Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi everyone-
I use wet paper towels in my leo's humid hide, but I'm wondering if I could use EcoEarth in it instead? He's small; his growth was stunted some time ago so he's only around 4" in length, so I don't want to risk an impaction.
Also, I'd like to have a fecal check done; can I just bring some fresh droppings in to the vet's office or do I need to bring him in as well?

Yes you can use coconut fiber in a leos humid hide as long as you make sure hes not eating it lol (don't know why he would but you never know). As for the fecal test you only need to bring the droppings in and then if there are parasites you need to take him in, but it might be different depending on your vet so just call to check!

Tyler

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3.2 Hypo Tang Leos, 1.0 Blizzard Leo, 1.1 Tremper Tang/Albino Leos, 1.0 Knight Anole, 0.1 Mali Uromastyx, 1.1 Green Iguana, 1.1 Ball Pythons, a Common Snapping Turt, 1 Dark Fire/1 Normal Crested Geckos, 0.1 Columbian Red-Tail Boa

MY SITE:
www.multiplemorphherps.com

I'm not familiar with "EcoEarth" but I use Coir (coconut fiber) and vermiculite mixed together 50/50. Coir is a proven natural alternative to peat moss. It will last three times as long as peat moss and can retain moisture up to nine times its own volume. It helps keep moist hides from drying out as fast.

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BigSurf
www.SurfinBird.com
Robert@SurfinBird.com

I use it in my humid hide, as well as for nesting. It's easy for them to dig in, and it holds moisture without molding. You do have to mist the top layer daily, or at least every other day.

I've never had a shed problem since using it, and I've not had any eggs dry out, even if I don't find them until morning.

Leslie

np

No. There is still impaction risk. Your gecko really wouldn't be licking the EcoEarth or whatever unless he had to. They lick to get vitamins from their surroundings, so thats why you have a vitmin/calcium dish for them. The only thing really that is 'impaction proof' is flat, solid substrate (tile, paper towels etc.)

If you do take a fecal to the vet, I would take a fresh fecal --still wet-- and the lizard. If there is something wrong, it saves you from another trip and an office visit charge. Also, it'll give the doctor something to look at.

It's growth was stunted at 4in? How so?

Michael

Well, I'm not sure exactly. He was given to my older sister by the vet, but I've got a feeling someone else had passed it onto the vet. He was in bad conditions; had a heat rock, not fed as much as he needed, wasn't on cage carpet or the like but rather some sort of loose woody chip substrate. I was about 9 years old then, so I researched online a lot about leo care, but never grasped all of what I was learning until I got older (I posted this on here sometime last year). So now he's mine, is in a 10 gallon with good temperature variables, humid hide, is fed mealworms, etc. but his appetite isn't great even for a small little guy, so I'd like to see if everythings okay.

The only problem about bringing him in is the closest herp vet is an hour away, and "Silas" won't be handled. He will do his little warning wiggle, and then jump up to bite me. It's pretty unfortunate; I'm not sure how to get him to relax around me. I moved him upstairs so he's not in such a busy area and might relax, but I can't tell if it's helped or not.

Sorry for the novel..