is there ANY substrate that...

...I can use for a leo besides newspaper/paper towels/astroturf/tile? Ive been using astroturf and I just really want a substrate that looks more natural. Leos are like little kids who put things everything in their mouths :mad:. Why can't I just have a loose substrate?! I know now obviously not to use sand, but is there ANY loose substrate out there I can use?

Wait.

You cant use loose substrate with leos?

That's pretty boring.

They look so pretty in the glass tanks at the petshop when there all hooked up.

Not really, I use tile. That way I don't have to worry. I don't like to promote the use of a loose substrate but I know a lot of people who do use fine sifted play sand without any problems. I think alot of it all comes down to how well they are fed and you husbandry has to be spot on. Plus it doesn't have calcium in the substrate. I have also heard of people using a playsand/soil mix. Its all up to you really. I personally don't want to risk it, I don't want to monitor mine 24/7 to make sure they aren't eating sand, and trust me I would be glued to their cages lol.

whats their natural habitat anyways, dont they live in pakistan and whatnot? sand? rocks?

There is a digestable, hypoallergenic substrate made by a company called Fibre Core. The name just escapes me at the moment.

I have never heard of anybody having any problems keeping their leos on it, but ofcourse you would want to wait for them to get atleast above 4" before using anything that might be ingested, just in case.


Thats just my opinion though. Hope that helps.

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Originally Posted by Pwilliams58

whats their natural habitat anyways, dont they live in pakistan and whatnot? sand? rocks?

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rocky outcroppings

With small leos paper towels and newspaper it the best save them from getting impacted. I just exo-terra sand stuff. I enjoy it, real easy to spot clean and change. My leo has been on it for 4 years and no problems what so ever.

I should add that with the sandy substrate a humid hide is a must for when they shed.

Leos live in rocky areas, although sand is natural for leos, not LOOSE SAND. The sand in leos natural habitat is hard packed sand/clay. The most natural choices for leos would be slate rock or a hard packed sand/clay..

what about the coconut husk stuff that comes in a brick?

Those rough slate tiles actually look very cool. You can get all sorts of colors, patterns, etc. Leos just don't do well with a loose substrate as they will constantly lick their surroundings.

I dont really get it, so you have a bunch of slate rocks....how do you arrange them in the tank? and were do you get them? and how many would you need?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Pwilliams58

what about the coconut husk stuff that comes in a brick?

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Im guessing your refering to coco fiber(bed a beast), that is not good for leos, it is ment for species with higher hummidity requirements, I use it for my AFT and tokays, love it for them. Some people use it for humid hides or as egg box substrate for leos but thats it..

Well, you can always smash up a few different colors of slate and make a mosaic on the bottom of the tank. That would look awesome. Just grout it in(like you would a shower) and let it set for a few days and that's that :)

Heres a couple of my tanks with ceramic tile inside them. Hope this helps, it looks really nice and is so easy to keep clean.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3.../Geckos062.jpg
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3.../Geckos044.jpg
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3...s/IMG_3702.jpg
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3...s/IMG_3701.jpg
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3...s/IMG_3306.jpg

You can grout them, or just get them cut to fit snug in the tank. Either way works.

Some things you will want to consider though, the bottom of the tile isn't flat. It has little squares on it. So you will get air pockets of hot air underneath and sometimes it won't heat evenly. You can either use fine sifted play sand underneath the tiles or papertowel underneath the tile to disperse the heat evenly.

Also, make sure there are not sharp edges so little toes don't get injured. If you have to have them cut to size make sure you measure the insides of the tank and don't go by the demension of the tank. It never works out that way.

I've had bad experience with loose substrate with reptiles. The only time I've used loose substrate now was with Zim, my corn snake because she liked to burrow. Now she's back on newspaper.

I had a bearded dragon on crushed walnut substrate (my mom did it, not me) and Tyke got impacted. Vet appointments, warm soaks, injesting oils to aid the passage of the substrate, no food, giving water by way of fingertip or dropper, and after all of that, surgery. He was put to sleep after the surgery because he wouldn't make it more than a day. So since leopard geckos fair even worse with loose substrate, I wouldn't risk it.

in the past i have used ground corn cob stuff...,never had any problems...then i switched to this moss that i found growing on rocks behind my house up the mountain and itwas great to hold humidity. if you go out romping in the woods and come across some..give it a whirl...