Sand is perfectly okay, apart from calcium sand, and should not present an impaction risk as long as your husbandry is correct.

 

I would stick with the wooden vivs, Leos are crepuscular, they are shadedwelling animals, you dont want it bright and airy.


Upgrading is also a good idea, but dont buy by volume... horrible way of picking sizes, Leos are terrestial, you want a minimum size of 3ft long by 1.5ft deep/high for an adult Leo, and i would look at a proper soil/sand mix substrate.


Shredded paper is not a good idea in a viv, you have a heat source in there.


I would strongly recommend having a look at these threads:
https://www.reptileforums.co.uk/forums/lizards/1205321-loose-substrates-myth-gut-compaction.html
https://www.reptileforums.co.uk/forums/lizards/1263589-leopard-gecko-enclosure.html
https://www.reptileforums.co.uk/forums/lizards/1264297-leopard-gecko-set-up.html
https://www.reptileforums.co.uk/forums/lizards/1265915-uv-kit-leopard-gecko.html


Should all have some useful bits and info for you.

 

I've had my Gecko for a year and 8 months, and all the time she has had sand in her wooden viv. This was reccomended from the reptile shop owner where I had got her, and I was not informed about impaction at all.

I regret my decision immensely for not learning about it till now, and am grateful she is OK. But I wish to change the flooring asap. I was looking at slate, as they seem cheap and easy to maintain, but I also read somewhere that you could use shredded paper ? (The type you'd use for hamster bedding)

Would shredded paper indeed be safe for her, even as a temporary solution until i can get slates/tiles?

ALSO , I believe she is currently in a 15 or 10 gallon viv and was thinking about upgrading? Should I, and which ones are recommended? I thought a glass viv might be a bit lighter than my current wooden one

Many thanks!

Not true about impaction, & a sand based loose substrate is actually best- please read this: Loose substrates & the myth of gut compaction.
Also, consider this: Do they get impaction from loose substrates in the wild?

 

Not sure if shredded paper is ok or not, im assuming it would be okay if it isn't scented or anything? but if you are using heat lamps I wouldn't recommend it. I use UTH mats. Personally, for my leo I use paper towel currently since he is a baby. My juvenile is in a 15 gallon and it has plenty of space for him but when he grows up I am getting a 20 long. I recommend 20 gallon longs since they have a lot of floor space and this is a good size for a leo. You could also go with a 40 breeder size good luck!