ZooMed Excavator Clay

H

HeKai

New member
Does anyone have experience with this or know much about it?

I just got a proper sized enclosure for my leopard gecko and want to make a super amazing stimulating environment. I have what I think are chunks of slate which I might layer (and secure to each other to prevent accidents with aquarium silicon). However, this little guy loves to climb so I was trying to think of how to construct secure areas where he can go in and out and climb a bit (don't want him falling from a high distance to him, he is little and not a crested gecko, despite his behaviour). Also thinking of getting some jade plants.

Read the intro sheet on leos but any other ideas or feedback would be muchly appreciated!
 
Elizabeth Freer

Elizabeth Freer

Well-known member
Hey Ceri ~

Check out the Do It Yourself forum on GU and the posts directly following the main Leo Caresheet for exemplary custom builds :D.
 
Muffins94

Muffins94

New member
I used it and didn't like it. My gecko ingested it and it causes worse impaction than sand. When excavator is exposed to wetness it clumps and hardens, which cause a nasty impaction. Otherwise it is just a plain ol sand when dry. Also it seemed dusty and didnt do well with gecko feces/urine. It might work when hardened in small portions but definitely not as a whole substrate.
 
H

HeKai

New member
Ahhh, thank you Merissa. I had silica sand before. It was fine at the time as he was obviously well hydrated so impaction was not an issue. I just did not like seeing so much sand in his feces, he obviously was eating it!

The guy at the pet store (who is a herp and seems knowledgeable in other ways) said it was good to coat the excavator clay with cali sand, but fine ground spherical stuff, claiming it was the rough edged stuff that caused problems. A little digging showed that calcium carbonate and essentially an antacid. Great way to kill a gecko, cause impaction or neutralize his stomach acid. So between you and poor reviews, I think I will give it a pass.

Interesting, though, as I got a heating rock when I bought a second hand wooden enclosure for my ball. Don't worry! I did the only thing you EVER do with heating rocks, I cut the electrical cord. I tried to disinfect it-it appears to be non-fired clay, of all things! Not positive, though.

Maybe I will stick to silicon and perhaps low VOC epoxy (I have some for sealing my ball's enclosure, I wonder if it will adhere surfaces). to make some interesting formations with rocks. Even though a major pain, I could drill holes through rock too-maybe this is the way to make interest in his enclosure.

Thanks, will check out what you posted Elizabeth,

I found out some really cool things about steralizing stuff from the vet today. What section would a post be under? Thought I should start a thread so people know.
 
Elizabeth Freer

Elizabeth Freer

Well-known member
How about the Pests & Diseases subforum????

Pests & Diseases

I think sand is "thumbs down" always. Silica sand is very bad because of the pointy crystalline structure. Calcisand is bad. I even experienced one of my geckos (not a leo) prolapsing with a quartz sand/cocofiber mix.
 
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H

HeKai

New member
"Check out the Do It Yourself forum on GU and the posts directly following the main Leo Caresheet for exemplary custom builds."

Sorry, can't find either :(

And yes, the sand is now gone. paper towel is not much insulation between UTHs and him, also not very natural looking. Was hoping to find something he could bury in but apparently it is really hard to get them digging in captivity.
 
cricket4u

cricket4u

New member
I tried ZooMed Excavator Clay once and was not happy. After a few days it started to crumble and become dusty. Perhaps I added too much water? I cant remember, however I do not recommend it.
 
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