New To Leo's: How To Handle

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Originally Posted by mr~python

i noticed you said you saw footprints. are you using sand? sand is a big no-no. it can cause impactions in leos, mostly when they lick it when they want calcium.

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Even the Calci-Sand is bad? I know sand is frowned upon, but the store owner assured me that this particular type was digestible and will never cause any problems. I haven't acquired my Leo yet (she's a beautiful and HUGE 1 and 1/2 year old), though the owner has kept her in Calci-Sand almost her entire life - should I return this big 25lb. bag and get carpet instead?

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Originally Posted by IamKaervek

Even the Calci-Sand is bad? I know sand is frowned upon, but the store owner assured me that this particular type was digestible and will never cause any problems. I haven't acquired my Leo yet (she's a beautiful and HUGE 1 and 1/2 year old), though the owner has kept her in Calci-Sand almost her entire life - should I return this big 25lb. bag and get carpet instead?

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yes even calci saind is bad because when the leo's want calcium they'll lick the sand and thats bad because it can cause compaction, it doesnt matter what the sand is made of, it can still cause compaction. so if you have calci-sand i would switch to paper towels.

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Originally Posted by reptile-girl

compaction

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i mean impaction

i know some people use sand with success but i prefer paper towels for babies and juvies and newspaper for adult just to be totally safe and because it works better for my rack system than sand.

Any experience with the greed carpet? The shop keeper told me that she's had problems with her Leos' claws snagging on the carpet, and causing distress in the animal. I already bought some carpet for my 20L tank, but it is about 6" short, so I figured I'd cover that part with paper-towels for the poop area. However, if the Leo is going to have issues with the carpet and her claws, I would rather not us it.

i haven't used it for leos but i did use if for my cresteds for a while and i noticed that they snagged their teeth on it a lot when hunting crickets. they would basically have to tear their teeth out of it, which sometimes looked to be a bit of a struggle. i'm all about newspaper and/or paper towels. no matter how much you might not like the sound of it now, once you try it you will appreciate how fast and easy it makes cleaning and how safe it is for your animal.