20g Long

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
hey thanks that page was really helpful, n would the tank be stable if i put it on its end? cus then an area of only like 12x12 would supporting 30in high, so wouldnt it be vulnerable to falling over then? also i have a question about substrate, im getting mixed reviews about sand, i already have pool filter sand in there for the aquarium substrate and would love to be able to dry this out and keep it in there, but some say it can be ingested and hurt them but arent leopard geckos from the desert, so shouldnt they be evolved to be on sand?
 
You could always have bracing to keep it balanced.
 
yeah i think im just going to stick with getting a leo, since my tank will house one of them better, anyone have input on the sand thing?
 
I've read that with baby leos, you should NOT keep them on sand, they are curious and will eat it, causing impaction, which can kill them. With adult leopard geckos, sand is safer, but there is still a chance they could be impacted. It's best to use paper towels or reptile carpet.

Better safe then sorry. :)
 
yeah i know i mean if its going to be a problem im def going to use something different i was just wondering why its such a big issue with them in captivity, i mean the leopard geckos in the wild aren't being housed on certain substrates at different ages and such and yet they survive lol just thought id put it out there to see what you guys had to say, why is it such a problem for them in captivity?
 
The sand in the wild is natural and can pass through the gecko's system, the sand you buy at the store is unnatural, and doesn't pass through.
 
I've been keeping the same pair of leopard geckos on a sand/soil mixture for almost 18 years now without any issues. :) The key to keeping them from ingesting it is simply providing them with a good diet. A gecko that eats sand is lacking all the essential vitamins and minerals it needs to stay healthy.

I keep all my babies to juveniles on paper towels. I don't recommend keeping a leopard gecko on sand until it's at least 7-8 months old and pretty much done with growing.

If you're still afraid of sand you can always try ceramic tiles. They're easy to clean, look more natural then paper towels (duh) and evenly distribute heat when you use an UTH.
 
I am a sand user too :eek:. I found some people hate the stuff and will anoy the heck out of you about it and then some people have used it for a long time with no problems so you have to wonder.

I believe in the wild leos actually live on a more compressed sand like rock. Personally I like sand, it looks natural it heats up real nice but you have to be careful who sees your setup. People say all the time how they had leos die of impaction. I've kept my leos on sand for over a year now and they are about 2 years old. Like Vicous_fish said if they have no reason to eat sand then impaction won't happen. If you feed your leos crix then yea thier going to get impacted diving at the sand all the time. I hate crix so I feed worms which don't roam around the tank and can be kept in a bowl. If I do feed crix I feed them in a seperate tub. If you have ever seen a leo hunt you will agree when I say they really aren't the best at catching crix :grinno:. Sand is something you have to take some precaution with though.

my 2cents...
 
^ I feed mine crickets almost exclusively (sometimes I hand feed them roaches too). Mine don't have any trouble catching crickets but they do sometimes take in a tiny bit of sand. Still, because they are healthy it always ends up coming out the other end with no issues

When I first joined this site there were a few older members who gave me trouble because I kept my geckos on sand. I'm sure other people have had issues with it but after 18 years the proof is right in front of me. :)
 
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