Substrate Poll

[Bighead]

I've heard the ups and downs of different substrates, but was curious who uses what.

[Dani33]

I have tried a few and found newspaper to be the best. Looks ugly but works!

[CDN-Cresties]

Paper towel gets my vote.

-Steve-

[LISA127]

newspaper

[ChristinaM]

I used indoor/outdoor carpet untill I watched my leo's snag their teeth on it when diving for food. I left it for a couple days to see if they would learn how to avoid that, and they didn't.

I bought some stick on floor tiles and use those now. I put the carpet in certain places (under the water and calc dishes)(under their cave hide, coco hides) but the main part is vinyl tiles. They were 2 for $1 at the dollar store. I used 4.

[Sean Day]

Love my sand for adults

[Scotty Allen]

Newspaper hands down. Clean your cages night before garbage pick up and it goes in the recycle bin to boot!

[SerpentLust]

I use Cypress Mulch for my snakes and when I get my geckos will either be using reptile carpet or paper towel

[drewlowe]

I've used several different methods, so i've marked other.

Paper towel #1 easy to clean and no risk of impactation.

Slate- easy to clean, don't have to replace as long as you don't drop them, and it looks nice

Bed a beast- easy to clean, looks nice, less risk of impactation, bad side- if you leave crix in there and its moist they can lay eggs in the substrate, and if mealies escape you can't always find them before they turn into beatles.

My new home for my group of 5 and then my males tank is also set up similar. It's all brand new, I went a little overboard and placed all differnt kinds of rocks with 2 moist hides of bed a beast. So far everything is working out great, as long as they continue to go poo in the same spot. i give a pic, even though i have made a post on it.

http://ssnakess.com/photopost/data/500/1695Leopard_Gecko_enclosure-med.jpg

[Fritz]

Concrete, providing I don't have to move again anytime soon.
it is only an inch thick, but 4x2, and 2x3 feet of it gets akward when you have to lug it around :)

I use it in a couple of my leo tanks, closest thing I can get to hard packed sand without using sand. There is no risk of impaction whatsoever and I just use some paper towels in the "poop spot"
For the rest of my tanks I use paper towels. Cheap and easy.

[Tim and Julie B]

I use paper towels. They are cheap, readily available and easy to change out. And remember LEOS DO NOT LIVE IN THE DESERT.....SAND IS NOT OKAY. They live in dry grasslands and low laying rocky outcroppings.

Julie

[snakegal12345]

i used to use sand but know but know i just changed it to slate looks natural and no impactations

[Painted Desert]

Slate tile for me.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid93/pd6ef633286d1b55b1fa8c995947761da/fa500268.jpg

[Emily-Fisher]

Ceramic tiles :)

[Bighead]

Cool pics you two! My Leo terrariums still look too boring. What I've gathered from this poll so far is that paper towels and newspaper are the safest and easiest, sand looks the most natural, slate is safer than sand (and still natural looking), calci-sand is more safe than play sand (this is my own opinion), and coconut fiber products are also an adequate option. If the wheat bran thing seemed wierd to anybody, I got it from the beardie forum and thought people may use it for leos too. Are these good presumptions?
I guess I'll ask again, even though I've read a few things in other forums, what is NOT SAFE in leopard gecko enclosures? Sand, cage carpet, bed-a-beast? And why? Impaction, getting teeth caught, crickets hide or breed?

[herpnewbie]

Got this advice from Alicewave & have been very happy with it. I used textured tile that looks like slate. It is clean & safe. All you have to do is pick a couple pieces of tile at your local Home Depot or Lowes type of store, and ask them to cut it to the measurements you give them so it fits your tank (leave a little extra room so it is easy to get in and out of the tank). Also, make sure you pick a textured tile and not a smooth slippery one. I think it cost me about $6 or $7 to tile my 10 gallon tank. Here's a pic:

http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/500/2947leo_enc.jpg

[Linds]

Those are some great looking setups everyone! :D

Originally posted by Bighead
calci-sand is more safe than play sand (this is my own opinion)

What are you basing your opinion on? Calci-sand is actually worse than regular sand, and neutralizes all the digestive enzymes in the stomach (it's made from the same thing as tums), inhibiting digestion, and still causes impaction.

Originally posted by Bighead

I guess I'll ask again, even though I've read a few things in other forums, what is NOT SAFE in leopard gecko enclosures? Sand, cage carpet, bed-a-beast? And why?

When choosing a substrate, you need to keep in mind that leos will put whatever they can, in their mouths. In the wild they do not come from places that have loose sand or anything like that, so I do not feel they shoud be provided with such in captivity. I feel it's best to provide them with a solid substrate. I just use papertowel (and yes once or twice this has made it down the hatch :rolleyes: ). When I upgrade rooms, they will eventually be getting a large (4x2x18") enclosure to call their own and slate tiles will be on the bottom. I don't like carpet for any species. IMHO the only benefit it has is for the keeper. Although newpspaer and papertowel may not suit everyone (it is pretty ugly), it works quite well, but you can also simulate their natural environment using large rocks and such.

[Tim and Julie B]

Great post Linds! You summed it up. Too often we put emphasis on what "we" like, not what is the best for our pets. I too think artificial turf is a very bad idea. Sand is down right bad husbandry. I tell everyone, repeatedly, that leos don't live in the desert. And with a little imagination even tanks with paper towel and newspaper can look natural and beautiful. When my breeders upgrade to 33 gals I will also be using slate or ceramic tiles:D They look beautiful, they're efficient when cleaning and easy on the old pocket-book!

Julie

[cpt_retic]

cardboard or carpet for my retics , the cardboard is easy to get , but the turf /carpet is a pain to clean

[Jawz]

right now im using paper towels for my 10 gallon, but seeing those slate tiles is making me a little jealous. I use newspaper for my bearded dragon tank and i wrap it around a piece of cardboard to make it easier to just wrap and replace. Keeps it in place better too. Sand although it looks probly one of the best or up there, is not an option ill take. To me its not how great ur tank looks but how healthy your lizards are. Perfect look doesnt care to Perfect Herp.