Good source for sand

[MartinW]

I need to replace the sand in my 33 gallon leo tank. This is the first time changing the sand since I got them earlier this year. They've been on sand since the previous owner got them and there's been no problem with impaction. Is it safe to go down to the beach (freshwater -- in Ottawa) and get some sand there or should I buy some new playsand? The previous owner got the sand from a pet shop (it's not calci-sand) but it costs a fortune there.

Martin

[reptilez]

I wouldn't go down to the beach, if you need sand that bad and worry to much about the prices of substrate for your leopard geckos then just get playsand.
-Reptilez

[Samba]

I agree with Repilez, buy the sand. If you don't want to fork over an arm and a leg go for paper towels. You can also try 'Lizard Litter' I personally get this product whenever I have extra cash to spend on my geckos. There's many benefits to it and it doesn't cause impactation.

[damzookeeper]

I'd try to stay away from sand if possible but if you really want it and feel you have no and will have no problems with it, go for the play sand in the hardware store. Make sure it isn't the constrution sand but real "play sand" and make sure it is the washed play sand. You should sift through it even though it is washed, I used this stuff for my beardies and it still had a few larger pebbles and shell pieces in it.
Getting it from out side you will most likely get more than you bargained for, like parasites, ants, or small microscopic bugs you don't know are there that can cause harm to your leos.
Good luck with it. And don't forget to post a new pic of the tank set up. ;)

[Mr. Gray]

I actually use newspaper for my leo's and it works just fine. Only thing you have to worry about is the crickets getting under it, which is easily solvable. I simply tape all the corners down so they can't get under it. It's also easy to clean and since my parents get the newspapers, the supply for me is free :) I can change it weekly and have no problem.

[MartinW]

I'm trying to decide between sand and paper towel. I use paper towels for my babies. I know a lot of people use newspaper so it probably isn't a problem, but isn't the ink on the newspaper bad for the gecko, especially if it runs?

Martin

[Samba]

Just use paper towels if you are concerned about newspapers. I only use newspapers when I'm out of paper towels! I don't think the ink harms them, but you never can tell... Good Luck!

[Neo]

if u insist on sand, never get it from just outside. there's a lot of parasites and bacteria the may be unfamiliar to the leo immune system.

[Alicewave]

Use ceramic tile...best of both worlds, safety and aesthetics.

[Rebecca]

Papertowel, no risk then. I also agree with Alicewave tile looks great and it is easy to clean.

[drewlowe]

yep i agree with meg tiles work great and easy to clean!!! cheap also 10 dollars for one cage( for me) and as long as you don't drop it it will last forever.

[Samba]

LOL Jaime! I would try the ceramic tiles someday, but I'm afraid of just that; breaking them (or my tanks)! Hehee =)

[Repti]

I was using sand.
Now i'm using paper towel and it's just great.

For the ceramic tiles. Will the UTH work fine?? Will my geckos get the same amount of heat as if it was paper towel??

Repti

[Alicewave]

Ceramic tiles heat up nicely under lamps. To keep it from braking your tanks put a layer of paper towl under them for protection.

[Linds]

Originally posted by MartinW
This is the first time changing the sand since I got them earlier this year. They've been on sand since the previous owner got them and there's been no problem with impaction

Yet. Do you really want to take your chances? It WILL eventually catch up to your leos systems. These animals do not come from sandy areas, their systems are not designed for it. As forementioned by several people, tiles/flat rocks are great in that they don't have any risk of impaction and stlil look great, or if you don't care about looks papertowels work well.

[depressor86]

newspaper ink is made of a harmless soy mixture i think

[Youkai]

I don't want to sound overly critical about this, but I do not understand the tile thing. Leos certainly do not live on sand in the wild, but they do not live on solid rock all day either. Would it eventually wear on claws not meant for that environment?
Also, how is it for hygiene? It looks like it would be a pain to clean feces, spilled water, etc etc.

I keep my (adult) leos on a sand/soil mixture, <i> packed down</i>. My first leos are 13, and going strong. I am certainly not slamming tiles, but does it seem to anyone else that saying leos should really only be kept on paper towel/tiles/newspaper is overkill?

I have never kept an adult lizard on anything but natural substrate, and have never, ever, had a problem with impaction. I mean natural within reason however. There's a huge difference between loose sand and a packed mixture...

[RaVeNo888o]

you can get those tiles that look almost like dirt/sand...like the brownish ones with speckles

[Cas]

I keep my plated lizard and my uromastyx on washed playsand... from Home Hardware, a 50 lb. bag costs about $4, and the brand (it's called Target playsand) is almost completely dust free - you don't get a dust cloud when you pour it out, and it doesn't coat everything. (however, my plated will be getting a dirt/sand mix when he moves to his new enclosure, and my leo is on paper towel - and I'll probably be giving the tiles a go with him when I have a more permanent place to keep him (his aim is so bad, I don't want to even try him on sand))

Dawn

[Alicewave]

Youkai...The tile I use is not your typical bathroom tile. It's got kind of a rough surface. I only use it on Leos that have an established "pooping corner" where I lay a wad of paper towel. It's porous so spilled water dries quickly and disinfectants soak in easily as well. I have been using it for a year on seneca and have not noticed any damage to his claws. They don't drag themselves on it so it doesn't really do anything to wear the claws away. This is the most "natural" substrate you can find that is still completely safe.

One of the major benefits of this is expense. It costs only about 4 dollars to tile a 10 gallon. Tiles don't go bad, just soak em in bleach water every 6 months (soak in near boiling water afterwards to rinse) and as long as they don't break you never need to replace them. The same cannot be said for sand/soil. Yes it is overkill but it depends where your priorities lie. For a while my priority was aethetics but after reading about the problems with sand my concern was for safety. Now I have the best of both worlds.

I agree with you for the most part that adult leos will be find on sand. One of the reasons I don't like sand it that it's messy. I had Murtle on sand for a few months and I was always finding sand on the foor, my dresser, etc. Crunch crunch under my feet. Then when I switched her to tile, I noticed her poops were larger which suggests to me that although she never got impacted from the sand, a small amount had built up in her system (even as an adult).

[MartinW]

I might try tiles, I never thought of it before. The only thing that worries me is that my UTH probably won't work with it. I do have a 75 W IR bulb though, which is hopefully enough. I think I'm more likely to use paper towel. Every day it seems less and less likely that I'll be sticking to sand.

BTW. how do you pack down sand so it stays packed down?

Martin