I find it horrifying pet stores sell those deadly products. I got scented bedding for my hamster a few months ago. I just thought it was just some nice bedding that will be soft and cozy for her. But one night she was dying , she couldent breath , she was gasping for air , so I took her to the vet at 4 am in the morning. Thank god she survived but, because pet stores want a fast buck. Millions of smell pets / reptiles / and even some dogs and cats die due to unsafe pet supplies; because the pet stores don't do any research. It's absolutely disgusting.
Ikr! They just want the money because you have to keep replacing the sand! I mean, sand can be fine if you give your gecko the proper care, but pet stores usually recommend calcium sand which is certainly not ok.
Gay Argonian yeah when I was going to get my Leo at a petsmart I was getting false info I realized so I corrected the lady because before then I did my research on the gecko
bob the penguin that and some reptile product producers actually do believe that some of these harmful products can be safely used (which is a huge mistake on their part).
They do not sell this for your geckos good health but rather for your aesthetic needs. It is why some people do not pick up after their dogs, they want the dog but not the nastiness that comes with it. It's also like the whole phone thing, people keep asking that their phones do everything and manufacturers are all to happy to provide.
At least at PetSmart (can't speak for PetCo), employees and managers have little to no control over what is stocked in store. Corporate employees that don't work in the store sit in an office far away, look at sales numbers, and order supplies. The people that do this aren't hired because they care about animals, but because they're good at crunching numbers. Not saying that employees (including managers) aren't horribly misinformed a lot of the time, but those aren't the people who have the real power to change things. Especially since most customers don't ask about best substrate anyway, and just grab whatever.
i wish i could show my manager this video. i work at a pet store and they use calcium sand... but i'm new so she won't listen to me. just gives me the excuse of "well, everyone takes care of their animals differently.." there's different, and then there's dangerous my dude. :/
When I first got my gecko Charlie, her owner used sand and only one hide😕. I bought her and a tank, fake plants and a gecko cave for about €50,-. The sand was still in the terrarium and I wasn't able to put Eco Earth in it since my order in which it came was delayed.. About a week later I bought a bigger terrarium which I immediately put Eco Earth in( I noticed she wasnt pooping) and three hides. After a few days, I finally found some gecko poop, and saw that it was full of sand😦.. Luckily, she is now very healthy and she poops regularly without any sand in it.. I also contaced her old owner because he had some other gecko's on sand and he now also uses Eco Earth!🎉
I bought two leopard geckos in June this year. We had them with a carpet all the time. My kids really wanted their geckos in sand just like they saw them in the store so I finally decided to put halfside of the tank and on the other side we kept the carpet. Now our leopard geckos are not eating. We took the sand out. The sand was there for a week only. Are my geckos going to die? is there anything I can do? or give them?
This video is so very helpful!! I would love to spread the word to pet stores, because unfortunately they STILL use sand! My first leopard gecko was my baby, and she lost her life to those idiots that raised her on sand before selling her to me.. I ended up ranting to the pet store, and they eventually changed to reptile carpet. I made a difference, and that's what matters most to me. Thank you.
I never understood why anyone would even WANT to put their geckos on sand. Even if it were their "natural" environment, sand will get EVERYWHERE whenever you pick your gecko up or need to change the substrate for cleaning. It would be a mess all on its own, even if it were harmless, which its not.
@@zerone4047 honestly it doesn't seem like there's a ton of research about it, so I would just avoid it unless you're using bigger pieces that won't fit in their mouth for decoration. Dolomite itself isn't harmful as far as I know, but anything smaller than like an inch or so I wouldn't put in my enclosures.
Kat Marie Excuse you, I'm actually smart. My Leo that died I got when I was 7. I didn't know any better. now that I'm 15, I understand that my leopard gecko should be on carpet.
If you have a baby get a mat but if its a grown up you can stick with calci sand but the only problem with sand is some sand get really dusty and hard when mixed with water and other sand is just fine.
Honestly there is always a risk of impaction with any loose substrate. I recommend paper towel, reptile carpet, or tile. If you want it to look nice get tile. It looks amazing, is more hygienic than paper towel and reptile carpet, and there is no way impaction can occur.
GeckoDan if you use paper towel they can still get impaction and with mat sometimes their teeth will get stuck on the mat and it is a hassle to get them unstuck(I would know) and tile it is good but their isn't as much of grip also the tile can get really hot and really cold.
When I found out that sand was bad for Tinkerbell, I immediately bathed her and took her out. I put her paper towels and then I got some reptile carpet.
I'd get textured tile or dry Eco earth. Eco earth lasts much longer and lets your gecko dig. Tile is permanent and conducts heat well. Reptile carpet tends to catch teeth and claws
I've got mine on eco earth and everyone on FB groups keep attacking me saying it's bad and causes impaction or is to dry and cause too much dust. Any thoughts?
Hello, I own 2 leopard geckos and I've had them for about a week now. I currently have them in sand but after watching this video I am starting to worry about their health. The owner before me said that they had them for three years and it seems like during those three years they always had them in white sand. Do you think that they would have a sand impaction over those three years? I am planning on removing the sand after what I saw it can do their stomach. Your reply is helpful, thanks!
BullseyeFTW Take them to the vet. They could die. I say: take them off the sand, and go to Petco and get "Reptile Carpet". It's what I use for my Leo. Then take them to your veternairian for possible sand impaction. I hope this helps! -Ruby
I recommend you switch to either dry Eco earth or textured tile. Tile conducts heat well, is permanent, easy to clean, etc. Eco earth lets your gecko dig and lasts for six months at a time. Reptile carpet catches claws and teeth, and insects and the gecko can get under it.
₴₮Ɽł₭ɆⱤ ฿Øł put him in a warm bath make it up to his/her belly if you have done this correct in the morning you will see a big...poop if it doesn't work on the first try keep trying if in three or four more tries and dosent work contact your vet immediately
Where I got my beardy from petsmart, they were keeping him on sand. I noticed that and I had to force myself to keeping my chill in the shop and not scream at them.
I am sorry you lost your gecko and I don't know what to do because I have a gecko and I don't think she's compacted but I think she is going to leave me soon and I don't know how to help her
@Hope Ervin Yes, its such a shame, its like people go to pet shops for advice, which they should really be getting good helpful advice, but instead its potentially dangerous non-sense and all we can do is try to help people before their gecko gets impacted :(
I've used sand for my geckos without any issues for 10 years, because not only pet stores use it but also where I'm from it's in *all* the care sheets. I'm now using Excavator and the Exo Terra sand mat and they're great products!
Thank you for your video! I got my first leo at an animal expo on Sunday and put him on sand due to a suggestion from another youtuber. I had placed his dish on top of a rock slab to avoid him accidentally ingesting sand with his mealworms (also at the suggestion of the same youtuber). I have actually been feeding him while he's perched on my hand. But because of your video I went ahead and switched to paper towels tonight. He's only been on sand for two days, and while I don't think he's eaten sand I hope that there is no damage. Again, thank you.
I recommend some sort of loose substrate (not calcium sand or any type of wood) to let him dig. It won't impact him if he's kept healthy. I'd also feed him crickets or duhia roaches, they're much healthier :)
Thank you so so much for your videos. I got a leopard gecko from a neighbor who couldn’t take care of him anymore who was on sand. Had no idea it was so bad. Will be switching immediately.
PLEASE HELP: My leopard gecko has a bottle cap with calcium vitamins in it. And when I look at him when he walks it looks like his arms have a bone disease. It has me concerned, and I don’t see him eat the calcium and vitamin mix from the cap. Should I dust his food? The breeder said I should leave the calcium out and not dust a lot or like every time, so I did not dust them. I haven’t changed the calcium and vitamin in the cap for a while. I changed the calcium and vitamins in the cap and now, dust his food, and put some on my finger then made him lick it to try and help. I haven’t cleaned his cage for a long while, so I just cleaned it. I don’t clean his water much but I’m about to change that. And his mealworms now have food available a lot, but I’m not sure if there eating it. What should I do now?
You shouldn’t be leaving any supplements in the tank, especially not 3 or any other vitamins. Arcadia or zoo med’s linear UVB would be very beneficial, but when using it you need supplements without d3. Take them to an exotic vet ASAP. Mealworms shouldn’t be their main diet, they should eat mainly crickets or Dubia roaches.
My two leopard geckos died of sand impact ion when I was little. I was like 7 yrs old so I didn't really know. Idk why, but I cried for months after that. I got another 3 leopard geckos and now I know every single thing that is good or bad for them!!
I have sand in my gecko's tank but I've been watching him on how he's reacted when I put him in but he does not eat the sand. I've been putting his food in a dish so he won't digest the sand whenever he takes a bite. I switched him from reptile carpet cause he kept getting his toes cause in the small fibers of the carpet. should I still switch him off from sand to a different substrate just in case ? even if he doesn't eat the sand ?
I don’t get why people get sand, like if you want something decorative use reptile carpet. Like I’m new owner but just thinking sand for decor is so upsetting
Reptile carpet catches their teeth and claws and harbours bacteria no matter how much you clean it. It also doesn’t offer digging enrichment. It’s not a good substrate.
When I grow up I’m going to start a store called “Leopard Gecko’s Market” and I am going to make sure my employees give out true information and any Leo’s that were bred by mistake and had eggs I would happily take care of and sell to good owners, I would own the right tanks, lighting, heat, and hides
Walnut it actually also really bad for them, not as bad as sand. But: reptile carpet (can catch the claws, but a fine substrate) eco earth (can cause impaction, but very rare compared to sand and walnut) tile (can’t cause impaction, but can get too hot) Paper towel (easy to clean, can get too hot, no impaction risk) Those are your best bets
Lost my first baby Wiseau due to calcium sand that the store owner heavily advertised to me. He had a vet appointment the next morning when I realized the bump on his abdomen but he didn’t even make it through the night. The guilt haunts me to this day, and it’s all because I trusted the word of a “professional”. Never again will I do such a thing, since Wiseau’s passing, I have done countless hours of heavy research for my new geckos, and they are thriving. Wiseau’s early and unnecessary passing was extremely tragic and traumatic, but it did change the way I do things animal wise forever. Always do your research.
i’m very worried because i have just recently gotten a leopard gecko and the employees and the reptile expo were telling me that i need to use sand as a substrate, but i’ve been doing my research and i found out how bad it is for them. My mom won’t let me change the substrate because “that’s not what the employee said”. It makes me so mad because i don’t want it to die. (btw my gecko is a baby)
Your mom needs to understand that that employee gave you misinformation. Tell your mom that plain sand is completely unnatural for them, they don’t live on pure sand in the wild. This video of leopard geckos in their natural habitat shows proof of that: ua-cam.com/video/8hH5i0Te7DM/v-deo.html If she still isn’t convinced, there are an abundance of UA-cam videos and gruesome pictures online that should convince her. If your husbandry isn’t on point your gecko could die of impaction. Better options include reptisoil, organic top soil (without fertilizer or perlite, Scott’s is a good brand), or a mix that’s 60% organic top soil and 40% children’s playsand.
you could not of hit the nail on the head any harder! some day we should all hope all bad substrates are taken of the shelves of shops keep up your work and from your videos in the past and your advice you've possibly saved my geckos life
aw thank you :) it makes me laugh someone has already put a thumbs down to this video - i can only assume they use sand and wont face up to the evidence that its bad lol
My leapord geckos back legs aren't moving and his tail keeps twitching I moved the rock and he was under it I think I broke his back legs he won't use them.. can you help me
brianna lyken Use paper towels until you can get some dry Eco earth. I use a mix of tile and Eco earth. I have the main floor as ceramic and slate mixed tile and then I have a small area of Eco earth in the back of her tank.
Wow I feel terrible I've kept my gecko on sand for a month like the shop said I feel terrible if I had know this I never would of done this to my Leo is she gonna die? I'm so scared now I've already cleared out the sand and now I'm sitting here worried out of my mind should I wait or take her to the reptile vet immediately? Please help I feel like a terrible person.
I bought a leopard gecko and a starter kit from petsmart and spent all my money, it came with sand, should I take the sand out till I can get eco earth, if so what should I replace it with ? I have a lot of sphagnum moss I bought to help with shedding, can I use this as substrate till I can buy eco earth ?
oh my God thank you so much you are an angel to geckos and lizards alike you have taught me something that I needed to know I have had a gecko die my mom believes he was constipated but we had this greenish sand in his tank this is not my gecko it's my little brothers it was a leopard gecko his name was Rocky thank you for teaching me a valuable lesson I will tell this knowledge to my mother if she doesn't believe me I'll show her your video thank you so much even though that you're one person your voice still matters because it has a large impact on others thank you so much
I know someone who uses sand with their baby leopard gecko. Their baby leopard gecko also has a part of its tail already ripped off!! This person will absolutely not take my advice on getting rid of their sand! I just wish I could take their leopard gecko away from them they really have no right to own a leopard gecko keeping it in conditions like that. My gecko, Genji, on the other hand is being raised on reptile carpet and paper towel since he is still a baby, though I am looking into getting eco earth when he grows up a bit. My gecko is living a happy, healthy life thanks to your videos. You've got to be the best person on UA-cam when it comes to telling people how to raise a leopard gecko the right way and I just wish everyone that plans on getting a leopard gecko does their research before getting one but sadly it doesn't always work out that way...
Oh, that's terrible! I know somebody who keeps a Leo on sand with a lamp as well. They won't listen to me either. Eco earth is a great substrate, but you could get tile as well, it conducts heat well, is easy to clean, permanent, etc.
Tell your teachers that calcium sand isn’t digestible. It encourages them to eat it and blocks their digestive system, killing them. Show them videos (like this one) and pictures of impaction. Suggest paper towel as a safer alternative. Are they housed together?
I have 27 reptiles and each of them has different needs. I've found that a mix of cocofibre and sand with a bit of potting soil ( with no additives ) works great... loads of hides, rocks and plants I have very happy geckos. No impaction and perfect sheds
addicted to your videos. I was just looking up videos on why my Leopard isn't eating...3 hours later, I am still watching your videos! love them! My question is; if loose substrait is bad, wouldn't Eco Soil (the product you use) also cause impaction?! btw...i was sold on Calci-Sand and I am now switching to good old paper towel this morning!
This also happens with repti-sand. After about 5 months of having a leopard gecko, he got an impact ion of sand, and he hasn’t eaten in a month. We are treating him now with laxatives and support feeding.
I got my gecko from a pet shop with sand as it’s substrate. I’ve heard that a symptom of sand impaction is black on the belly. My gecko has black on the belly. Does this mean it has sand impaction? I’m worried. I don’t wanna lose a gecko to sand from a pet shop.
Hi, I really need help. I just got a leopard gecko vivarium and all the things I need. It was a kit. And... I got sand. But the person I got it from said that the sand was the finest sand that is available. They said impaction wouldn’t occur if the heating mat was the right temperature. Is that true. They said it would only occur if it was to cold. Because it would pass through. They also said that leopard geckos love to burry into the sand.
Celestial_Dark that’s true, at least with adults. If they’re healthy and have proper care. But there are much better options such as eco earth or a bioactive substrate.
I found my gecko dead today, i am heartbroken. Died at the age of 13, he was caughing yesterday night but it too late for me to go to the vet. I have used sand for my gecko as it have been recommended by people as you mentioned in this video. I am now feeling an incredible guilt, did i in fact kill my gecko by having fine sand? Is there any way to tell if that was the cause? Pets should require a license. I was 12 when i got my gecko but as i got older i have not had the proper time or economy to fully take care of him. I feel as if i killed him and it is tearing me apart.
When i was really young we had a leopard gecko that we didn't do much research on. We had him on red sand, a small water dish, one hide and no other "furniture", and fed him like once a week. I don't remember much since i was so young but it's now so obvious as to why poor lava lizard didn't live very long. I'm definitely doing a lot better with my leopard gecko now but I'm so glad we've been using a carpet since they're still a baby. I noticed a lot of problems with the way PetSmart was holding their geckos but at least they didn't have sand in the tiny tank filled with five starving babies.
Carpet is not a suitable substrate. It tends to get caught on their teeth and claws and harbours bacteria no matter how much it’s cleaned. It also doesn’t offer any digging enrichment. Reptisoil or a top soil/playsand mix would be best.
I'm so happy I watched this before my dad, not knowing much and basing his knowledge on the breeder we got her from at a reptile expo, decided to give my gecko Cookie sand. He was considering it but I told him right away.
Thank you for making this video, many people make this mistake and it's not ok. But thank you, you care not just very well for your animals, but for every one else's. #youareamazing
I know your not a bearded dragon owner, but I need help. I adopted my bearded dragon when he was 8 years old. He is now 10 and has been on sand his whole life. Would it be too stressful to change him to a different substrate now, or will it not matter, he is definitely considered an elderly bearded dragon so he will be easily stressed.
Miranda Random hey there! Pet care employee here. :) it won't be stress him to switch over at all. You can use eco carpet, which is a safe alternative that's still easy to clean. I normally advise people to buy two, that way when you need to clean one you can just put the other in! A lot of people say once beardies are over 6 inches it's ok to put them on sand, but I always advise against it since it's really not worth the risk. Best of luck!
Miranda Random Change it to paper towels or repticarpet. If your Beardie is eating its food from a bowl and not straight on the sand then you might be able to keep it on sand. I suggest anything but sand though.
I used to keep "reptile sand" strictly in my gecko's hide because I fed her elsewhere, but I don't keep any sand in there at all anymore. Firstly, it makes a mess. That's not their fault, their little hands and feet and tails can get it thrown all over the place. Second, she poops in it. It's just better to have a way to clean her tank easily. I now have decorative paper in her tank that covers the entire tank. It's as easy as pulling it out and replacing it with a fresh big sheet. It's folded and soft so she has padding to walk on and feels comfortable. Since I feed her outside of her tank, I don't think this paper will be a problem but it's nice to have something safe but pretty to make her tank look like a little home.
I bought me leopard gecko at a local reptile store. They say sand looks "nice" and can be digested. I'm glad I saved her. House of Reptiles Leopard gecko spotlight.
I too had a Leopard Gecko die from Calci-Sand. The pet store worker swore up and down that it was perfectly safe, so I thought the impaction problem only applied to regular sand.
hey! i think you should do a video about bearded dragon brumating. it would help worried beardy owners, like me i didn't know mine was doing this i thought he would die of starvation because he all of a sudden STOPPED eating. if your bearded dragon is sleeping alot, digging, and not eating at all, dont worry. its not losing weight and it wont starve. just keep them warm and let them sleep. theyll recover in the summertime and theyll probably eat alot. so dont worry if they're doing this. but, if your concerned and they wont go back to they're original state in late summer, i'd suggest taking them to the vet.
We just brought home our first leopard gecko a week ago today. Of course the pet store pushed us to buy sand as the substrate and we didn't know all the health problems it could cause. Now since bringing him home he pooped the first night and a few days later pooped THREE times. That was maybe three days ago and he hasn't gone again. We have Eco earth now to put into the tank as I'm concerned that the sand has caused him not to poop daily (which to my understanding leopard geckos are supposed to go daily? Is this a concern that he hasn't pooped daily? Or could this also be from stress of a new environment?
I used natural stone tile from the tile department of Home Depot. You do need to wash it in mind dish soap and make sure its dry completely before putting it in your tank to remove the partials of sand from when the tile was milled and to remove dirt from the store. I also use a thin layer of bubble wrap under the tile to keep air between the glass and bottom of the tile to prevent any mold in case he spills his water. The tile is durable and easy to clean and has been a perfect sub strait. It stays a good even temp over the heating pad and stays nice and cool on the cool side. BE sure to cut a square out of the bubble wrap over the heating pad because it will adhere to the glass. Use a thermometer with a probe to keep the temp at 90 -91, the tile will get way too hot if not regulated. Iggy is now five and I have had no health problems.
Hi there, new reptile owner soon here, I have seen some people using a mix of play sand, ecoearth/coconut coir, and sphagnum moss as a substrate, and I was wondering if you wouldn't mind giving your opinion on utilizing a mix of materials, with a majority of ecoearth and sphagnum moss, adding into the mix a small amount of thinner sand like washed play sand?
For the entire time I've had my leopard gecko on a sandy floor in their vivarium (I've never heard of calci sand). What do you suggest I floor the vivarium with? woodchips or something
When I got my gecko at petsmart , the cage they were selling them in thankfully did not have sand in it, but it was rainforest theme.... so I decided to rescue a little gacko
i take animal science and our leopard geckos use calcium sand? and they haven’t had any problems i also asked my animal science teacher( a past vet) about substrate and she said it’s fine for them ?? ... i’m confused
jessica c please get rid of it immediately! You can use paper towel temporarily. It’s literally the worst substrate possible, it isn’t digestible and encourages them to eat it! I recommend eco earth :)
So, I've been gifted an adult leopard gecko very recently because the owner did not want him, nor did they have intentions to take care of him. The carpet he had in his cage seemed to have not been cleaned or replaced in a very very long time and was rather unsanitary. I know that calci sand is death in a bag, so I put him on a regular, very fine sand I got at a pet store. I made sure there was no debris on the sand so he wouldn't accidentally ingest anything, but I'm a bit worried. He seems to like the sand, but maybe he's just happy to finally be in a clean cage... Should I change the sand out and replace it with a new carpet? Or is there a better alternative substrate I could use? I've only kept crested geckos before, so I'm kinda shooting in the dark with leopard's.
Paper towel is without a doubt the BEST substrate. There is zero risk of impaction and you can change it often, making it more sanitary than any loose substrate. It also can't get in their mouths or eyes. It's the safest and the cleanest.
Alyssa sounds great! Keep in mind that it doesn’t work well with heat mats and doesn’t let them dig. I recommend using dry eco earth or a bioactive substrate for part of it
Yes!! I was buying my new baby leopard gecko and the worker told me I HAD to use calcium sand!! A girl I know who works there corrected her, thank goodness. I am a new owner and wanted to know, is coconut substrate alright?
Ocean Allison coconut substrate is fine :) you can also consider paper towel, reptile carpet, or tile Personally I use paper towel in my Leo tank because I find it most simple and most safe for Leos but I have also used tile and reptile carpet for them and loved both, I just use the reptile carpet for my fat tail and tile in my crested gecko tank and didn’t want to buy more :)
Fiona Shepley I used eco Earth for a while but my leo is obsessed with eating her substrate if she can, so that’s not really good for me. Plus my little cousin accidentally made her drop her tail a week ago, I took her to the vet and they gave me medicine for her to keep it from getting infected so paper towel seems best at least for right now
Hello, my baby leopard gecko doesn't poop as much as it used to. I keep it on sand, and I'm not sure if that could be the problem (not een sure if it is a problem). It used to poop pretty much every day, but in the last month it pooped like 5 times at all, I feed it crickets every 2nd day. Any ideas? Should I remove the sand? Thanks for the answer
I’m thankful the pet store I went to had staff who were aware of sand being an issue. They advised me to use the shredded hay (same stuff you see on some rodent cages) for my gecko instead. As it is much safer for the gecko. My gecko is also particularly smart. If she gets a bit of a hay strand in her mouth, she just spits it out while the cricket remains inside her jaw. :)
I've been thinking of getting a gecko, and I know that being on sand will cause impaction. However, my dad keeps saying that when the gecko is an adult that we'll get sand for his/her enclosure. I'm not sure what to say to him about this.
I also worked at PetSmart for months and it was a very disappointing experience. No one knew what they were talking about, ESPECIALLY when it came to reptile care. I even got written up once for refusing the sale of calcium sand to a woman who claimed to have a baby gecko at home.
I think you just saved my gecko!!!! The owner of a pet shop in Kent told me and even drew a diagram explaining why Leos need UV, sand and lamps. He said sand was more natural for them but what you explained about how it is all rocks and even grasslands just proves he was wrong. THANKYOU for doing this video and others for saving my gecko!!
My Leopard geckos are 8 years old and have lived with sand their whole lives... In this time i've never had any problems with any of them until last month when my youngest stopped eating, her eye was infected and her tail was as thin as a bootlace :( she passed away in the vets and I still don't know what killed her. I'm now searching up literally anything i can about how to make my other two geckos as healthy as possible. I don't want to wind up seeing either of their bodies in plastic bags. What's the best/cheap alternative to sand??
I'd also like to put out there, as a gerbil owner for years myself, that small animal owners are even weary of some of these sands for the usage of dust baths because inhalation of the chemicals they are made with has been linked with cancers of the respiratory system.
From where I live, a lot of leopard gecko owners use dolomite reptile sand for their geckos. Though it is called sand it is advertised as being 100% digestible and is able to add some calcium to their diet. I currently have one leopard gecko on dolomite because my dad bought it and forced me to use it, telling me it's absolutely safe, but I'm still worried for my gecko since he was on paper towels for so long since I got him and just started going on dolomite sand. Does anybody know anything about dolomite sand?
Calathea Maureen please tell your dad to change it, it’s literally the worst possible substrate! It’s definitely not digestible and encourages them to eat it!
Fiona Shepley thank you so much yes I've changed the substrate because I was so worried and went back to paper towels, thank you so much for replying :)
I think the leopard gecko I bought from PetSmart came with an impaction, because he has not pooped once since I have had him. I looked at his belly and there's a blue dot of a generally small size, some veins, and a dark blue spot on his left side right in between his arms and legs. Its also sort of on his side too. I've gotten him to eat and he has hunted a bit on his own, but I have to try and get him to eat; he shows no initial interest in food. I want to say that this is a minor impaction. By the way, the pet store said he was 5 months old but he's only 3-4 four inches long, I wanna say he's at least 2-3 months old. I just gave him a warm bath. Any advice? PLEASE, answer, I love my little Riki :/
If he has eaten at all and hasn't pooped for a week or more i would get him checked out. I've kept leopard geckos for a year and do rescues I currently have 7 and they are all great but put him on paper towel and see how he is make sure you aren't just missing the poop because they usually go in a corner and stay going in one spot. I hope your little Leo is ok and that i could help.
Shadow9Gaurdian I was able to save him myself using help from the internet. He didn't poop for one whole week, and then I soaked him in warm water, massaging his stomach, and then the next day he pooped this really big pile lol Anyway, he's grown so big in the last 2 and a half months. He's so pretty too ^-^
When I got my first gecko I was advised to put her on sand. At the begging I had and then panicked when she ate it. Moving her onto a different substrate I was hoping it would help only to have it be to late. She unfourtantly had a prolapse and passed. Now with my newest addition I've been advised to try newspaper based cat litter by a vet so that if the gecko eats it it will just desolve. I don't know if it's right or not but I'd love to hear your opinion
Arlene C it's perfectly fine to use it just make sure they don't have bacteria on it and that u clean it from time to time and also don't use the really big ones because prey animals will hide under them but keep them big enough so it doesn't swallow them
I know this is along time since this was posted but thank you you've saved my baby gecko she began consuming sand twice and it concerned me now I have reptile carpet and she has stayed healthy and will live longer Btw is a exo terra medium viv big enough for my baby Leo gecko? Thx!
Eco earth allows leos to dig, and won’t impact them if they’re healthy. They frequently have to deal with loose particles in the wild anyway. Rebecca has used it for over a decade without issues :)
Not sure if you will reply, but what about Eco Earth and Repti-sand mix. I have had my girl on paper towels for 10 years with no issues. I want to make it easier for her to shed since I have to spray her down every time she sheds. I also have a rescue gecko who has glaucoma in one eye. He too is on paper towels
Hi, I just got my first leopard gecko and I already have my little ravioli in her tank. What I was wondering is that if crushed up walnut shells into a sand type consistence was ok because that is what I got. It’s like sand but it isn’t.
Fiona Shepley my friend told me to take it out😅 I’ve been using paper towels while trying to find out what to use. Thank you! I’ll start using eco earth
I saw calcium sand in the store and read the back and though it was fine, just saw about this the 2 days later. Good thing I saw this, I got my geckos out and dumped all the sand in my backyard. I see a lot of people talking about Eco earth, is that bad? Right now I have paper towels.
Hey, don't rip on ALL pet stores. When I got Casper a few weeks ago, an employee at my local PetCo made it VERY clear that I should be (at least initially) using reptile carpet for flooring. She also said that if I was truly determined to use sand, it should be a THIN covering of washed, sifted play sand-never, ever the calci stuff. P.S. I still am using the reptile carpet, but could clay or BIG, rounded pieces of real/fake stone be used as safe substrate?
Hi I think you remember me on my submit on your first q and a video and my post on Instagram the other day. On that day my leopard gecko April came out of her hide and sat on her rock and didn't move for an hour and when I picked her up she didn't try to wiggle or anything she just looked like she was in a lot of pain and opened her mouth like something really hurts I gave her a warm bath for 10 minutes didn't even bother her at she just didn't want to move I put her in her hide and made an appointment at highcroft vets by the time I but the phone down to check on April she passed away and I am completely shocked how fast the symptoms developed over just one day I have been finding it really hard the last couple of days I thought I share my story to you and your subscribers.
I find it horrifying pet stores sell those deadly products. I got scented bedding for my hamster a few months ago. I just thought it was just some nice bedding that will be soft and cozy for her. But one night she was dying , she couldent breath , she was gasping for air , so I took her to the vet at 4 am in the morning. Thank god she survived but, because pet stores want a fast buck. Millions of smell pets / reptiles / and even some dogs and cats die due to unsafe pet supplies; because the pet stores don't do any research. It's absolutely disgusting.
Ikr! They just want the money because you have to keep replacing the sand! I mean, sand can be fine if you give your gecko the proper care, but pet stores usually recommend calcium sand which is certainly not ok.
Gay Argonian yeah when I was going to get my Leo at a petsmart I was getting false info I realized so I corrected the lady because before then I did my research on the gecko
bob the penguin that and some reptile product producers actually do believe that some of these harmful products can be safely used (which is a huge mistake on their part).
bob the penguin I just got a leopard gecko and she was only a centimeter wide!!!
They do not sell this for your geckos good health but rather for your aesthetic needs. It is why some people do not pick up after their dogs, they want the dog but not the nastiness that comes with it. It's also like the whole phone thing, people keep asking that their phones do everything and manufacturers are all to happy to provide.
Petco and petsmart employees and managers need to watch this video.
Yes
Honestly they probably have
At least at PetSmart (can't speak for PetCo), employees and managers have little to no control over what is stocked in store. Corporate employees that don't work in the store sit in an office far away, look at sales numbers, and order supplies. The people that do this aren't hired because they care about animals, but because they're good at crunching numbers.
Not saying that employees (including managers) aren't horribly misinformed a lot of the time, but those aren't the people who have the real power to change things. Especially since most customers don't ask about best substrate anyway, and just grab whatever.
i wish i could show my manager this video. i work at a pet store and they use calcium sand... but i'm new so she won't listen to me. just gives me the excuse of "well, everyone takes care of their animals differently.."
there's different, and then there's dangerous my dude. :/
it’s not the company it’s the corporate that controls things like that.
When I first got my gecko Charlie, her owner used sand and only one hide😕. I bought her and a tank, fake plants and a gecko cave for about €50,-. The sand was still in the terrarium and I wasn't able to put Eco Earth in it since my order in which it came was delayed..
About a week later I bought a bigger terrarium which I immediately put Eco Earth in( I noticed she wasnt pooping) and three hides. After a few days, I finally found some gecko poop, and saw that it was full of sand😦.. Luckily, she is now very healthy and she poops regularly without any sand in it.. I also contaced her old owner because he had some other gecko's on sand and he now also uses Eco Earth!🎉
You were a lot nicer to that person than I would've been.
I bought two leopard geckos in June this year. We had them with a carpet all the time. My kids really wanted their geckos in sand just like they saw them in the store so I finally decided to put halfside of the tank and on the other side we kept the carpet. Now our leopard geckos are not eating. We took the sand out. The sand was there for a week only. Are my geckos going to die? is there anything I can do? or give them?
This video is so very helpful!! I would love to spread the word to pet stores, because unfortunately they STILL use sand! My first leopard gecko was my baby, and she lost her life to those idiots that raised her on sand before selling her to me.. I ended up ranting to the pet store, and they eventually changed to reptile carpet. I made a difference, and that's what matters most to me. Thank you.
Good for you!
I never understood why anyone would even WANT to put their geckos on sand. Even if it were their "natural" environment, sand will get EVERYWHERE whenever you pick your gecko up or need to change the substrate for cleaning. It would be a mess all on its own, even if it were harmless, which its not.
Squidny sand is not in their natural enviroment. they live in open steppes
I know that, that's why the whole "even if it were their 'natural' environment" bit is in there
ATOM Yeah but sand is very bad. Everything else is digestible. So ignorant.
@@Squiddlezz is dolomite dangerous for geckos?
@@zerone4047 honestly it doesn't seem like there's a ton of research about it, so I would just avoid it unless you're using bigger pieces that won't fit in their mouth for decoration. Dolomite itself isn't harmful as far as I know, but anything smaller than like an inch or so I wouldn't put in my enclosures.
sadly ive spent 8 bucks on sand luckily i saw this video before my girls arrived
i have to say im going with whatever you say
World War Lego
Good job
Jimmy Dean i use eco earth for my beardi had nonproblem ive had my geckos for about a week hopefully wverything goes well
JD Mason i use that for my leo gek. The place I got my girl from told me to use it instead. I was going to use calcium sand until he told me
Good
My gecko died at age 2. Stupid sand.
Bobby unicornfarts mine is in sand I will Chang it right away. I will eveng your gecko
Bobby unicornfarts i am sorry for your lost you should have got. lizard rug
I have it now for my new gecko pickles
I recommend dry Eco earth or tile
Kat Marie Excuse you, I'm actually smart. My Leo that died I got when I was 7. I didn't know any better. now that I'm 15, I understand that my leopard gecko should be on carpet.
I love how honest you are with your viewers!
thanks :) well I like to present all the facts :')
I have mine on sand because the stupid pet store told me its best ! But tomorrow imputing Eco earth !
If you have a baby get a mat but if its a grown up you can stick with calci sand but the only problem with sand is some sand get really dusty and hard when mixed with water and other sand is just fine.
I recommend all natural reptile calcium sand
I just got Eco earth 😊😊
Honestly there is always a risk of impaction with any loose substrate. I recommend paper towel, reptile carpet, or tile. If you want it to look nice get tile. It looks amazing, is more hygienic than paper towel and reptile carpet, and there is no way impaction can occur.
GeckoDan if you use paper towel they can still get impaction and with mat sometimes their teeth will get stuck on the mat and it is a hassle to get them unstuck(I would know) and tile it is good but their isn't as much of grip also the tile can get really hot and really cold.
Im definately changing my geckos substrate 😭😭😭thank you so much
I used to have sand but I took it out because of humidity problems a month ago and luckily my gecko is still doing great
When I found out that sand was bad for Tinkerbell, I immediately bathed her and took her out. I put her paper towels and then I got some reptile carpet.
I'd get textured tile or dry Eco earth. Eco earth lasts much longer and lets your gecko dig. Tile is permanent and conducts heat well. Reptile carpet tends to catch teeth and claws
I'll look into Eco Earth. I want her to be happy.
Becky Secrist get Eco earth it's absolutely amazing!!!!!!!
I've got mine on eco earth and everyone on FB groups keep attacking me saying it's bad and causes impaction or is to dry and cause too much dust. Any thoughts?
you are a great person
love your work
well done
aw thank you very much :)
did you know that calci sand should be banned from pet shops in america?
salt dogo yes pls do it I keep my gecko on something like that
Hello, I own 2 leopard geckos and I've had them for about a week now. I currently have them in sand but after watching this video I am starting to worry about their health. The owner before me said that they had them for three years and it seems like during those three years they always had them in white sand. Do you think that they would have a sand impaction over those three years? I am planning on removing the sand after what I saw it can do their stomach. Your reply is helpful, thanks!
BullseyeFTW
Take them to the vet. They could die. I say: take them off the sand, and go to Petco and get "Reptile Carpet". It's what I use for my Leo. Then take them to your veternairian for possible sand impaction. I hope this helps!
-Ruby
I recommend you switch to either dry Eco earth or textured tile. Tile conducts heat well, is permanent, easy to clean, etc. Eco earth lets your gecko dig and lasts for six months at a time. Reptile carpet catches claws and teeth, and insects and the gecko can get under it.
₴₮Ɽł₭ɆⱤ ฿Øł put him in a warm bath make it up to his/her belly if you have done this correct in the morning you will see a big...poop if it doesn't work on the first try keep trying if in three or four more tries and dosent work contact your vet immediately
Where I got my beardy from petsmart, they were keeping him on sand. I noticed that and I had to force myself to keeping my chill in the shop and not scream at them.
please don't get sand what it did to my gecko was to glory to talk about I saw this video to late
mcgecko
I'm so sorry 🙁
mcgecko I lost my Leo to sand impaction. she was only two years old
I am sorry you lost your gecko and I don't know what to do because I have a gecko and I don't think she's compacted but I think she is going to leave me soon and I don't know how to help her
@Hope Ervin Yes, its such a shame, its like people go to pet shops for advice, which they should really be getting good helpful advice, but instead its potentially dangerous non-sense and all we can do is try to help people before their gecko gets impacted :(
I've used sand for my geckos without any issues for 10 years, because not only pet stores use it but also where I'm from it's in *all* the care sheets. I'm now using Excavator and the Exo Terra sand mat and they're great products!
Thank you for your video! I got my first leo at an animal expo on Sunday and put him on sand due to a suggestion from another youtuber. I had placed his dish on top of a rock slab to avoid him accidentally ingesting sand with his mealworms (also at the suggestion of the same youtuber). I have actually been feeding him while he's perched on my hand. But because of your video I went ahead and switched to paper towels tonight. He's only been on sand for two days, and while I don't think he's eaten sand I hope that there is no damage. Again, thank you.
I recommend some sort of loose substrate (not calcium sand or any type of wood) to let him dig. It won't impact him if he's kept healthy. I'd also feed him crickets or duhia roaches, they're much healthier :)
Thank you so so much for your videos. I got a leopard gecko from a neighbor who couldn’t take care of him anymore who was on sand. Had no idea it was so bad. Will be switching immediately.
Awesome video. I will link to this one whenever somebody has a question about sand as a substrate for reptiles.
thanks! :D
PLEASE HELP: My leopard gecko has a bottle cap with calcium vitamins in it. And when I look at him when he walks it looks like his arms have a bone disease. It has me concerned, and I don’t see him eat the calcium and vitamin mix from the cap. Should I dust his food? The breeder said I should leave the calcium out and not dust a lot or like every time, so I did not dust them. I haven’t changed the calcium and vitamin in the cap for a while. I changed the calcium and vitamins in the cap and now, dust his food, and put some on my finger then made him lick it to try and help. I haven’t cleaned his cage for a long while, so I just cleaned it. I don’t clean his water much but I’m about to change that. And his mealworms now have food available a lot, but I’m not sure if there eating it. What should I do now?
You shouldn’t be leaving any supplements in the tank, especially not 3 or any other vitamins. Arcadia or zoo med’s linear UVB would be very beneficial, but when using it you need supplements without d3. Take them to an exotic vet ASAP. Mealworms shouldn’t be their main diet, they should eat mainly crickets or Dubia roaches.
My two leopard geckos died of sand impact ion when I was little. I was like 7 yrs old so I didn't really know. Idk why, but I cried for months after that. I got another 3 leopard geckos and now I know every single thing that is good or bad for them!!
I have sand in my gecko's tank but I've been watching him on how he's reacted when I put him in but he does not eat the sand. I've been putting his food in a dish so he won't digest the sand whenever he takes a bite. I switched him from reptile carpet cause he kept getting his toes cause in the small fibers of the carpet.
should I still switch him off from sand to a different substrate just in case ? even if he doesn't eat the sand ?
Chase Castaneda NEVER USE SAND
Chase Corrin Daddy
Yes! Switch to dry Eco earth or tile.
I don’t get why people get sand, like if you want something decorative use reptile carpet. Like I’m new owner but just thinking sand for decor is so upsetting
Reptile carpet catches their teeth and claws and harbours bacteria no matter how much you clean it. It also doesn’t offer digging enrichment. It’s not a good substrate.
When I grow up I’m going to start a store called “Leopard Gecko’s Market” and I am going to make sure my employees give out true information and any Leo’s that were bred by mistake and had eggs I would happily take care of and sell to good owners, I would own the right tanks, lighting, heat, and hides
Thanks for this educational video! So glad I did my research with my Leo's and put them on walnut not sand :) keep up the great vids
Stephen Fletcher+ eco earth is another good option
Stephen Fletcher crushed walnuts can still cause impaction. I'd switch to either dried eco-earth, reptile carpet, or paper towels.
Walnut it actually also really bad for them, not as bad as sand. But:
reptile carpet (can catch the claws, but a fine substrate)
eco earth (can cause impaction, but very rare compared to sand and walnut)
tile (can’t cause impaction, but can get too hot)
Paper towel (easy to clean, can get too hot, no impaction risk)
Those are your best bets
Thank you @stephen.
I'm not meaning to sound daft but iv been to two animal college and both have used sand and iv never heard of this happening but you make a good point
+Jean-luc Chessher I seriously hope this is a joke. 'animal collage' ?
Leopard Gecko oh no I have been using sand all this time I'm going to change that immediately thank you
Leopard Gecko hi I have for substrate trixie beech chaff is good for my leopard gecko or is bad?please answer
I'd switch to dry Eco earth :)
Lost my first baby Wiseau due to calcium sand that the store owner heavily advertised to me. He had a vet appointment the next morning when I realized the bump on his abdomen but he didn’t even make it through the night. The guilt haunts me to this day, and it’s all because I trusted the word of a “professional”. Never again will I do such a thing, since Wiseau’s passing, I have done countless hours of heavy research for my new geckos, and they are thriving. Wiseau’s early and unnecessary passing was extremely tragic and traumatic, but it did change the way I do things animal wise forever. Always do your research.
Sand sucks i cant believe that places sell that crap to people who have leopard geckos
i’m very worried because i have just recently gotten a leopard gecko and the employees and the reptile expo were telling me that i need to use sand as a substrate, but i’ve been doing my research and i found out how bad it is for them. My mom won’t let me change the substrate because “that’s not what the employee said”. It makes me so mad because i don’t want it to die. (btw my gecko is a baby)
Your mom needs to understand that that employee gave you misinformation.
Tell your mom that plain sand is completely unnatural for them, they don’t live on pure sand in the wild. This video of leopard geckos in their natural habitat shows proof of that:
ua-cam.com/video/8hH5i0Te7DM/v-deo.html
If she still isn’t convinced, there are an abundance of UA-cam videos and gruesome pictures online that should convince her.
If your husbandry isn’t on point your gecko could die of impaction.
Better options include reptisoil, organic top soil (without fertilizer or perlite, Scott’s is a good brand), or a mix that’s 60% organic top soil and 40% children’s playsand.
Nighting Gale Thank you very much! Hopefully this can convince her.
you could not of hit the nail on the head any harder! some day we should all hope all bad substrates are taken of the shelves of shops keep up your work and from your videos in the past and your advice you've possibly saved my geckos life
aw thank you :) it makes me laugh someone has already put a thumbs down to this video - i can only assume they use sand and wont face up to the evidence that its bad lol
yep and loving the new channel pic :p
thank you! :D
,
My leapord geckos back legs aren't moving and his tail keeps twitching I moved the rock and he was under it I think I broke his back legs he won't use them.. can you help me
Take him to the vet! I'm assuming his tail has come off by now?
What is the name of the substrate you use? An employee at petco told me calcium sand was best for my gecko but I want to change is asap.
brianna lyken don't listen to Petco they abuse leos and other reptiles
brianna lyken
Use paper towels until you can get some dry Eco earth. I use a mix of tile and Eco earth. I have the main floor as ceramic and slate mixed tile and then I have a small area of Eco earth in the back of her tank.
Wow I feel terrible I've kept my gecko on sand for a month like the shop said I feel terrible if I had know this I never would of done this to my Leo is she gonna die? I'm so scared now I've already cleared out the sand and now I'm sitting here worried out of my mind should I wait or take her to the reptile vet immediately? Please help I feel like a terrible person.
As long as she's not showing symptoms of impaction, there's no need to take her to the vet. I recommend dry Eco earth :)
I bought a leopard gecko and a starter kit from petsmart and spent all my money, it came with sand, should I take the sand out till I can get eco earth, if so what should I replace it with ? I have a lot of sphagnum moss I bought to help with shedding, can I use this as substrate till I can buy eco earth ?
Brady Barclay Put in paper towels
oh my God thank you so much you are an angel to geckos and lizards alike you have taught me something that I needed to know I have had a gecko die my mom believes he was constipated but we had this greenish sand in his tank this is not my gecko it's my little brothers it was a leopard gecko his name was Rocky thank you for teaching me a valuable lesson I will tell this knowledge to my mother if she doesn't believe me I'll show her your video thank you so much even though that you're one person your voice still matters because it has a large impact on others thank you so much
Thanks, I was going to check the f the sand is digestible. I'm glad I ran into your channel
I know someone who uses sand with their baby leopard gecko. Their baby leopard gecko also has a part of its tail already ripped off!! This person will absolutely not take my advice on getting rid of their sand! I just wish I could take their leopard gecko away from them they really have no right to own a leopard gecko keeping it in conditions like that. My gecko, Genji, on the other hand is being raised on reptile carpet and paper towel since he is still a baby, though I am looking into getting eco earth when he grows up a bit. My gecko is living a happy, healthy life thanks to your videos. You've got to be the best person on UA-cam when it comes to telling people how to raise a leopard gecko the right way and I just wish everyone that plans on getting a leopard gecko does their research before getting one but sadly it doesn't always work out that way...
Oh, that's terrible! I know somebody who keeps a Leo on sand with a lamp as well. They won't listen to me either. Eco earth is a great substrate, but you could get tile as well, it conducts heat well, is easy to clean, permanent, etc.
The leopard geckos at my school and kept on calcium sand. It makes me so mad but I don't know what to do about it.
Tell your teachers that calcium sand isn’t digestible. It encourages them to eat it and blocks their digestive system, killing them. Show them videos (like this one) and pictures of impaction. Suggest paper towel as a safer alternative. Are they housed together?
I have 27 reptiles and each of them has different needs. I've found that a mix of cocofibre and sand with a bit of potting soil ( with no additives ) works great... loads of hides, rocks and plants I have very happy geckos. No impaction and perfect sheds
addicted to your videos. I was just looking up videos on why my Leopard isn't eating...3 hours later, I am still watching your videos! love them! My question is; if loose substrait is bad, wouldn't Eco Soil (the product you use) also cause impaction?! btw...i was sold on Calci-Sand and I am now switching to good old paper towel this morning!
This also happens with repti-sand. After about 5 months of having a leopard gecko, he got an impact ion of sand, and he hasn’t eaten in a month. We are treating him now with laxatives and support feeding.
I got my gecko from a pet shop with sand as it’s substrate. I’ve heard that a symptom of sand impaction is black on the belly. My gecko has black on the belly. Does this mean it has sand impaction? I’m worried. I don’t wanna lose a gecko to sand from a pet shop.
Is he still eating/pooping? Just in case, you could give him a warm bath, massage his belly, and give him a drop of mineral oil :)
Hi, I really need help. I just got a leopard gecko vivarium and all the things I need. It was a kit. And... I got sand. But the person I got it from said that the sand was the finest sand that is available. They said impaction wouldn’t occur if the heating mat was the right temperature. Is that true. They said it would only occur if it was to cold. Because it would pass through. They also said that leopard geckos love to burry into the sand.
Celestial_Dark that’s true, at least with adults. If they’re healthy and have proper care. But there are much better options such as eco earth or a bioactive substrate.
Fiona Shepley oh ok, thank you for clearing that up for me.
wow, all this time I thought they lived in a desert. No wonder my mum's leopard geckos died all those years ago.
WillIsNotDead leos are from rocky deserts
I found my gecko dead today, i am heartbroken. Died at the age of 13, he was caughing yesterday night but it too late for me to go to the vet. I have used sand for my gecko as it have been recommended by people as you mentioned in this video. I am now feeling an incredible guilt, did i in fact kill my gecko by having fine sand? Is there any way to tell if that was the cause? Pets should require a license. I was 12 when i got my gecko but as i got older i have not had the proper time or economy to fully take care of him. I feel as if i killed him and it is tearing me apart.
When i was really young we had a leopard gecko that we didn't do much research on. We had him on red sand, a small water dish, one hide and no other "furniture", and fed him like once a week. I don't remember much since i was so young but it's now so obvious as to why poor lava lizard didn't live very long. I'm definitely doing a lot better with my leopard gecko now but I'm so glad we've been using a carpet since they're still a baby. I noticed a lot of problems with the way PetSmart was holding their geckos but at least they didn't have sand in the tiny tank filled with five starving babies.
Carpet is not a suitable substrate. It tends to get caught on their teeth and claws and harbours bacteria no matter how much it’s cleaned. It also doesn’t offer any digging enrichment. Reptisoil or a top soil/playsand mix would be best.
I'm so happy I watched this before my dad, not knowing much and basing his knowledge on the breeder we got her from at a reptile expo, decided to give my gecko Cookie sand. He was considering it but I told him right away.
Thank you for making this video, many people make this mistake and it's not ok. But thank you, you care not just very well for your animals, but for every one else's. #youareamazing
Thanks again for another very informative video!!!
I need some help. I have some sand where I bought a kit. It was before I saw this video. Is there anything I can do without replacing the substrate?
I know your not a bearded dragon owner, but I need help. I adopted my bearded dragon when he was 8 years old. He is now 10 and has been on sand his whole life. Would it be too stressful to change him to a different substrate now, or will it not matter, he is definitely considered an elderly bearded dragon so he will be easily stressed.
Miranda Random hey there! Pet care employee here. :) it won't be stress him to switch over at all. You can use eco carpet, which is a safe alternative that's still easy to clean. I normally advise people to buy two, that way when you need to clean one you can just put the other in! A lot of people say once beardies are over 6 inches it's ok to put them on sand, but I always advise against it since it's really not worth the risk. Best of luck!
Miranda Random Change it to paper towels or repticarpet. If your Beardie is eating its food from a bowl and not straight on the sand then you might be able to keep it on sand. I suggest anything but sand though.
Another helpful video lol 😃 (even though I already knew about sand impaction etc) I love your leopard gecko diago btw ☺
freckles 360 thanks :D
I used to keep "reptile sand" strictly in my gecko's hide because I fed her elsewhere, but I don't keep any sand in there at all anymore. Firstly, it makes a mess. That's not their fault, their little hands and feet and tails can get it thrown all over the place. Second, she poops in it. It's just better to have a way to clean her tank easily. I now have decorative paper in her tank that covers the entire tank. It's as easy as pulling it out and replacing it with a fresh big sheet. It's folded and soft so she has padding to walk on and feels comfortable. Since I feed her outside of her tank, I don't think this paper will be a problem but it's nice to have something safe but pretty to make her tank look like a little home.
Kitanai Sunshine
I recommend dry Eco earth or tiles.
Random thing: Iran is gorgeous
I bought me leopard gecko at a local reptile store. They say sand looks "nice" and can be digested. I'm glad I saved her.
House of Reptiles Leopard gecko spotlight.
ah these people's 'advice' is so ridiculous, atleast you knew better :)
I too had a Leopard Gecko die from Calci-Sand. The pet store worker swore up and down that it was perfectly safe, so I thought the impaction problem only applied to regular sand.
hey! i think you should do a video about bearded dragon brumating. it would help worried beardy owners, like me i didn't know mine was doing this i thought he would die of starvation because he all of a sudden STOPPED eating. if your bearded dragon is sleeping alot, digging, and not eating at all, dont worry. its not losing weight and it wont starve. just keep them warm and let them sleep. theyll recover in the summertime and theyll probably eat alot. so dont worry if they're doing this. but, if your concerned and they wont go back to they're original state in late summer, i'd suggest taking them to the vet.
She doesn't even have beardies
she could still do a video of it she knows about bearded dragons
We just brought home our first leopard gecko a week ago today. Of course the pet store pushed us to buy sand as the substrate and we didn't know all the health problems it could cause. Now since bringing him home he pooped the first night and a few days later pooped THREE times. That was maybe three days ago and he hasn't gone again. We have Eco earth now to put into the tank as I'm concerned that the sand has caused him not to poop daily (which to my understanding leopard geckos are supposed to go daily? Is this a concern that he hasn't pooped daily? Or could this also be from stress of a new environment?
You could give him a warm bath, massage his belly, and give him a drop of mineral oil just in case :)
I used natural stone tile from the tile department of Home Depot. You do need to wash it in mind dish soap and make sure its dry completely before putting it in your tank to remove the partials of sand from when the tile was milled and to remove dirt from the store. I also use a thin layer of bubble wrap under the tile to keep air between the glass and bottom of the tile to prevent any mold in case he spills his water. The tile is durable and easy to clean and has been a perfect sub strait. It stays a good even temp over the heating pad and stays nice and cool on the cool side. BE sure to cut a square out of the bubble wrap over the heating pad because it will adhere to the glass. Use a thermometer with a probe to keep the temp at 90 -91, the tile will get way too hot if not regulated. Iggy is now five and I have had no health problems.
The temp should be 86-90 no higher or lower
Thx for these tips I was gonna use sand but I figured it be smart to research first, thank you.
Can we use cuddle bone but crushed up as a calcium suppliment I have budgies so I usually have cuddlebone available
Derpy Chinchilla yep
Hi there, new reptile owner soon here, I have seen some people using a mix of play sand, ecoearth/coconut coir, and sphagnum moss as a substrate, and I was wondering if you wouldn't mind giving your opinion on utilizing a mix of materials, with a majority of ecoearth and sphagnum moss, adding into the mix a small amount of thinner sand like washed play sand?
For the entire time I've had my leopard gecko on a sandy floor in their vivarium (I've never heard of calci sand). What do you suggest I floor the vivarium with? woodchips or something
I recommend dry eco earth or textured tile (definitely not wood chips)
Fiona Shepley ive ordered some eco earth from amazon a day ago. thanks for the advice tho
i bought my leopard gecko from a let store after watching this video I will be removing the sand. thank you for this video
I'm going to also remove the sand once I get a reptile carpet
gacha eclipse just remove the sand as soon as possible, and switch to paper towels! Don’t wait for reptile carpet, time is of the essence!
When I got my gecko at petsmart , the cage they were selling them in thankfully did not have sand in it, but it was rainforest theme.... so I decided to rescue a little gacko
i take animal science and our leopard geckos use calcium sand? and they haven’t had any problems i also asked my animal science teacher( a past vet) about substrate and she said it’s fine for them ?? ... i’m confused
jessica c please get rid of it immediately! You can use paper towel temporarily. It’s literally the worst substrate possible, it isn’t digestible and encourages them to eat it! I recommend eco earth :)
So, I've been gifted an adult leopard gecko very recently because the owner did not want him, nor did they have intentions to take care of him. The carpet he had in his cage seemed to have not been cleaned or replaced in a very very long time and was rather unsanitary. I know that calci sand is death in a bag, so I put him on a regular, very fine sand I got at a pet store. I made sure there was no debris on the sand so he wouldn't accidentally ingest anything, but I'm a bit worried. He seems to like the sand, but maybe he's just happy to finally be in a clean cage... Should I change the sand out and replace it with a new carpet? Or is there a better alternative substrate I could use? I've only kept crested geckos before, so I'm kinda shooting in the dark with leopard's.
Paper towel is without a doubt the BEST substrate. There is zero risk of impaction and you can change it often, making it more sanitary than any loose substrate. It also can't get in their mouths or eyes. It's the safest and the cleanest.
+GeckoDan but cant the ink be toxic
+The Psychotic fox Paper towels don't have ink. I don't know what paper towels you're using lol
i use calci sand and i just got a baby leopard gecko,im super scared now,what should i use???
I'm planning on trying excavator clay for my geckos which seems more like their natural habitat. Plus it sounds fun to sculpt a landscape for them.
Alyssa sounds great! Keep in mind that it doesn’t work well with heat mats and doesn’t let them dig. I recommend using dry eco earth or a bioactive substrate for part of it
Yes!! I was buying my new baby leopard gecko and the worker told me I HAD to use calcium sand!! A girl I know who works there corrected her, thank goodness. I am a new owner and wanted to know, is coconut substrate alright?
Yep! Make sure to keep it dry and keep your Leo completely healthy so he doesn’t get impacted :)
Ocean Allison coconut substrate is fine :) you can also consider paper towel, reptile carpet, or tile
Personally I use paper towel in my Leo tank because I find it most simple and most safe for Leos but I have also used tile and reptile carpet for them and loved both, I just use the reptile carpet for my fat tail and tile in my crested gecko tank and didn’t want to buy more :)
Louise Belcher I recommend dry eco earth, it’ll let your Leo dig :)
Fiona Shepley I used eco Earth for a while but my leo is obsessed with eating her substrate if she can, so that’s not really good for me. Plus my little cousin accidentally made her drop her tail a week ago, I took her to the vet and they gave me medicine for her to keep it from getting infected so paper towel seems best at least for right now
Hello, my baby leopard gecko doesn't poop as much as it used to. I keep it on sand, and I'm not sure if that could be the problem (not een sure if it is a problem). It used to poop pretty much every day, but in the last month it pooped like 5 times at all, I feed it crickets every 2nd day. Any ideas? Should I remove the sand? Thanks for the answer
krajcsoviczhuba 100% remove the sand. you wanna check its not impacted. Check out the second part to this video.
I'm sorry but at that point of time DID YOU EVEN WATCH THE VIDEO
I’m thankful the pet store I went to had staff who were aware of sand being an issue. They advised me to use the shredded hay (same stuff you see on some rodent cages) for my gecko instead. As it is much safer for the gecko. My gecko is also particularly smart. If she gets a bit of a hay strand in her mouth, she just spits it out while the cricket remains inside her jaw. :)
I've been thinking of getting a gecko, and I know that being on sand will cause impaction. However, my dad keeps saying that when the gecko is an adult that we'll get sand for his/her enclosure. I'm not sure what to say to him about this.
Just make sure he doesn't get calcium sand. As long as he's kept perfectly healthy, he should be fine on sand.
Very nice video Rebecca! I love that it was scripted ;) hehe ! Nice facts
haha thank you, there was way to much to say, it had to be written up first :') hahaa
Could bearded dragons get sand impactions? My friend has a new bearded dragon and he has sand as the floor thing
Yes
I put a carpet for my gecko, is that ok
Yup!
Yup just spot clean and tank poop out daily 😄
nooooooo it is nottt he will get stuck with is tiny little claws and his mouth too . better some scott towel or even somme coconut exoterra bedding .
Do you use lights on your crested geckos? Ik it has nothing to do with the video, but I'm planning on getting one
I also worked at PetSmart for months and it was a very disappointing experience. No one knew what they were talking about, ESPECIALLY when it came to reptile care. I even got written up once for refusing the sale of calcium sand to a woman who claimed to have a baby gecko at home.
I think you just saved my gecko!!!! The owner of a pet shop in Kent told me and even drew a diagram explaining why Leos need UV, sand and lamps. He said sand was more natural for them but what you explained about how it is all rocks and even grasslands just proves he was wrong. THANKYOU for doing this video and others for saving my gecko!!
JandJ Creative Art omg, that person should not own a pet shop! lol. I'm glad ive been a help! :D
I love your videos but in your disruption you give links to shop that sell sand . so should I get same
My Leopard geckos are 8 years old and have lived with sand their whole lives... In this time i've never had any problems with any of them until last month when my youngest stopped eating, her eye was infected and her tail was as thin as a bootlace :( she passed away in the vets and I still don't know what killed her. I'm now searching up literally anything i can about how to make my other two geckos as healthy as possible. I don't want to wind up seeing either of their bodies in plastic bags. What's the best/cheap alternative to sand??
Tile is the best to use IMO. I'm pretty sure it's cheap. It looks good, conducts heat well, doesn't impact, is permanent,etc.
Btw it may have been chronic impaction that killed her; it builds up over a period of years. It could've been crypto since the tail was so thin
PAPER TOWEL, PAPER TOWEL, PAPER TOWEL.
I'd also like to put out there, as a gerbil owner for years myself, that small animal owners are even weary of some of these sands for the usage of dust baths because inhalation of the chemicals they are made with has been linked with cancers of the respiratory system.
I love your videos and your accent. :)
This happens to horses too when someone feeds them on the ground too much instead of from say-- a bin or feed box.
From where I live, a lot of leopard gecko owners use dolomite reptile sand for their geckos. Though it is called sand it is advertised as being 100% digestible and is able to add some calcium to their diet. I currently have one leopard gecko on dolomite because my dad bought it and forced me to use it, telling me it's absolutely safe, but I'm still worried for my gecko since he was on paper towels for so long since I got him and just started going on dolomite sand. Does anybody know anything about dolomite sand?
Calathea Maureen please tell your dad to change it, it’s literally the worst possible substrate! It’s definitely not digestible and encourages them to eat it!
Fiona Shepley thank you so much yes I've changed the substrate because I was so worried and went back to paper towels, thank you so much for replying :)
I think the leopard gecko I bought from PetSmart came with an impaction, because he has not pooped once since I have had him. I looked at his belly and there's a blue dot of a generally small size, some veins, and a dark blue spot on his left side right in between his arms and legs. Its also sort of on his side too. I've gotten him to eat and he has hunted a bit on his own, but I have to try and get him to eat; he shows no initial interest in food. I want to say that this is a minor impaction. By the way, the pet store said he was 5 months old but he's only 3-4 four inches long, I wanna say he's at least 2-3 months old. I just gave him a warm bath. Any advice? PLEASE, answer, I love my little Riki :/
If he has eaten at all and hasn't pooped for a week or more i would get him checked out. I've kept leopard geckos for a year and do rescues I currently have 7 and they are all great but put him on paper towel and see how he is make sure you aren't just missing the poop because they usually go in a corner and stay going in one spot. I hope your little Leo is ok and that i could help.
Shadow9Gaurdian
I was able to save him myself using help from the internet. He didn't poop for one whole week, and then I soaked him in warm water, massaging his stomach, and then the next day he pooped this really big pile lol Anyway, he's grown so big in the last 2 and a half months. He's so pretty too ^-^
When I got my first gecko I was advised to put her on sand. At the begging I had and then panicked when she ate it. Moving her onto a different substrate I was hoping it would help only to have it be to late. She unfourtantly had a prolapse and passed.
Now with my newest addition I've been advised to try newspaper based cat litter by a vet so that if the gecko eats it it will just desolve. I don't know if it's right or not but I'd love to hear your opinion
Make sure to keep him completely healthy
I beg you to do a video on Wood Chips. There is no good video specifically about it and all too often I see people who keep their geckos on it.
Yeah
Arlene C I go with the safe bet and keep mine on paper towel
Arlene C it's perfectly fine to use it just make sure they don't have bacteria on it and that u clean it from time to time and also don't use the really big ones because prey animals will hide under them but keep them big enough so it doesn't swallow them
They can pierce the Leo’s fuller and give them splinters. I recommend dry eco earth :)
yay, awesome video! :D
Thanks! ^^^ this is lewis everyone :')
haha XD
I know this is along time since this was posted but thank you you've saved my baby gecko she began consuming sand twice and it concerned me now I have reptile carpet and she has stayed healthy and will live longer Btw is a exo terra medium viv big enough for my baby Leo gecko?
Thx!
I recommend dry Eco earth. And yes, that's big enough :)
You’re a life saver. Literally! Thank you so much
Thank you so much you saved my Lil Cleo she was on sand but , now she is on repti-carpet and is not impacted. :D
Kraft mac and cheese
Good for you:)
I recommend dry eco earth
Thanks but I don't want to take any chances
Eco earth allows leos to dig, and won’t impact them if they’re healthy. They frequently have to deal with loose particles in the wild anyway. Rebecca has used it for over a decade without issues :)
Not sure if you will reply, but what about Eco Earth and Repti-sand mix. I have had my girl on paper towels for 10 years with no issues. I want to make it easier for her to shed since I have to spray her down every time she sheds.
I also have a rescue gecko who has glaucoma in one eye. He too is on paper towels
You can use dry eco earth or 60% eco earth and 40% playsand. Raise the humidity to 40-55%, measured by a digital hygrometer
Fiona Shepley thank you :)
Hi, I just got my first leopard gecko and I already have my little ravioli in her tank. What I was wondering is that if crushed up walnut shells into a sand type consistence was ok because that is what I got. It’s like sand but it isn’t.
Gwendolyn Keller that’s not good at all. I recommend dry eco earth
Fiona Shepley my friend told me to take it out😅 I’ve been using paper towels while trying to find out what to use. Thank you! I’ll start using eco earth
Is it ok if i fill my tank of 300gallons and use gravel as a substrate? Or some big rocks cuz its a big tank for my bearded dragon
300 gallon??? Nope. That is WAY too big for a gecko.
I saw calcium sand in the store and read the back and though it was fine, just saw about this the 2 days later. Good thing I saw this, I got my geckos out and dumped all the sand in my backyard. I see a lot of people talking about Eco earth, is that bad? Right now I have paper towels.
MILKy QUACk eco earth is great!
Hey, don't rip on ALL pet stores. When I got Casper a few weeks ago, an employee at my local PetCo made it VERY clear that I should be (at least initially) using reptile carpet for flooring. She also said that if I was truly determined to use sand, it should be a THIN covering of washed, sifted play sand-never, ever the calci stuff.
P.S. I still am using the reptile carpet, but could clay or BIG, rounded pieces of real/fake stone be used as safe substrate?
I don't think she's ripping on all pet stores
Pls respond leopard gecko. Will that ecubater clay or something be fine if it's dry?
Jordan Taillefer
I recommend using dry Eco earth or tile.
I would imagine excavator clay works, just i heard its a pain to clean ;~;
Hi I think you remember me on my submit on your first q and a video and my post on Instagram the other day. On that day my leopard gecko April came out of her hide and sat on her rock and didn't move for an hour and when I picked her up she didn't try to wiggle or anything she just looked like she was in a lot of pain and opened her mouth like something really hurts I gave her a warm bath for 10 minutes didn't even bother her at she just didn't want to move I put her in her hide and made an appointment at highcroft vets by the time I but the phone down to check on April she passed away and I am completely shocked how fast the symptoms developed over just one day I have been finding it really hard the last couple of days I thought I share my story to you and your subscribers.
awww, :( sorry to hear that. Were you using sand?