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New to geckos

new set up

here is hektor with out sand
 

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Good job! I apologize for being blunt earlier, I was just frustrated. I am very glad to see that you are putting your gecko's well-being first. If you ever need any help, feel free to email me! Good luck with Hektor!

Jacqueline Fisher
StormGecko
www.stormgecko.com
 
(I appologise to everyone for being so stubborn. its just that i paid alot of money for the sand and didnt want it to go to waste. I guess 8 months is not too long to wait. I am going to leave Hektor alone for a few days to let him get re adjusted to his tank.
 
Rioko said:
(I appologise to everyone for being so stubborn. its just that i paid alot of money for the sand and didnt want it to go to waste. I guess 8 months is not too long to wait.
Click to expand...

Sand for a 10 gallon tank is not expensive. It might be if your 13 and NOT a 23 year old adult. If you think sand is expensive you'll fall over and die if you ever need to visit a vet.

And don't wait for 8 months to again use the sand. Wait forever. Throw it out or go play constructions site and dump trucks with it in the backyard. Stick with paper towels or precut paper liners for the duration of your interest in this lizard. Its safer, cheaper, sanitary, and just easier to clean up.

BONUS!!! The paper towel tube also makes an excellent full time hide or even temporary hide while you're sterilizing the permanent hides.

Or..in a real jam...you can peel the paper towel tube layers and actually use the thin unwinding sheets as rolling paper....or so I've heard.
 
well i would like to try another substrate when Hektor gets older. would forrest bed be ok?
 
i might not be as "experianced" as you, but stop talking to me like a kid. I am new to keeping gecko's yes, but i desreve respect as much as you. so give me some respect and i will do the same for you. I did remove the sand. And as time goes on i may decide to keep the paper towels. but i would like to know of other substrate alternatives other than sand and paper towels. I mean no one any disrespect..........................i just want to know of some other alternatives for substrate.
 
quoting

critical bill For crying out loud....PAPER TOWELS. FOREVER. OR UNTIL YOU LOOSE TOTAL INTEREST IN YOUR GECKO AND ITS DEAD OR HANDED OFF TO ANOTHER KID.
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just a note i could not get the quote option to workin the last post
 
Other alternatives: Your best bet is to keep your gecko on a surface that it cannot possibly ingest. Your worry here is impaction. Any substrate that the gecko can swallow can potentially cause impaction. Therefore, the safest substrate is a solid surface such as bare floor, or bare floor covered by newspaper or paper towel. You can also use tiling, slate sheets, or other stone slabs for a more natural or pleasing appearance. Be careful to clean and safely disinfect them (bleach/water solution) and arrange them so that the gecko cannot be crushed in case he shifts the pieces. One other option is a synthetic solid surface, such as artificial stone pieces. Keep researching and you'll find examples of all these substrates in use.

Jacqueline Fisher
StormGecko
www.stormgecko.com
 
Hey, glad to see you removed the sand it really is bad for this type of gecko.

Thats the thing there arent very many good substrates for Leos especially when they are young. Depends on the Leo but some will just eat the substrate on purpose or by accident while eating.

When they grow up, fine playsand, NOT calcium sand might be OK, I think there is still a risk though.

The calci-sand is worse because it is NOT fine and attracts them to it as a source of calcium. Not a good thing. I hate to say it, but once you saw some blockage, it would probably be too late for the poor gecko.

Just trust those who have been keeping these critters for years and your gecko will be fine :)

Im sure there are some here who HAVE lost geckos too, from doing 'what the petstore said'. But we have all seen/heard of it happen, and we are just letting you know it is not safe.
 
Rioko said:
i might not be as "experianced" as you, but stop talking to me like a kid. I am new to keeping gecko's yes, but i desreve respect as much as you. so give me some respect and i will do the same for you. I did remove the sand. And as time goes on i may decide to keep the paper towels. but i would like to know of other substrate alternatives other than sand and paper towels. I mean no one any disrespect..........................i just want to know of some other alternatives for substrate.
Click to expand...

And you were told like an adult, but you sure as hell dont listen like one. You seem bent on using this play sand crap regardless of what people are telling you to use. Why dont you try reading what you write.
---------------------
Can I use sand?

No use paper towels.

Can I use forrest chips?

No use paper towels.

Can I use an alternative bedding?

No use paper towels.
--------------------

Write it down. Paper towels. Now and forever.

There really are no alternatives. The only other I can think of is a bare floor, which I must say some collectors and breeders seem to prefer.

This seems to be about whats pleasing to your eye and your hearing only what you want you to hear. This is supposed to be about whats good for your gecko.

If I wanted to ride you I very well could and into the sunset for just the plain old stupidity of buying what you have no clue as to care for. Research first buy later.

Your attitude about this animals health has sucked from the get go and I wont be shy to tell you that. But this doesnt surprise me as its typical of most 13 year olds I've ever encountered.

Good luck....to the gecko.
 
Rioko said:
i will have to get used to the paper towels, but i will use them for a while.
Click to expand...

See what I mean? Who cares what it takes for you to get used to? Its about the health of the gecko and not how it looks in terms of complimenting your decor. You keep saying things like "I'll use it for a while". You are not using a thing, your gecko is. And its what he should be using for the duration of his stay with you. Period. Plain and simple.
 
Critical Bill, give this person a chance to absorb some info. She already made a change in the way she cares for her gecko based on what was said here. It is easy for us, we already know stuff, but if one is totally new it might take a while to take it all in. This owner seems willing to listen, but is just asking additional questions.
When I first got my geckos I thought I would run them all together in a 'gecko ranch' and that lasted about two days. I listened to what folks said and then made my changes. This person is honest about being new, has already made a change, give her a break while she learns. She has some ideas for the future, that will likely change as she reads more here, and the gecko is on paper towels now and so is OK.
 
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