Reptile & Amphibian Forums

what type of sand should i use for my leo?

NONE!
Never use sand for a leo! I once used sand and my leo died of impaction. So use either a repti carpet or some sort of cage liner. NOT SAND!

MOst things you read say that you can use a calcium based sand, like Calci-sand, but I wouldn't use any sand. I have my guys cage lined with paper towels. It's safer, cheaper, and a heck of a lot easier to clean. I know some people here used ceramic tiles, or repti-carpet which is like an indoor/outdoor carpet kind of.

NO SAND.
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Trish
1.0.0 Bells Albino Leopard Gecko "Lyle"
0.1.0 Hypo-Gold Leopard Gecko "Goldie"
0.1.0 High Yellow Jungle Leopard Gecko "Lucky"
0.1.0 Super Hypo Tangerine Carrot Tail Leopard Gecko "Storm"
0.1.0 Cockatiel "Jewel"
0.1.0 Pitbull/Golden Retriever "Guiness"
0.2.0 Cats "Athena" and "Violet"
0.1.0 Horse "Arian Gold Karma"
And who knows how many fish

I've sued sand for four years and had no problem. Its all based on the owner's preferance. I keep my crickets calcium dusted every to every other night, and always supply a tray of calcium in the cage. Because of this, I have had no problem with sand. I like the look of sand, and so, being the stubborn person I am, still use it. Impaction is a good reason not to use sand, it is often fatal. Still, if you do use sand, please, for love of all thigs good, dont buy calci-sand. It incourages you leo to eat the sand, which is a big no-no. Rather, go with repti sand. Ithe grains are actually round, so if you leo does happen to eat it, it passes eaiser. I suppose fine-grain playground sand would work, too. As long as your leo dosnt injest too much sand, it should be fine. Small amounts can pass.

sand is definately a controversial thing. I have one leo that has been on sand his entire ADULT life, and others that are not. I havent had a problem with either. If you do opt for sand make sure your leo is over a year, in good health, and of adult size. Sand is never safe for babies. Also make sure to never use any sand that claims to be digestable, Calci-sand (for example) clumps together in hard jagged balls when wet and can shred your leo's inside. Instead use fine grain, screened, washed play sand from homedepot and make sure to replace it often as sand collects bacteria
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0.1 Bearded dragon
0.1 mexican kingsnake
1.0.2 Leopard Gecko's
0.0.1 Rose Hair Tarantula
1.0 BTS
0.0.1 Reverse Okeetee Corn
0.1 Bullmastiff
4.1 Cats

AlteredMind99,
My leo was about 4 to 5 years of age when she died of impaction. So it's never really "O.K" to use sand. No matter what the size or age of the lizard. But like one of the members here said a few replies up, if you still want to use the sand do NOT use the calci-sand.

I totally agree. Sand is never 100% safe for a leo of any age, i just meant that is not as big of a fear for adult leos, although it definately can still cause impactions. And calci-sand is really evil.
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0.1 Bearded dragon
0.1 mexican kingsnake
1.0.2 Leopard Gecko's
0.0.1 Rose Hair Tarantula
1.0 BTS
0.0.1 Reverse Okeetee Corn
0.1 Bullmastiff
4.1 Cats