Problems with Carpet

[JayminS]

Hello. I have a baby-juvenile leopard gecko named Lexi. She has a green reptile carpet that I like because she can't get impaction, and excrement doesn't stick to it. One problem: when I dust worms and crickets with the calcium or multivitamins, and I put them into the terrarium, they get powder on the carpet, which does not clean easy. Any suggestions on anterior motives for giving my leopard gecko calcium and vitamins without it being so messy? Thanks.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Hi Jaymin ~

Try using a deep feeding dish for Lexi's prey with some type ramp leading up to it like this:



I suggest switching from reptile carpet to slate tiles, textured ceramic tiles, or paper towels. Tiles are permanent, sanitary, and easy to clean. Reptile carpet needs to be frequently washed because of leo's feces, urine, and urates. Leos tend to get their teeth stuck in reptile carpet.

 

[Keeboard]

I recommend dry Eco earth. It allows your Leo to dig, and won't impact her as long as you practice proper husbandry. It also lasts six months!

 

[JayminS]

Thanks everyone, but with eco earth do I have to constantly moisten it? And what do you mean, proper husbandry?

 

[Zux]

Thanks everyone, but with eco earth do I have to constantly moisten it? And what do you mean, proper husbandry?

I personally dont see any benefit to dry eco earth over other loose substrates if that is the route you wish to go, in fact I would go so far as to say that while safe, its entirely unsuitable for benefiting the Geckos lives. When dry, it doesn't hold any form of burrow, does not provide the firmness of substrate for which the Gecko is evolved to move and exist on, does not aid with shedding or the creating of micro-climates, etc etc.

There are far better options when it comes to providing natural substrates if that is your goal.

If I was to guess, I would say 'Keeboard' thinks if your care for your Leo is sufficient then it wont become 'impacted' from consuming tiny amounts of eco-earth over time. The reality however, is that if your Gecko was being cared for so poorly that such ingesting was going to result in impaction, consuming its prey alone would result in digestive issues.

PS: To clarify - Eco Earth, once soiled will need just as frequent replacing as anything else.

 

[Keeboard]

Am I not quoting what you said once to me? Eco earth really does only need to be replaced every six months, it states this on the package and leaving it in this long doesn't harm your Leo.

 

[Zux]

Am I not quoting what you said once to me? Eco earth really does only need to be replaced every six months, it states this on the package and leaving it in this long doesn't harm your Leo.

I dont remember what you are quoting, but rather obviously, Eco Earth's ability to degrade slowly has no bearing on its need to be replaced once soiled.

I dont know what it states on the package but surely common sense dictates its unlikely that dried coconut husk has any magical properties which mean it needs any less cleaning, or harbors any less bacteria than similar substrates?