If you are housing a gecko in your house then you ought to provide it the best bedding and substrate for gecko. A substrate is a bedding or in other words the flooring that you need to place in the geckos tank. But while you are choosing substrate you need to choose the one which your pet does not ingest.
If your pet accidentally happens to ingest one of these it is a possibility that your might suffer from impaction.
Contents
Setting up an ideal habitat
As like the lizards the geckos are also specific for their best habitat and needs. They prefer the tanks which are oriented horizontally. The temperature in the tank should be 65-85 degree F and humidity should be 25-45%.
Also, the habitat should include plants and along with that some shade spots. These are required to provide shelter when the pet wants to sleep down. Since the geckos feet can get stuck in the wiring therefore the glass tanks are preferably more suitable with suitable heat sources. These are fed crickets and mealworms. If they do live hunt they get very excited for that.
The ideal habitat will also feature some plants (real or artificial) to provide shade and hiding spots as well as a shelter for sleeping and cooling down.
But in some cases their tongues might also catch something harmful. And this when digested might compact in the intestines and lead to serious condition which might even cause death.
The Top Substrates for leopard gecko
It is important that the substrate should be appropriate and the one which does not affect the health of your pet.
Zilla reptile bedding substrate
This is the best substrate in the list and is certified by the USARK. This implies that if you conserve your reptile in it then it would be absolutely safe. The reptile owners can easily depend on this product to take care if their pets. This works as a floor liner as well as a substrate that can placed beneath and used as a bedding.
You can reuse it easily. You just need to clean the debris and wash it off with clean water. You need to make sure that before using it you dry it.
This is available in a number of sizes and two colors. You can cut it as per the size of the enclosure. This is specifically made for the geckos.
The product needs low maintenance and it involves use of biodegradable enzymes which prevent odor. There is no use of material that would affect or irritate the reptiles.
It makes use of recycled materials that produced this affordable substrate.
Pros:
- Controls odor
- Provide suitable fit
- Has good construction
Cons:
- Teeth might stuck with it
- Temporary use
Zoo med excavator clay substrate
It is very difficult to find the natural substrate. The company has used clay which is turned into bedding for the geckos and no chemicals are used in it.
You can turn it into a desert wonderland depending upon the choices of the pet owner. By using a clay substrate helps to bring a natural habitat for the pet. You just need to add water on the clay so that it can be molded easily and you can use it for making the hiding places too. After drying the shape remains intact.
This substrate works appropriately because it retains tge heat too.
This substrate works appropriately because it retains the heat too. You can keep some clay too that can you can use to replace the earlier ones.
The geckos can bury and naturally dig in this substrate. Through this your pet feels like home.
Pros:
- Even distribution of heat
- It is safe for your pet
Cons:
- Dust might accumilate over time
Zoo med eco cage carpet
This is a reptile carpet and is available in four options. The carpet can be cut into various sizes so that it can be fit according to the terrarium. So purchase the substrate according to the requirements.
This product is 100 % recyclable and is made through the recycled bottles. The material will not be ingested by the pets and is safe.
The texture of the product is soft and it easily absorbs the extra water that is spilled on its surface to provide comfort to your pet. Also the material used is non abrasive so that it does not affect the health of the geckos.
You can easily clean the carpet and you can do this by using cold water. Place it in the terrarium only after it dries properly. You do not need to need an extra set of it as it will be sufficient.
Pros:
- Cleanable
- No accidental ingestion
- Can be easily cut
- Cheap price
Cons:
- Packaging amount might be of some issue to the customers
Small world slate and natural slate stone
If you want to beautify your reptiles tank then you can use this substrate. The slate stones can also be a perfect substrate for the reptiles. These are perfect for them and also for providing a natural habitat to the geckos.
This might be much more expensive as compared to the other ones and it provides a lot of elegance to your pets enclosure. The product is natural and 100% real.
You can shop 2-5 pounds of this product depending upon the size of the enclosure. The color is grey and it darkens when it is wet. If you add some brownstones to it, it would add more elegance to it.
The stones have heat that is suitable for the geckos that love heat. You can even create ramps by sticking them together. The geckos would love that natural scenery in their tank.
Pros:
- Versatile
- Has different shapes and sizes
Cons:
- High prices
- Very thin
Exo terra sand Mat
A rocky desert would be highly suitable for your gecko and will provide it a look similar to the natural habitat. This mat would match exactly to the natural habitat of your reptile. And the enclosure will resemble to the natural habitat.
Before you use this sand mat in the enclosure you need to brush the loose particles so that there us no dust present on it when your gecko uses it. This is because dust is very dangerous for your pet. It has a friendly texture and will help in maintaining a firm grip. This would help to provide high level comfort and safety in all sorts of conditions too.
You can easily set the bedding for your pet by cutting it into portions. After using it for some time you can remove it and then wash it with water. This would help in ensuring proper hygiene. Let it dry for sometime after that.
Pros:
- It can be easily cleaned and reused
- The grip is excellent
Cons:
- Does not remove bad odor
- It is very sandy
Natural geographic deluxe large reptile enclosure liner
This is one of the best and unique looking substrates. The liner is made of synthetic grass and can be used as a bedding for your pets enclosure.
This can be used for tanks that are of size 18, 36 inches. This would be large enough so that a number of geckos can reside in it. This can be cut easily by using strong scissors and fit as per the requirements in the tank. The material used in it is durable and will not get damaged easily.
You can wash it with hands and dry it before you place it in your pets tank. This is brown in color so the waste eont be visible.
Pros:
- Proper humidity is there
- Cleanup is easy
Cons:
- Color is not good
- Does not remove odor
Zoo meds eco earth loose coconut fiber substrate
The company is popular in producing the best substrates for geckos. The substrates are available in low price and therefore anyone can afford it easily.
We see that the coconut is a controversial one therefore a lot of owners agree that this is the best bedding. There are a number of things that this substrate offers. It is natural and will retain moisture for a long time.
The fiber in it helps to avoid the bad odor and the waste can be easily spotted so cleaning is very easy. There is reduced dust as compared to the other substrates.
Pros:
- Affordable
- Prevents odor
- Does not hold dust
Cons:
- Hydration is difficult
- Mite infection occurs
This is a coconut substrate which is an a dehydrated look. The gecko owners love to add these in the form of blocks. Some owners do complain its dusty nature which cause respiratory issues in the geckos. Also, you need to hydrate it first before using it.
The substrate holds moisture suitably and also provides the right amount of humidity that is required. The look of the substrate is natural and the fibers are big which avoid the accidental ingestion.
This is considered to be one of the cleanest substrates and is used by professionals too. The quality is good and will save a lot of money.
Pros:
- Holds moisture
- Can be expanded
- Does not mold
Cons:
- It is Sandy
- Needs hydration
Zoo med forest floor bedding
This is one of the affordable substrates among the ones we have discussed above. The quality of this one is also good and will never disappoint the owners.
It provides a natural look and therefore makes the gecko feel they are in a natural habitat. The company uses wood fiber that might provide some problems.
You can choose the required volume of substrate that you can fit into the enclosure. The humidity that it provides is also suitable and is consistent for your pets health.
It holds water and avoids dust. It does not rot easily and that is one of the best features of it.
The customer s should avoid mixing the bedding with any other substrates as it is not at all a good idea.
Pros:
- It lasts long
- Provides natural appearance
- The humidity is also maintained
Cons:
- Difficult to see the waste
- Might be ingested
It is not recommended to mix the forest floor bedding to another substrate. It will never be a good idea.
What substrate is suitable for your gecko?
This part is considered one of the most difficult parts of putting up a tank for your gecko. So die to this reason there is a lot of debate for which substrate is the best for your gecko.
We see that the paper towels are not so attractive but these are the most common substrates that you will suitably get.
For the juvenile geckos paper towels might be the best and if we talk about the leopard geckos there are a number of choices that the you can make and it can become very confusing.
How to choose the best substrate?
When you are selecting the best substrate for your per there are a number of options that you will get. But if you select a wrong substrate then it can affect the health of your pet.
So it is important that you look for all the factors before you decide the substrate for your pet.
The substrate you need to get for your pet also varies with the age and size of your lizard. The ideal one would be easily cleanable and compact. The most important thing is that it should not be ingested accidentally.
Requirements and Some other substrates
Substrate is the material that is placed at the bottom of the tank. This can be considered as the flooring of the enclosure too. This material needs to suitable as it is the one on which your pet is going to walk and it will catch waste too.
The speed with which your substrate will be cleaned will vary according to your choice of substrate. Also they should be such that the geckos can safely eat their food on it. The cleaning should also be easy.
It should be non irritating so that it does not affect its skin and should avoid accumulation of dust on it. The dust could be a serious issue for the respiratory system.
Sand
Sone users consider sand as unsafe. This is because it is risky for the pet as it might ingest it. Sand when ingested can lead to impaction. The sand ingestion is very common in case of the young geckos so it is not recommended at all.
Some other difficulties which are associated with it would include bacterial growth or the molding problems. But regardless of this it us one of the suitable ones as it can be cleaned easily and it is natural too.
However, we see that the adults do not ingest it often and if you are using it as a substrate then you need to see that your pet is healthy. Along with this we see that the sand which has calcium as its base us much mote digestible and sade so you should prefer that.
Paper towels
As we have seen earlier also the paper towels are one of the best substrates that you can use. This is suitable for both the young and the adult gecko. Also, you don’t need to worry about ingestion in this case.
These are easy to clean and very hygienic. Also, by using this monitoring health also becomes very easy.
One disadvantage of this would be that the pet cannot burros in it as like they prefer doing. If your gecko doesn’t burrow itself often then you can consider it as the best option too.
Reptile carpet
These have a very little possibility of ingestion. These are easy to clean and also you should use two pieces so that you can do the cleaning easily.
Prepackaged reptile bedding
We see that there a number of reptile bedding products available that the gecko owners love to give their pet in order to provide them comfort.
Dome of these may have small particles which your pet might ingest and eat. Therefore, you need to consider the safety measures while you are buying a substrate.
Slate rocks
If you are willing to give your pet a smooth stone bedding then this could turn out to be a very good option. Also, these provide a natural look and distributes the heat very well. Along with this these cannot be ingested as well.
Newspaper
As like the other substrates, newspaper is also the one. You can use it and easily replace it if you find it dirty. This is really impressive because it does not contain anything that can be ingested. Also, by using this the tank looks attractive as well as safe.
Substrates not to be used
Avoid using wood shavings, wood chips, walnut shells and other stuff like these which might affect the health of your little ones. These have a little risk that can harm your pet.
So as we have seen above there are a number of substrates that you can choose from so avoid the ones which are harmful and check out the reviews too which are very helpful.
Preventing impaction
The impaction is a real and a difficult health situation in case of the geckos. This occurs when a foreign substance is ingested and does not pass through the digestive system. This would result in difficult conditions where your pet will not eat and will loose weight.
This is life threatening and can cause death. If it is not diagnosed at early stages then it can be really late. It is important for you to know that in most of the cases the real reason for impaction is sand. Sand might be a good bedding as your pet can burrow in it and also suits the natural habitat of your gecko.
But the risks of using sand are more as compared to the benefits. So these are not recommended to be used as they can be ingested abs and affect the health of your pet.
Conclusion
Above we have discussed a lot of substrates that you can use for your pet. But before buying one make sure you see it is suitable for your pet. Opt for the one which is most natural and cannot be ingested.
You may also like: Best Substrate for Iguanas
