Tile or Eco earth?

[Keeboard]

I know many of you recommend tile and I was set on getting it, but now I'm wondering if I should get Eco earth instead. Here's why:

1. I'd get the dry bag, so humidity wouldn't be an issue.
2. It would be more comfortable (leopard geckos seem to care about comfort, since they sometimes sleep with their front legs back, palms up).
3. The geckos could dig in it.
4. It seems like the safest loose substrate. I've only heard one or two people have problems with it.

What are your thoughts?

 

[Yoshi'smom]

I think it may be ok but I personally wouldn't chance the risk of impaction. I just wouldn't want to put my little one on anything that may possibly hurt her. I'm just a paranoid gecko owner....

 

[Zux]

In my view the choice comes down to you actually, not your wishes but rather the care you provide.

If you are confident (read 100% sure) that your husbandry is on point, that is to say your temperatures are correct and the Gecko is always well hydrated, fed & supplemented then you can use a particulate substrate without issues.

In fact, personally, I would actually go as far as to recommend providing semi-loose substrate for people in those specific situations because the Geckos really do enjoy it and it allows them to display and exercise a lot more natural behaviors. I use a clay/sand/soil/volcanic rock mix personally.

If you are not sure of all I mentioned above however, I would advise the use of tile, purely because it is issues with those aspects of care when combined with providing a loose substrate that result in impaction, not the substrate itself.


Hope that helped.

 

[Keeboard]

I'd never use any loose substrate other than Eco earth. What if, say, a power outage or something else unexpected happened? What if you made a mistake? The husbandry would no longer be good since the heat source would be off. Why would you take the risk of impaction? I think I'll go with half tile, half Eco earth. Thanks to everyone who replied!

 

[Zux]

No problem Keeboard, in answer to your question - nothing. The husbandry wouldn't need to be perfect 100% of the time, situations like that power cut wouldn't increase the risk at all pretty much.

It would be consistently poor care that would cause issues.

That said, the half and half approach sounds like a good compromise you can make, good luck !

 

[JessJohnson87]

I use a similar mix as Shane and my gecko loves it. He's still lazy but he has been more active since I made the switch from tile to clay/sand/soil mix.