Future Leopard Gecko owner, what substrate?

[Handyhens]

I am saving up for a Leo, and I am wondering what kind of substrate to use. I am thinking either slate, paper towels or newspaper, or eco earth. I have some questions.
Will an under tank heater be able to heat up slate?
Is there a fire risk with paper?
What else can be used?

 

[kholtme]

Some people use paper towels, which is fine and no fire risk, just replace them often. I use tile which looks much better and is permanent. An under tank heater will heat the tile up just fine, just dont get a super thick tile. Standard size thickness works best. Make sure to get a thermostat to regulate the ground temp and also helps prevent fire hazards.

 

[herpmomx7]

I use paper towels since mine use the bathroom so often and it's just easier to clean than a slate, but I also have three and they're big eaters so paper towels are just easier. Tile does look really good though and if you're just getting one than it shouldn't be an issue. I personally stay away from any loose substrate as it can cause impaction, and my gecko I recently rescued was previously on a mulch substrate and had impaction from the loose particles that came from it. Kholtme gave great advice on the thermostat, it's really important to know what temperature they're feeling in the air and that they're walking on but it's easy to maintain.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Hi ~

Welcome aboard!

I recommend rough textured, "standard" thickness, kitchen or bathroom tiles. Slate can be variable. I'd go no more than 3/8 inch thick. I would use paper towels over newspaper. The ink can rub off.

Here's a great thermostat many of us leo keepers use: Amazon.com : Hydrofarm MTPRTC Digital Thermostat for Heat Mats : Plant Germination Heating Mats : Patio, Lawn & Garden

It's the only reasonably priced thermostat I know of with a digital readout and a small metal probe.

 

[IHaveNoIdea]

Here is my new terrarium setup.. I think it looks great and much more natural than for example paper towels.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Here is my new terrarium setup.. I think it looks great and much more natural than for example paper towels.
View attachment 36247

Your vivarium looks quite nice. What does your leo think?

I'm still a little worried about the loose substrate.

 

[IHaveNoIdea]

He is exploring a lot. Most of the floor is covered by those flat stones. It has never happened yet that he would eat the bug right from the eco earth. I always place them on those stones. He grows well, poops very well too. By the way, I was on a reptile expo today and accidently bought some different species of a cricket. It is the banded cricket, are those fine?

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Hi IHaveNoIdea ~

This is really off topic from the Original Poster's questions. Can we continue on the thread you already have going? Then everything would be "On Topic" for your leo.

This is all I know about banded crickets:

Gryllodes sigillatus, the banded cricket, is now being sold in the USA by Ghann's (Nov 2012). Tried out by a friend who reports in May 2013 that Gryllodes sigillatus are more jumpy than Acheta domestica.

Banded crickets became popular in the USA when the Acheta domestica was nearly wiped out by the denso virus. Now Acheta domestica are easy to find.

 

[IHaveNoIdea]

Well, you asked and I answered. Furthermore, it's not that off topic. Just the crickets are. I was just wondering if you have any experience with them. That's it for now. I will continue in my topic when I have futher questions. Thanks

 

[Keeboard]

you could use paper towel, but if are going to feed your gecko crickets (which are the best food IMHO), the crickets might hide under the paper towel. it needs to be changed and isnt very natural. you can use reptile carpet, but this is annoying to clean, also int natural and crickets can get under this as well. it is also very annoying when your gecko gets its claws or teeth stuck on it. i highly recommend tile because its natural, permanent, not loose, crickets cant get under it and your geckos claws and teeth cant get caught on it.

i use it, just dont use sand to fill the cracks because i have heard of two people who have geckos that still managed to get some in their mouths. use eco earth to fill the cracks, making sure it stays dry. tile can be annoying to clean so you can put paper towel over the tile in the washroom corner. make ure the tile is natural stone so your gecko doesnt slide on it. it is also a great heat conducter. sorry for the long reply.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

......

i use it, just dont use sand to fill the cracks because i have heard of two people who have geckos that still managed to get some in their mouths. use eco earth to fill the cracks, making sure it stays dry. tile can be annoying to clean so you can put paper towel over the tile in the washroom corner. make ure the tile is natural stone so your gecko doesnt slide on it. it is also a great heat conducter. sorry for the long reply.

Sand always presents some impaction risk. The only place I do recommend a thin layer of sand is underneath tiles. That's to fill in the ridges underneath tiles which create inconsistent surface temperatures when used above under tank heat mats.

It seems like rough textured kitchen, bath, or floor tiles can meet "close enough" and not require space fillers at all even around the perimeter.

Eco Earth's coco fiber is super absorbent and expands when wet. If a leo were to ingest it, wouldn't it expand in the esophagus? From my experience rewetting coco fiber substrates, dry Eco Earth coco fiber holds a ton of water.

 

[herpmomx7]

Eco Earth's coco fiber is super absorbent and expands when wet. If a leo were to ingest it, wouldn't it expand in the esophagus? From my experience rewetting coco fiber substrates, dry Eco Earth coco fiber holds a ton of water.

This is true. Mo was on eco earth and mulch where I got him from. If they have access to lick substrate, they will and if they ingest any, they're at risk for impaction. This is why I use paper towels since they make cleaning much easier and I don't have to fill cracks with anything. They may look less natural to humans than tiles, but my geckos are very happy and I don't think they're missing out on anything. Tiles or papertowels, both of them are great to use, but loose substrate no matter how large or how recommended by sellers I will never agree with. That's just something I'll always stand firm on; I've seen too many reptiles die or get sick from impaction from every type of substrate you could think of.

 

[Exotics Adiction]

I have just 1 terrarium, and it has repti bark. My leo eats on another tub, he has his water changed dialy, and he haves a little feeding bowl with calcium+D3

 

[Exotics Adiction]

This is my terrarium...

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

I have just 1 terrarium, and it has repti bark. My leo eats on another tub, he has his water changed dialy, and he haves a little feeding bowl with calcium+D3

This is my terrarium...

Hi ~

Welcome to Geckos Unlimited!

The size of your vivarium looks good! How about adding a warm moist hide like this plastic tub?



How old is your leo? Has your leo adapted to eating in a separate enclosure? What temperatures do you provide?

Is the dish you speak of for mealworms? I would not leave calcium with D3 inside the enclosure in a separate dish.

Can you check out my Leo Care Sheet for recommendations on number and kinds of hides, temperatures, and all? It's linked below in my signature. Scroll through it for 2 shorter versions if you wish.

 

[Exotics Adiction]

Hi ~

Welcome to Geckos Unlimited!

The size of your vivarium looks good! How about adding a warm moist hide like this plastic tub?

View attachment 36493 View attachment 36490

How old is your leo? Has your leo adapted to eating in a separate enclosure? What temperatures do you provide?

Is the dish you speak of for mealworms? I would not leave calcium with D3 inside the enclosure in a separate dish.

Can you check out my Leo Care Sheet for recommendations on number and kinds of hides, temperatures, and all? It's linked below in my signature. Scroll through it for 2 shorter versions if you wish.

Hey! Thanks, its a 20 gallon long terrarium... Yeah, he is addapted since a month ago I bought him that terrarium he is going to have 2 years with me in february, but when I got him he had like 2 months... He's weighting 90g...

I haven't though of adding a moist hide, it have coconut fiber right?

He haves a heat pad on the right side that provides some heat on the repti bark, the horter time is during day at 32C and the coolest is 28C at night during summer, during christmas he haves the hottest at 30C and the coolest at 26C. We live in the tropic, Puerto Rico... Sorry my english lol

 

[muffin_song]

Hi ~

Welcome to Geckos Unlimited!

The size of your vivarium looks good! How about adding a warm moist hide like this plastic tub?

View attachment 36493 View attachment 36490

How old is your leo? Has your leo adapted to eating in a separate enclosure? What temperatures do you provide?

Is the dish you speak of for mealworms? I would not leave calcium with D3 inside the enclosure in a separate dish.

Can you check out my Leo Care Sheet for recommendations on number and kinds of hides, temperatures, and all? It's linked below in my signature. Scroll through it for 2 shorter versions if you wish.

Off-topic, but that picture of your leo sticking their head out of their moist hide is adorable!!!

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Off-topic, but that picture of your leo sticking their head out of their moist hide is adorable!!!

Thanks, muffin_song! I agree. Both those photos are Matt's (GU's Conched), one of that Leo Care Sheet's contributors. He's not been active for a while.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

You are welcome. I'm sorry that it has been a while.

Can you share a picture of your nearly 2 year old, 90 gram leo?

Does he have any trouble shedding? What is the humidity like in Puerto Rico in your home? Above 60%? If that's true, a humid hide may not be necessary.

1. A warm moist hide keeps your leo hydrated and makes shedding easy. It can be filled with Eco Earth's coco fiber, sphagnum moss, or paper towels --- all damp to wet.
2. Is the structure on the left side also a hide? If so, I would put the more private hide on the right side right above the heat pad.
3. Perhaps he could use a little more heat during the winter? Can you get 31-33*C maximum ground temperature year round?
4. Do your cool end ground temperatures = the room temperatures?

Suggested temperatures for all leopard geckos regardless of size

• 88-92 F (31.1-33.3 C) floor/ground temperature right underneath a leo's warm dry hide
• no greater than 85 F (29.4 C) air temperature - 4 inches above ground on the warm end
• no greater than 75 F (23.9 C) air temperature - 4 inches above ground on the cool end

 

[JessJohnson87]

I have my tank set up with part tile, part carpet. I use paper towels underneath the tile so that way if he poops in the corner and some of the urates manages to get in-between the tile and the side of the tank, I can clean it up easier. That is also the side that the UTH is on and no fires yet. I know Lowes will cut the tile for you and anything over 2 pieces is like .99 per tile, I think. I've been kind of a pyro my whole life and it's hard to burn paper towels with a lighter, the flame lasts for a few seconds before it fizzles out.