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S.   Guido1090   Skyhawk52   S.   KiruSama   Guido1090   Jakemyster44   S.   Skyhawk52   GekkoniDazed   Jenralee   S.  
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 #1829243


S.
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 Paper towels vs. dirt/eco-earth or other

I have seen a lot of posts lately asking about what kind of bedding to use. I figured a post just about this were people can post what they use and why would help people trying to decide what would be best for there cresties or other Rhacs.

Keep in mind this is only IMO and is not meant to put down anyone or what they do, this is just what I have found that works best for my geckos.

I keep my babies on paper towels tell about 5-8 grams. After that they go in planted natural vivs. I have never had an issue with impaction and I do feed then live crickets loose inside the tanks. But, in the past, I have had to pull an inch long piece of paper towel out of a gecko rear. Basically, if they get a corner of paper towel in there mouth when hunting crickets they keep eating and ripping at it, kind of like they do w/ shed. If I could monitor the babies pooping as well on dirt I would keep them in planted tanks from hatch but I just can keep track of it as well. Just to make what "dirt" I use clear I use a 50/50 mix of peat/sphagnum moss and coco fiber (aka bead-a-beast or eco-earth)

Things I would never consider using for a crestie or any other reptile but have heard of being used are...

*Wood chips

*Sand

*Loose paper shreds or paper with ink print (news paper)

*Walnut shells

*Bird seed

*tile or the like (I used this at one point for cresties and it was horrid on the humidity. Most other low humidity reptiles this would be fine)

If you can think of any other to add to the list please feel free.
08/13/08  06:49am

 #1829337


Guido1090
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   Message To: S.   In reference to Message Id: 1829243


 Paper towels vs. dirt/eco-earth or other

thats a good post S.

here is something that i just heard of someone using for a reptile not too long ago that is a big NO. aquarium gravel.

i got my gecko at 5 1/2 grams and put her right on to coco fiber. she then got parasites so i put her in a small quarantine tank with paper towels. i was more worried about her eating those stupid paper towels than i ever was while she was on coco fiber. she would get a hold of the paper towels while lunging for a cricket and try to tear them apart. right now she is in a rubbermade bin with no substrate but some plants that cover most of the bottom of the cage while i am working on building her a natural viv.

again, this is a really good post. im looking forward to hearing other peoples opinions.
08/13/08  09:41am

 #1829359


Skyhawk52
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   Message To: Guido1090   In reference to Message Id: 1829337


 Paper towels vs. dirt/eco-earth or other

I got my crestie about a month ago from a friend that kept all of her cresties on eco earth. (she got all but two as hatchlings) And has never had a problem with them. However, when I took on her little dalmatian/flame I noticed that when lunging at crix, she would get a mouthful of eco earth. She had no trouble passing it, but I worried about impaction. Thanks to Jake, I now feed her crix in a critter keeper or 5 gal tank with nothing in it. My little Amber is doing great!

Jen



08/13/08  09:59am

 #1829387


S.
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   Message To: Guido1090   In reference to Message Id: 1829337


 Paper towels vs. dirt/eco-earth or other

Aquarium Gravel? OMFG! Why not just put them on hot coals, it would be quicker and a lot less painful!!!



08/13/08  10:19am

 #1829481


KiruSama
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   Message To: S.   In reference to Message Id: 1829387


 Paper towels vs. dirt/eco-earth or other

I have three Geckos,
Two Crested. (One weighs 27g, the other weighs 20g)
and one Gargoyle Gecko( weighs 7-8gs)
All three In separate Cages of course.
When I started Out with my Gargoyle.
I was Recommended Wood Chips. So I tried Them, After Three Days Of useing them, I couldn’t stand them. My Poor Geckos Feet were Getting Stuck to them and then he couldn’t get them off!

So Next I had him on Reptile Carpet. I liked It other then the fact that I couldn’t get the humidity to stay at the level it needed.

So then I tried Paper towels, Hoping maybe there’d be a slight difference In humidity level, but they’re wasn’t.

So Then I put Him on Eco-Earth, and It helped A LOT with Humidity. When I got my Two Crested Geckos, I put them On Eco-Earth as Well, I just Feed Them Crickets in a small Kritter Keeper.



08/13/08  11:51am

 #1829497


Guido1090
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   Message To: S.   In reference to Message Id: 1829387


 Paper towels vs. dirt/eco-earth or other

Quote:

Aquarium Gravel? OMFG! Why not just put them on hot coals, it would be quicker and a lot less painful!!!



lol. yeah i heard that on one of the forums i go to. someone was working at a pet store and a lady came in looking for aquarium gravel. i think it was a bearded dragon that she said she kept it on. i dont remember the story really well, i just remember the part about them keeping a lizard on the gravel.
08/13/08  11:59am

 #1830113


Jakemyster44
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   Message To: Guido1090   In reference to Message Id: 1829497


 Paper towels vs. dirt/eco-earth or other

yea, its on pangea I belive...
08/13/08  08:22pm

 #1831539


S.
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   Message To: Jakemyster44   In reference to Message Id: 1830113


 Paper towels vs. dirt/eco-earth or other

Your little one would get eco-earth in there mouth when going after crickets...were you pressing down the eco-earth hard when you put it in? Most cresties get past this point and I have even seen mine do this from time to time. Its not a big deal and its ok on there digestion...it breaks down as fiber and helps there digestion when in small amounts. But I can understand why you feed in a bin a lot of people do. Its a bit scary the first time you see it. =)
08/15/08  05:30am

 #1831627


Skyhawk52
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   Message To: S.   In reference to Message Id: 1831539


 Paper towels vs. dirt/eco-earth or other

The eco earth is def packed down. So she must have some serious power behind her little lunges for the crix. : ) I saw her get 2 mouthfuls of the eco earth and freaked cause she is so very small. Guess I’d rather be safe than sorry with her.

Jen
08/15/08  09:14am

 #1833942


GekkoniDazed
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   Message To: Skyhawk52   In reference to Message Id: 1831627


 Paper towels vs. dirt/eco-earth or other

Like the original poster, I keep all my younguns and small juvies under 10 grams in Sterilite bins on paper towel. I move them into naturalistic planted vivariums then with straight peat moss for substrate. Peat moss seems to be much much finer than Eco-Earth or Bed-A-Beast. I just don’t like how that stuff is processed or anything either. I’ve heard too many stories of parasites and fungus coming from it. I stick to the straight peat moss and it’s been working fine for me for a very long time.

I’ve never worried about impaction because to be honest, it doesn’t really occur that often. When it does, it’s because the husbandry was wrong and the person was using wood chips or gravel or something to house their animals on. Also, it’s a good idea not to feed live foods when you have your animals on any substrate. It greatly reduces the risks of any type of problems, including impaction. Good work by you folks who feed in separate containers.



08/17/08  02:29pm

 #1835617


Jenralee
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   Message To: GekkoniDazed   In reference to Message Id: 1833942


 Paper towels vs. dirt/eco-earth or other

bump, i’m building my 1st viv and need any info. so keep talkin yall
08/18/08  09:45pm

 #1835846


S.
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   Message To: Jenralee   In reference to Message Id: 1835617


 Paper towels vs. dirt/eco-earth or other

what do you want to know? If you make a post asking questions i’m sure someone can help you out. =)
08/19/08  03:02am


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