Because they are such adaptable lizards, several different substrates are acceptable for leopard geckos. The most popular choices used by professional breeders are sand, cypress mulch and paper products. While sand looks better than paper or cypress mulch, it is more likely to cause health problems for your pet. For your lizard̵7;s safety, paper is the best choice, though many keepers have successfully housed leopard geckos on particulate substrates for extended periods of time.
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Qualities of a Good Substrate
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Good substrates are both easy to clean and safe for your pet. Keepers have differing opinions about the easiest substrate to clean; many find sifting or spot cleaning sand to be easier than changing out newspaper, but others prefer the simplicity of changing a single sheet of paper. In terms of safety, paper is the superior choice, as it does not represent a choking or impaction hazard. Theoretically, particulate substrates that are too large for your lizard to ingest them, such as cypress mulch, or small enough to pass through the digestive tract easily, such as very fine grain sands, offer increased safety.
One-Piece, Paper Substrates
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Newspaper, paper towels and butcher paper can all be used as substrates. Paper towels and newspaper are also inexpensive and make cage maintenance easy. When soiled, remove the paper, wash or disinfect the cage surfaces and add new, clean paper. The primary downside to paper substrates is that they are not visually appealing. While this may be a problem for you, your lizard does not mind the aesthetics at all. While there is little evidence to support the contention, some keepers believe that the inks in newspaper may be harmful to your pet; if this concerns you, opt for paper towels or unprinted newspaper.
Sifting Through the Sand
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Sand has a number of positive attributes, making it a popular choice for many leopard gecko keepers. Sand is very attractive as a cage substrate and because you can sift it with a mesh screen, it is easy to maintain. However, sand has one very big drawback: Some leopard geckos accumulate sand in their digestive tracts, which can cause serious -- even fatal -- health problems. To reduce the likelihood that your lizard will suffer from sand impaction, only use sand composed of very small, smooth grains -- less than one-fifth of an inch in size. Additionally, it is safest to avoid using sand for small leopard geckos, less than 5 or 6 inches in total length.
The Pros and Cons of Cypress Mulch
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Cypress mulch is not as popular as some of the other substrates are, but it works very well. Your leopard gecko is unlikely to ingest cypress mulch, and most keepers would agree that it looks better than paper substrates. However, the mulch does have drawbacks as well. A layer of cypress mulch may provide feeder insects with enough space to hide, and the dark color and uneven appearance can mask feces, urine or dead insects, making it difficult to clean completely. In addition to regular or daily spot cleanings, you must replace all the mulch periodically. Additionally, fresh cypress mulch is often too damp for leopard geckos; always let it dry out before placing it in the cage.
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