I've had my new leo for a little over a week and she's eating really well but wouldn't use her humid hide until I switched it from sphagnum moss to paper towel. She's in it all the time now. My one concern is when she starts laying eggs she'll need a different substrate in it so she can dig. I really don't want to use eco earth because even though it's not sand, impaction still scares me and she's only 9 months so I'm avoiding loose substrates. Do I just leave it at paper towels or is there a better option?
srwalter
What are the temperatures, heating methods etc?
Regarding substrate, any leo older than 6 months will be fine on a loose substrate of sand, or sand & soil & it's a myth about them causing impaction as long as you've got the temperatures right. After all, they're found on lose substrates in the wild. Please read this: Loose substrates & the myth of gut compaction.
Regarding substrate, any leo older than 6 months will be fine on a loose substrate of sand, or sand & soil & it's a myth about them causing impaction as long as you've got the temperatures right. After all, they're found on lose substrates in the wild. Please read this: Loose substrates & the myth of gut compaction.
I use a UTH that covers half of the tank, warm and moist hide are 92 degrees. There's a lot of things that are a part of an animal's natural habitat, doesn't mean it's best for them. As to the post tagged I immediately clean feces and change out the carpet weekly. Aesthetically I am fine with a sand colored carpet but appearance isn't even a point of argument for me. Leo's lick everything and can't digest vegetables so why would they be able to digest sand? I'm less concerned about eco earth as the particles are bigger but as far as sand goes I'm gonna trust the reptile experts I've talked to and watched over some dude I know nothing about that you referenced on a forum. They don't even live in the desert in the wild, the Middle East is soil with some sand so straight sand doesn't even make sense. I understand that people have success using sand but when I posted looking for alternatives I was looking for suggestions on the moss or other solutions, not to be told to use the exact thing I don't want to. I don't think poop smelling on carpet is a good way to debunk the "myth" of impaction. I was simply looking for an explanation as to why my leo hates moss or what I could be doing wrong with placement and thickness not a lecture on sand. My ball and hermit crabs are on eco earth, I have no problem with loose substrate it's just with leo's and their licking. Different herp keepers have different preferences and beliefs but at least this isn't as cut throat as the hermit crab community.
If you want to give her a lay spot, there will have to be some form of loose substrate. For lay spots I always recommend a sand soil mix as it can hold humidity and structure. Impaction typically stems from the husbandry rather than the substrate itself so make sure everything is tip top. As a side note, animals have become impacted on sphagnum moss and tissue, so what you're currently using still isn't risk free.
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