grass

[reptilemike]

Hi, I was wondering if, for a leopard geckos tank, it is ok to grow grass. I wouldnt thinks so because of the huminity that the water for the grass makes but... i dont know

thanks

[reptiguy123]

Hey...that's a pretty good idea. I don't know if it would survive, though. Or if the food will be visible.

[jjnnbns]

imagine trying to clean the waste out of there! It may be good for the grass but it can't smell good!

[reptiguy123]

I say if you want grass, buy it, don't grow it.

[meow_mix450]

soil is a big no no lol easy for fungis to grow

Meow

[reptilemike]

theres no way to have real grass? Not even on, say, half the tank?

[sketchy4]

what about the fake grass that is layed down on the yards of new houses before the real grass grows? maybe that would work.

[Ixidor]

sketchy, thats not fake grass, It's already grown grass that is cut out from the ground with the soil under it then they re plant it on the new house, gets rid of the need to grow grass on a new house


Ixidor

[Ixidor]

btw It might work but you would have to change the grass consistently so that bacterias and fungus dont grow, and its a real hassel to clean out a ten gallon full of grass and then go buy more grass, thats why your best of sticking to succulents they survive with small amts of water and lots of light :) hope this helps


Ixidor

[reptilemike]

are there any grassy succulents?

[Ixidor]

I don't think so they're mostly cactus like i think they hold water in their leaves i might be wrong though

[Neo]

i dont think you have to grow grass in soil. u can crumble up paper towels and make it wet and put grass seeds scattered through out. their roots will go through the paper towel and stuff.

[reptilemike]

could you grow it in sand?

[Ixidor]

yeah thats where succulents grow, in the desert like madagascar

[reptilemike]

yeah, i have a few succulent cactus thing, ones called a hobbit plant, another one is like a zebra aloe vera. but theres nothing like grass?

[Neo]

i dont think it'd be very easy to grow in sand since sand is permeable and all the water would go straight to the bottom and the roots would have a hard time holding on to sand

[meow_mix450]

typ, but it depends on what sand, fine sand, i doubt would work

Meow

[reptiguy123]

I used to have a sandbox that I spit watermelon seeds into. They grew in sand. I don't know about grass though. Maybe you should grow watermelons?

[Bartman]

Well you wouldnt want to be using sand in the first place so thats out of the question...

[reptilemike]

what are all the substrates you could use besides sand, paper towel, newspaper, and astro turf or carpet?

[reptilemike]

Could you use aquarium rocks for fish tanks?

[reptiguy123]

I don't think that would be too comfortable, do you?

Like bartman said, sand is out of the qquestion: I hope what everything said about it was theoretical.
*sand may cause impactions*

[Pixie]

I think that it could be possible to have some grass in a leo setup, at the very least, it could be interesting to try.

I would think that using a separate little pan for the grass area is best. For example, find a plastic container that is roughly 8" x 8" and not more than 2" high. I then would grow my grass in soil & peat in the pan but not introduce it to the leo setup until it was well off. If it was put in too early, the leo can dig it up instantly and make a mess of it. Once grass has grown in enough, it should be able to "tough" out a leo's digging for a bit.

Having the grass in a removable container will keep tank cleanings easy. If potted plants can be used, why not potted grass? I've heard that leos in a setup with live plants will usually turn to them as their moist areas just before a shed. I would expect the same with some grass.

If your leo ends up using the grass patch as a bathroom corner, then the project should be terminated. It would be impossible to keep it appropriately clean long term. Just hope they don't do that!!!

Pixie

[Gregg M]

Why grow grass???? Leos do not come from lush grassy areas........ I do not see anything good comming out of growing grass in a leo cage......... Sand or gravel as a substrate is no good neither...... But that is a whole other topic.....LOL So I am thinking the grass idea is no good at all....... It is not natural and it will not benifit your leo at all........ Simple is better...... Paper towels on the ground two hides, one dry and one humid, water and food dish, and a calcium dish...... That is the best set up......... Easy to keep clean and the leos do great in a setup like that.......

[reptilemike]

i hate paper towel.
also, when i was talking about the aquarium rocks, i ment the coarse ones that are big and smooth. would that be ok?

[reptilemike]

here is a link to the aquarium gravel i was talking about.
its at petco.
petco.comhttp://www.petco.com/product_info.asp?familyid=8177&sku=3465210501&tab=3&dept_id=1042&c1=1038&c2=1042&c3=&ct1=D%E9cor&ct2=Gravel&ct3=

[Dark_Angel_25]

Reptilemike, if you don't wnat paper towels, go to a hom eimprovement or cramics store and buy ceramic or slate tiles. they look like natural stone, are easy to clean and disperse the heat very well. that is what I use, and I wouldn't change them for anything.

[sketchy4]

I originally thought Leopard geckos did come from deserts and then i read more and more and found out that they are from somewhat grassy places. so grass in a removable container would be prety cool.

[matt_winter]

I heard that they were from more rockier places. And i too hate paper towel and newspaper

[DragnDrop]

Originally posted by sketchy4
I originally thought Leopard geckos did come from deserts and then i read more and more and found out that they are from somewhat grassy places. so grass in a removable container would be prety cool.

According to Webster's Dictionary, which complies with the Geographic definition: a desert is "arid land with usually sparse vegetation; especially : such land having a very warm climate and receiving less than 25 centimetres (10 inches) of sporadic rainfall annually"

It does not have to be sandy. There are sandy deserts, which we all think of as the typical and only desert. But anyplace with less than 10 inches of rainfall a year qualifies. There are rocky deserts, mountainous deserts, grassy, hilly, hard packed soil deserts, and even deserts so filled with vegetation you'd hardly believe your eyes. The areas the leopards live in are low in sand. There will be sand, but it's not 'knee deep'. Prevailing winds can blow the sand into protected areas, piling it sky high. It can also blow sand around evenly, or pile it in grassy areas for example. There will always be bare areas. Acres of sand, acres of dry hard soil. The leopards are free to avoid the sand if they so choose. Animals evolve to make the best of their environment. Most sandy-desert dwelling geckos have webbed feet, hairy toes (more so than lamellae), fat toes or wide feet. Leopard toes are long and thin with claws. They're not adapted to living in deep sand. Their feet are great for digging in packed dirt, scaling boulders and up non treacherous low rises (cliffs, fallen trees and stumps). They have a heck of a time digging in sand - they're not made for that. There is grass in leo territory, but for much of the year it's probably dead, coming to life for a short time after the seasonal rain. A naturalistic leo enclosure could easily contain grasses, live or dead (dried). Keeping it easy enough to maintain in captivity would be a bit of a challenge, but not impossible. The best idea would be the removable tray suggestion.

[reptilemike]

i think i will try that idea.
also, what about the link to the aquarium rocks, would those be ok?

[meow_mix450]

no they will not grow, thats gravel, and theres no chance, beleive me. i dont kno how about bed a beast, i dont kno if anyone has mentioned it yet, that might work.

Reptiguy: ha ha ha i love watermeleons:)

Meow

[reptilemike]

wait, are you sayin that the rocks dont grow? i know that, i was just asking if it is ok to use them for a leopard gecko.

[Gregg M]

No good........ It is not a good idea to use gravel as a substrate...... It is not clean or easy to clean when soiled...... Gravel will promote the growth of and harbor all kinds of nasty bacteria and fungus....... I think the only two substrates that should be used in a leo setup is either paper towels or tile........ You can use both in one enclosier.......... Loose substrate is not a good idea..... What is more important to you?????? A "natural" looking cage or a healthy happy leopard gecko?????? What do you have against paper towels????? You can always decorate your tank to take away from the less natural looking paper in the bottom of the cage........ Dont get me wrong, I love a natural looking terrarium but it is not practical and is far more trouble than it is worth.......

[Linds]

Yes, grasses do grow in the enviornment leos come from, however to replicate that type of environment in captivity is very, very difficult. The kind of grasses that can be easily grown are lush and require moist conditions, which is far from what we shoudl be striving to acheive in a leo's environment. To grow the sparse grasses that would be suitable for leos, you would require a warmth, dry substrate, good air circulation, and great deal of UV lighting.

[meow_mix450]

yup, gravels meant for fish, not leopard geckos, srry if i said it wrong. Some people like a natural look and will do more work, if your willing to do that then, find stuff like bed a beast, i find that o.k to use and i am having no problems with it. The little guy loves to dig in it. But if i was you ill just drop it, and have no grass at all, your giving your self more work then you need.

Meow