I know this is probably THE most debated topic for geckos, and I have read the advice. I don't understand why pet shops would be so adament that there is no real problem with sand, especially calci sand, while everyone on the forums say it causes big problems.

So, please, if you are out there, anyone who HAS USED SAND/CALCI SAND please reply with comments about (A) how long you used it with out problems, or (B) the kind of problems you observed.

I'm asking because, i've only read advice from people who say "never use sand", but have not used it themself.

Sand looks the best (I think), and is easy to keep clean. So I'd like to stick with it providing I can make it as safe as possible for my little guys.

When I bought my gecko, the pet shop employee had me buy a bag of sand that's typically used in cichlid tanks. When I got home and was doing more research, I decided that sand was definitely a bad idea, even if the pet shop said it was fine.

I switched to natural slate tiles, and I think it looks every prettier. I also think it's easier to keep clean.

I think the sand/other substrate debate is a bit like the seat belt v. no seat belt debate. There's a lot of people who never use their seatbelt and have no problem, but choosing that route can have fatal results.

thing is they want to make as much money out of you as possible, so tell you to buy things you dont need, more money in their pockets. just like most will tell you to get a uv light for leos, who are nocturnal! so they really dont need it, but its more money for them.

i brought a leo from pet shop, they keep on calcisand and gravel, well she was pooing sand for a week after i got her and even passed a large stone! so yes they defo eat it, and calci sand actually encourages them.

i was very lucky i managed to get her upto weight and healty again because if they have a stomach full of sand, theres no rom for food and so can end up dangerously underweight, like my little one was.

I find as a general rule, dont take shops advice as remember they want you to spend as much as possible tbh, i have used dester sand and play sand for y adults before, but i find all my leos are so much better without it, i have noticed that my leos weights went mantaing verygood when i had sand, now i dont, they are all very good weights. The main reason for me changing is that even tho there is dishes of calcium in there for them, i still caught them licking the sand, and i'm not prepard to risk loosing my babies just becuase i thought it looked good, i love them to much for that.

at end of day you cant beat good old kitchen roll, cheap, and easy and actually looks quite good. in my big viv i just have laminat flooring covering heatmat and one square of kitchen roll in corner they use for toilet, looks nice, the rest of my vivs i use kitchen roll completly and prefer it so much.

ok rant over lol

If you have a good stomach then take a look here, its an autopys of a leo that died from impactation

WARNING THIS LINK SHOWS PICTURES OF AN ACTUAL AUTOPSY SO IF YOU DONT HAVE THE STOMACH FOR IT, DONT CLICK!!

Leopard Gecko Impactation

Thanks Poizon, that was very educational. As a scientist, I have a habit of needing to see things for my self to believe them! I am convinced and am now trying to find some slate tiles for my viv!

yeah i was in the 'they will be fine as long as there calcium and no food actually on the sand' group, but i was wrong, i saw with my own eyes Bella eating sand, so there and then i took them out and got rid, it only took the once for me, i wasnt prepard to risk it, i was really surprised to see her doing it, silly bugger she is

wow hunny if that link doesnt put people off using sand then i dont know what will good on you

[BenB2k]

i was stuck in two minds about the sand too...but after seeing them impaction pics i swapped to repti carpet straight away and ive had no problems since. its not worth risking the lil ones really imo.

excatly, i think that if more people saw tho pics, they'd think twice about it defo. it just alkl depends on the person tho, some are willing to risk it, me for one, i'm not, even tho i like the look of sand better, yeah it looks nice, but how nice will it look in a empty viv?

[sleekitcollie]

hi im a complete begginner , been looking at lots of different care sheets on line for weeks now , i,ve just bought viv and stuff ( getting gecko nxt week ) shop owner sold me calci sand , but i,ll deff not be using it now .. i quite fancy using slate tiles but wondering 1st where i can get some and 2nd how do they do over the top of a heat mat ( galss viv , heat mat under glass with polistyrine below that ) doe enough heat get through .
i,ve had my set up ( apart from sand ) running for cpl days and the temp (to touch ) on top of the mat is not as warm as i,d have thought .. its just slightly warm to the touch .. it is regulated by athermostatset at 92o ( as reccomended by shop )
or would i be better with this carpet stuff i,ve been reading about ..
also i know they dont ned extra light but would i light above a stone / rock be good /ok as a extra spot the gecko could use a s a basking spot .
as i say complete begginner here any help would be great . care sheets all seem to differ .
thanks