Leopard gecko substrate. What should I put as flooring in my leopard gecko cage?

Question: What Substrate Should I Use for My Leopard Gecko?

Choosing a substrate can be one of the more confusing aspects of setting up a tank for leopard geckos. There is much debate over which substrates are safe, and the best choice depends on the age of your leopard gecko pet as well.

Paper towels, though not as attractive in a terrarium as some other options, are one of the best substrates available. For juveniles and hatchlings (under a year old), paper towels are your best choice in a substrate. Either that or nothing at all. For adults there are more choices but the recommendations can be confusing. Here is a run down of some options you can look at, and some to avoid.


Paper Towels

As mentioned previously, paper towels are one of the best substrates, and are the recommended substrate for juvenile leopard geckos (as well as sickly geckos), but can be used for any leopard gecko. With paper towel substrate, there are no worries about ingestion or inhalation of substrate, and it is absorbent, hygienic, and easy to clean (which reduces the chance of illness). It also makes monitoring health (e.g. eating, bowel movements) easy.

Sand

This is where the debate over substrates gets heated. Sand is considered unsafe by some, due to the risk of ingestion and impaction (either due to accidental ingestion or due to intentional ingestion to meet calcium needs) -- this is a bigger risk for juveniles so sand should never be used with juvenile geckos. Other potential difficulties with sand include dust (which can lead to respiratory problems), and bacterial or mold growth in wet sand. I would say don't house leopard geckos on sand, especially the calci-sand that is supposed to be recommendation. Leopard geckos might accidentally eat the sand, the sand will clog up with the liquids on their stomach, causing blockages (impaction). Leopard gecko impaction can cause stress, severe discomfort and even death in extreme cases.

Paper such as newspaper

Like paper towels, paper is utilitarian but safe and easy to clean. You can get brown butcher paper or unprinted newsprint quite economically and just replace the substrate when it is soiled.

Indoor/Outdoor or Reptile Carpet

This is also easy to clean and carries little risk of ingestion (but watch for loose threads that could possibly be ingested or trap a leg), but these can be a bit rough for gecko skin. Keep two pieces on hand to make cleaning easier (when one is soiled, remove it for a thorough cleaning, simply replacing it with the second piece. When the soiled one is disinfected and dry, you can just swap them out again).

Reptile Bedding (Eco-Bedding, Bed-a-Beast, etc.)

There are a variety of bedding products available and some people use these with geckos. Some consist of small particles that could be ingested with feeding, and many experts advise against them. If you choose such a substrate, take the same precautions as with sand.

Slate Rocks

Adding slate rocks, set into a small amount of sand to anchor them and fill the spaces make a nice resting area for leopard geckos. If you can get smooth flat stones this seems like a good option for making a naturalistic environment that holds and distributes heat well, without much diminished risks of ingesting substrate (the amount of sand between the stones is less likely to be a problem than an open area of sand).

I hope this helps clear up the confusion with leopard gecko substrate