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sand as a substrate

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greatkelleyp

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Ok, so I understand that sand is not a good substrate to use for leopard geckos because sand impactions can kill them. My question is why do they continue to sell sand for use in pet stores and reptile stores if it so bad. I ask because I would like to put some cacti in Zanzibar, my leopard geckos, terrarium but I don't know what other substrate to use besides sand, and I'm afraid to hurt her. Are there safe ways to maintain a sand substrate or should I forget about the live plants and stay away from the sand.
 
It is because

very few herps comes from a totally sand based habitat even in wild. And while herps can and do well in a wild habitat of sand, in a cage or enclosure on captivity, it seems to be a different story. It might be climatic weather, food items or what in the wild, sand does cause problems on a small micro habitat in captivity ( did I repeat myself ? ). Sand still sells at pets stores because > it is attractive, the pet store is non-knowledgeable as the wholesaler that the retail pet store buys from, sand CAN be used for other animals, etc. live plants can be so much work in a reptile enclosure. Really there is no significant reason of live plants oppose to fake plants on the well being of most reptiles. I said live versus fake. It is mostly to the keepers of wanting a close to natural habitat scenario. But this can be very easily done by the almost to real silk plants these days. This includes cacti as well. I have found and used silk plants for over 10 years now for various species of herps with no adverse problems what so ever. AND the silk cacti are getting better and better. I have very many silk plants arrangements in my home and visitors state not knowing they are silk : oh, you must have a green thumb " or " how do you keep that ivory so green indoors " . LOL !
 
I use artificial succulents in my vivariums, but I have seen some where live plants are kept in their small 2-4" containers and then camouflaged or buried.
 
Try planting the cacti in an attractive terracotta pot or something similar that suits the look you're going for, and won't detract from the style you have planned. You MIGHT be one of the lucky ones that wouldn't have any problems with sand, but you really just don't want to tempt fate where your leo is concerned.
 
i love the idea of live plants (tried edible plants in my old igauna enclosure) but wouldnt it be too hard to keep things sterile with a live plant? if you look into it there are all kinds of microbes and other tiny lifeforms that dwell in the soils these plants are in. and would they attract other organisms into your enclosure to feed on these or the plant itself? possibly inviting payloads of pesticides or parisites into the situation?

ive seen Marcias setup and the fake plants look great in there, way more natural and pleasing to the eye than mine. and they can be sterilized. if i were gonna, id go fake too.
 
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