I usually clean my Leo's and Crested Tank every 3 weeks to a month. Since i use Eco earth for my Crested i usually am left with a lot of it when i'm done filling the crested tank. So i was wondering would it be bad to use Eco earth for my Leo's as well? I use a reptile carpet but i don't like when they get their Teeth stuck on the carpet or Calcium gets every where. I also only spray the inside of their Cool hide when they are shedding I don't normally spray the whole tank. So not so much moisture should get trapped in the Eco earth I assume. I have a 20 gallon terrarium for my Year+ Leo and 10 Gallon For my 6 month Leo.
Zoo Meds Eco Earth a good substrate?
- Thread starter Bazamore
- Start date
Elliriyanna
Member
Loose substrates are not recommended for leopard geckos as they are ground dwelling and when they are trying to catch prey they can ingest the substrate. Impaction is your big risk with using loose substrate its not humidity thats the primary concern.
IHaveNoIdea
New member
It's perfectly fine if you feed your geckos using tweezers. I wouldn't let them hunt on it though. Consider using Arcadia Earth Mix, it's pretty expensive, but much better. And try spraying the warm side (geckos won't get respiratory infection).
I've decided to do the same. I want a more natural looking set up. I suspect that once the eco earth is completely dry it will do just fine (I have moist hides with sphagnum moss). I'm also planning on keeping their tiles that they use for their warm hides, so the substrate will be more like 60% eco earth / 40% tile.
I actually bought the eco earth today and can't wait to set it up.
I actually bought the eco earth today and can't wait to set it up.
Elliriyanna
Member
There are several impaction cases that have been directly linked to eco earth
Definitely not a good substrate for leopard geckos, especially housed in fish tanks due to low humidity(unless you live somewhere like Florida). If they suffer any level of dehydration impaction can occur. As mentioned ground dwelling are more likely to ingest substrate, while eating food and shed. Eco earth in mouth, lick eyeballs, next thing you know you have abscess above the eye. Mold can be a problem as well.
We all learn something new everyday
I had 2 leopard geckos in a bow front with eco earth as a substrate for 5 years with no problems. These were adults and it's only anecdotal, not research. I did mist the enclosure every now and then (about 1 -2 times a month). After all, it does rain sometimes in their natural habitat. That said, I still prefer ceramic tile.
Aliza
Aliza
Miyukiwynter
New member
As you can see, it's a very heavily debated topic. I use ceramic tile for the enclosure and I use eco-earth in my leo's humid hide only. The problem I see with eco-earth is keeping it dry makes it rather dusty and easily picked up as they go around licking things. When it's moist it can be compacted down better and isn't dusty, but the entire enclosure shouldn't be kept moist as it can cause respiratory problems over time. However, I do think they enjoy digging around in it and females can lay eggs in it which is why I use it in my girl's humid hide only. In the end it's up to you to form an opinion based on the info you gather from responses here and other sources.
GeckoGirl3
New member
Hi! I think eco earth is a perfect substrate for leopard geckos! They can burrow, dig, and explore on it. Eco earth acts just like a dirt, and looks natural. If you are looking for a naturalistic tank, this is the perfect way to go! But... Eco earth does have it's cons. Eco earth can raise humidity in a leo tank quite high, but there are many solutions to high humidity. Eco earth can also cause compaction if ingested. If you do want a perfect substrate that will look nice, cause zore impaction, and make your leo comfortable, go with slat tiles!
GeckoGirl3
New member
Sorry for my spelling errors in my last post...