Substrates

[Rou]

Through many months of research and study into which substrates would be great for using with a leopard gecko and what not, all the research be it in a book or on the internet has either said use bark not sand or the other way around.

Whats your opinions on it?

[l1zardchick]

when i kept leos i always kept mine on kitchen roll as i was terrified of impaction but alot of leo owners successfully have there leos on sand

[Kimmy173]

I voted other for kitchen roll/lino/tiles/repti-carpet.

These are all solid substrates and completey remove the risk of impaction. sand would be used for adults strictly if you really want to put it on sand. Babies and juvies should absolutely not go on sand or chippings because they are more likely to ingest it all.

[tracie]

kept mine on kitchen roll

[Art_Gecko101]

Personally, when i've kept leos i have kept them on Paper towel, both of the other substrates leave the risk of impaction wide open and so thats where the controversy comes from. Some say adult leos have a big enough digestive tract to pass the sand, and so its fine, but they will almost definately injest some of it whether they become impacted or not. Some say they use bark chips as theyre big enough for the gecko not to eat, but if it did eat it then it'd be almost certain impaction! Neither sand nor bark chippings is 'natural' for leos, so IMO are no better than kitchen paper or lino or slate tiles, which eliminate the risk of impaction

Personally if i were setting up a new leo viv i'd use a combo of slate tiles and maybe experiment with Excavator clay

[Rou]

Although my two are kept on bark chips at the moment I have recently became extremely concerned about impaction as my 1y/o has stopped eating and defecating.

With this in mind i'm voting on other as I think although not aesthetically pleasing to the onlooker something solid such as kitchen roll and other sorts of solid substrates become alot more practical and cheaper in the long run.

[Art_Gecko101]

try slate?

[Catherine896]

I put other aswell. Mine are kept on vinyl tiles and reptile carpet.

[Kimmy173]

Originally Posted by Rou

Although my two are kept on bark chips at the moment I have recently became extremely concerned about impaction as my 1y/o has stopped eating and defecating.

With this in mind i'm voting on other as I think although not aesthetically pleasing to the onlooker something solid such as kitchen roll and other sorts of solid substrates become alot more practical and cheaper in the long run.

have you posted about this problem? That sounds serious hun. is she/he drinking at all, become lethargic?

[Rou]

Originally Posted by Art_Gecko101

try slate?

Slate? really, what sort? like slate chips or something.
This is a new one to me.

Originally Posted by Kimmy173

have you posted about this problem? That sounds serious hun. is she/he drinking at all, become lethargic?

Yeah I have done, I will find my thread and post the link on this in a minute.

I could only assume she is drinking, I haven't ever seen her drink the whole year I have owned her. As for lethargic she doesn't come out as much in the evenings like she used to but when on my bed or lap she is wondering around and trying to climb all over me which is normal.

It has been nearly three complete weeks since she last ate. I'm hoping after this shed she may switch her attitude, if not then its off to the herp vets for us for definate!

If anyone from Bristol knows of a good vet that knows about reptiles then please send their name and number this way otherwise it's Yell.com again.