Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am thinking about getting a Crested Gecko, and wanted to research as much as possible before I make a decision. Is it safe to use orchid bark as substrate for a Crestie? The pieces seem kinda large, so one wouldn't think ingestion would be an issue. But to keep up the higher level of humidity this substrate seems ideal.

Any comments would be appreciated.

Thanks!!

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1.0 Leo (Azrael)

Even though everyone on this forum has said not to use pine shavings...we've been using them for almost a year with our cresties and havn't had any problems.

Pine shavings are cheap to buy and easy to clean. Someone was telling me that they thing the shavings will clog their nose but I'm pretty sure only cedar shavings will cause those problems.

If they ingest the pine shavings it's just like eating paper as opposed to tough orchid bark.
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Chris

1.2.0 Bearded Dragons
1.2.0 Green Basilisks
1.1.0 Crested Geckos
1.2.0 Veiled Chameleons
1.1.0 Corn Snakes
1.0.0 Tokay Geckos
0.0.1 California Kingsnakes
2.5.1 Leopard Geckos

What makes cedar and pine harmful to rodents and reptiles is the amount of phenols (oils that give pine and cedar their distinctive smell) which can cause irritation. Not sure how they effect lizards but in small animals like mice, rats, rabbits etc, it is toxic and shortens life span, can cause respiratory infections and liver problems.

Pine is nothing like paper, not sure what gave you that impression. Paper will break down quickly when wet but pine will remain the same for a long time before it breaks down into mush as paper will.

That aside, I can't say how it would effect crested geckos since they are mostly arboreal and spend their time in branches. If their enclosure is well ventilated, the dust or phenols of pine may not be as much a factor as it is for mammals. If you have been using it for years without any noticeable problems from it, it can't be that harmful.

use coconut husks, peatmoss, potting soil... cheap stuff anyways. Potting soil at homedepot, cheap. With potting soil you can mix the feces in with the soil if you have a natural plant in the enclosure, this will fertilize the soil and so forth... there is a big variety of what you can use. Just check online beneath the 100s of care sheets.

heres a good one
http://www.sandfiredragonranch.com/reptiles/geckos/ciliatus/Crested Gecko Article.html

a little different than what I've been hearing. The only toxic substrate that I've been strongly warned against is cedar. Never use cedar. I've used pine shavings with all of my reptiles for a long time...since there is very little literature on cresties, when we got our first pair we firgured...well why not give it a shot with them too.

Cresties seem to be only part aboreal. They love to bury themselves in moist substrate and in the wild (from what I've read) they can be found under the mulch and leaves on the ground.

The only time mine ever climb up to their branches is at night, when they are foraging for food.

Someone said in an earlier post that pine may be hard to digest but the fact of it is: if they dive for a cricket and miss...which is going to be easier for them to spit out?

Definetly pine shavings. Try eating a mouthful of sand then try doing the same with pine shavings...the pine should be much easier to spit out.

Also if you are going to use a peat moss or soil substrate I advise you to steer clear of perlite. (the little white balls which give the soil air) Perlite isn't really all that safe for reptiles. I have a friend who is working on a study at our university and he has found that reptile eggs hatched in peat moss compared to reptiles eggs hatched in soil with perlite have a much better success rate. Apparently perlite is cancerous???

Not sure on that one but you might want to avoid it.
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Chris

1.2.0 Bearded Dragons
1.2.0 Green Basilisks
1.1.0 Crested Geckos
1.2.0 Veiled Chameleons
1.1.0 Corn Snakes
1.0.0 Tokay Geckos
0.0.1 California Kingsnakes
2.5.1 Leopard Geckos

deff don't use perlite, its a type of soil that holds alot of moisture. Just regular potting soil is what i was referring to, particularly one with out chunks of perlite. I personally would use pet moss though, i don't think you could go wrong with that, just make sure its not bought from a hardware store as those could contain mites.

n/p
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Chris

1.2.0 Bearded Dragons
1.2.0 Green Basilisks
1.1.0 Crested Geckos
1.2.0 Veiled Chameleons
1.1.0 Corn Snakes
1.0.0 Tokay Geckos
0.0.1 California Kingsnakes
2.5.1 Leopard Geckos

If you really want to be safe just use newspaper.As long as you provide a water dish and mist at least once a day you should be allright. Rhacodactlyus are pretty adaptable and the humidity doesnt have to be constantly high.

Great, I think I will go with paper towels when it is younger, then move to the coconut husk/peat moss combo, because I am wanting to have live plants in the tank.

Thanks for the advice everyone, I really appreciate it!

=)
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1.0 Leo (Azrael)

First off I must say I have tried several different substrates for cresteds, and it always goes back to good ole' paper towels. I did the whole planted tank, and it looked beautiful, however, it was a PAIN to find the eggs! So now what we do is use a paper towel substrate, and just put in potted plants! The catch is we cut out needlepoint screen to the same size as the pot and put it on top of the soil and then put some sphagnum moss on top of that to make it look nice! I have had a pair of eggs buried in here once, other than that it's always in the nest box.

As far as perilite causing cancer, I have NEVER heard of that. I also haven't heard of that many people having success incubating on potting soil. Most people use vermiculite, perilite, or a mixture of the two! As far as the cancer goes, I know they have shut down a VERMICULITE manufacturing plant for finding asbestos. That is the only thing I can think of even close to that.

About cresties not being arboreal except at night!! HUH, I must have had some weird cresteds in the past, and currently. LOL I rarely see them on the ground. If so it usually means eggs are soon to follow! I have 1.3 in a vertical 40 gallon breeder, and can honestly say they are on the ground MAYBE 5% of the time!
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MIKE
4.14 Leopards (SHTCT, and Jungle Albino Trempers)
2.13 Fat Tails (Amels, Hets, and Normals)
1.1 Teratolepis Fasciata
1.3 Crested geckos
0.0.3 Dendrobates Tinctorius (Citronellas)
1.0 Diamond Back Terrapin
14 Snakes (Tri colored hogs, subocs, alterna, rosy boas, and black milks)