Most of them are definite impaction risks or … This material is also very durable and easy to clean so you do not need to worry about this problem. From paper towels to peat and commercial grade reptile carpet, choosing the right substrate for your crested gecko’s environment should be well thought-out. substrate for people who don't know is the stuff you put at the bottom of the cage so how often should i change it i use plantation soil from exo terre with a little bit of moss Crested geckos make fantastic pets: they can be kept in functional or natural-looking habitats such as rainforest terrariums. The ideal size of a gecko setup depends on the age of the gecko.Baby geckos obviously need less space, so they are best housed in large plastic terrariums or in standard 10-gallon reptile tanks with a screen top. This is controlled by a simple on off thermostat with the intention of keeping that side panel of glass at 75f. In this guide, you’ll learn everything you need to set up an ideal crested gecko terrarium. If you notice the female digging holes in the moistened substrate during the evening, check the following morning to see if the substrate appears packed down, and if the holes are covered-both are good signs that the female crested gecko has deposited her eggs. Crested gecko substrate is one component of habitat setup that is variable and debated by many keepers. The Best Substrate for Crested Gecko Terrariums: Avoiding Impactions - Written by Zoologist Frank Indiviglio on That Reptile Blog. On top of being (relatively) easy to keep, Crested Geckos also don’t require an overly elaborate setup. To achieve this we attach a heat mat to the outside of one of the side panels of glass. I plan on turning it every week. Because they are actively growing, baby crested geckos fed an improper diet can show signs of nutritional deficiencies, especially of calcium. As mentioned, Zoo Med products rarely disappoint you, and this is one of the company’s most innovative and beloved products. Heat can be provided by utilizing ceramic heat elements or reptile bulbs in a reflector lighting fixture. Because there is a risk of any gecko eating a particulate substrate, we don’t recommend it for hatchlings and juveniles under 8 grams. If you want to create crested gecko substrate layers, then don’t ignore Zoo Med’s HydroBalls. Finding the proper balance of nutrients can be difficult, so that is one reason we feed a commercial product like Repashy or Pangea crested gecko diets or meal replacement powders. Because crested geckos are nocturnal, they cannot view the red spectrum, and therefore a red bulb will not disrupt their photoperiod. I would like to plant some plants right into the substrate. When I turn it, do I have to pick the poo out first? The substrate should not smell. You need 72-82 degrees of heat from UV lightbulbs and locate it […] Try to maintain a daytime temperature gradient of 75 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit with a nighttime low of 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. When choosing a good substrate, you’ll need to get one that: can be used in a high humidity vivarium, Unfortunately, this can vary dramatically between different geckos, and as you become a more experienced gecko owner you'll…