is only pleasing our selfish existence.

Your Uncle must have eaten a lot of sand. Sorry to hear of his horrible death. RIP

 

[Riverside Reptiles]

In 25+ years of being in this hobby, I've not lost an animal to sand impaction. Sand impaction is almost always secondary to other issues (often to poor husbandry but also other issues can contribute as well). Calci-sand in particular is bad because it contains calcium which the geckos are then inclined to lick. One of the other factors is that people use WAY TOO MUCH sand in their enclosures. Leopard geckos in the wild manage to deal with sand and other small particulate on a daily basis without getting impacted. However, their environment is not total sand. It is made up of rocks and clay and sand. They aren't meant to live on sand that's 6 inches deep. It should be a fine layer.

 

[XoVictoryXo]

I guess my main post will then be for the unprofessional/inexperienced and novice pet owners.... not breeders... who dont know the perfect consistancy and type to use, even though I promise you, I had a fine layer of sand in my geckos habitat. Really, its just not worth the risk at all. You have to ask yourself, what are the benefits of it anyway??
My boy almost died from the prolapse, and is still recovering. It is truly heartwrenching to see him in pain knowing it is something I could have prevented. Calcium Sand should be BANNED.
I simply want to warn other people about the risk. Of course if you feel it is worth the risk, by all means continue. I wish I would have known this before hand, I did lots of research before I purchased the gecko, and I was completely unaware of the risks. If I would have seen a post like this before I purchased the geckos, I would have never bought the sand. My female lived on sand for about a year and had no issues. But the boy did not last a week on it. I think it depends on the habits of the gecko.

 

[thehotchik1000]

Well yes you were using Calci sand. Calci sand is terrible and should be taken off the market. I'm not a fan of it. And yes the inexperienced person should not be using any sand. But because one does know how to set up a naturalistic terrarium with a mixture of rock, sand and clay doesn't mean they are selfish, or unknowledged. There's nothing wrong/selfish about keeping a naturalistic environment. That's probably my point. There are many levels of keeping Herps. The message that all sand is bad and will kill your animal is just untrue. It's the lack of experience, knowledge, and husbandry that typically causes the animals issue.


Check out what's new on my website... www.Homegrownscales.com

 

[XoVictoryXo]

Does anyone know of any petitions, or what one can do to take the calci sand brand off the market?? I feel like that company messed with the wrong girls Lizard and want to start a riot against this killer sand.

 

[thehotchik1000]

Truth is you probably won't ever get it off the market. I've known about the issues with c- sand for a few years now. The most important thing is to educate new owner about it. Pet stores are out to make money. They sell hot rocks as well even though I feel those are dangerous for reptiles. But they've been selling those for 10-20 years. It's one of those products that we most likely will never get rid of until they see their sales drop so significantly that it doesn't make them money anymore.


Check out what's new on my website... www.Homegrownscales.com

 

[XoVictoryXo]

Maybe I will contact P.E.T.A. and write mass letters to the pet store chains. I feel like Lizard owners need to come together and start a movement and make a big stink about it. Ill update back here if I make any progress, If anyone would like to help out with that, Let me know... Ill provide info. It is worth trying to me! Mass merchandising products that kill your pets? There should be laws against it!

 

[GeckoFiend]

You've only been using sand for 6 years. After 8 years my uncle had an ugly death from playsand and trust me it had nothing to do with bad husbandry. he had top of the line equipment and treats his herps like gold. Small amounts began staying back in the intestines over time that ended up in a nasty infection and not even surgery saved him. Using any sand is only pleasing our selfish existence.

Your Uncle must have eaten a lot of sand. Sorry to hear of his horrible death. RIP

I can't imagine why your uncle was kept in a cage nor why he would've eaten that much sand. There appears to be an underlying mental issue there, but I guess we'll never know.

 

[XoVictoryXo]

LOL U guys are really silly lol!

 

[Harley_Davidson]

I only use slate tile in my leo's setups. I love the way it conducts the heat and is so easy to clean and big bonus.....Looks good too! LOL

 

[XoVictoryXo]

^^ can u reccomend me a certain type and where u got them from??
Repti carpet is hard to clean