What substrate should I use for gecko?

I was told by a friend I showed pictures if my new crested gecko to that I should put my gecko on paper towels vs eco Earth. What do u guys think. My friend said it'll help avoid impaction n will be easy for me to know if he is healthy since he was bought from a commercial pet store 4 days ago. Should I put paper towels in his terrarium over the eco earth.?

 

I don't think anyone will really have an answer for you here, I'm sorry. This is fishlore, not geckolore.

 

Ok yup yr right I posted in the other pets section. My aquariums are stable I'm on to a new hobby besides fish n have a pet related question. You're right this is fishlore but I assume due to the other pet section I have a right to ask whatever I want as long as it is pet related of course and it is . If u have no knowledge on geckos no need to comment on this post .Obviously if I come to fishlore under the other pet section it's bc I can't find a a answer on google. so I decided to ask under the other pet section bc last time I ask there were a few aquarium hobbiest that we're also in the reptile hobby.

 

I am very sorry! I didn't realize this forum even had an "other pets" section, I found this under unanswered threads. Should have looked, my apologies. Hope you find an answer!

 

I think your friend recommended paper towel because the eco earth can grow mold and attract bugs..there is a Google search about it as well. My personal opinion would be to use the paper towel as it is far easier to keep clean.

 

I vote peat moss.. cheap with added benefit of resisting mold and increasing humidity.

 

Use EcoEarth. I have dozens of enclosures and every single one of them has EcoEarth as the base substrate (I mix in some reptibark and sand to keep it from clumping up and sticking together). A healthy gecko will not get impacted from EcoEarth, they should be able to pass it no problem. The only reason impaction should occur is if there is already an underlying issue with the gecko. Plus they eat up on a ledge so they’re rarely going to be ingesting substrate on the ground unless you let your gecko hunt some crickets in the enclosure (which is also perfectly fine. I feed ALL of my reptiles in the enclosures, I never take them out and put them in a “feeding bin”). I only use paper towels for my babies and I honestly cannot stand it. Paper towel never dries out all the way, the poop and pee all over it stinks, and it’s just not cool to look at. EcoEarth doesn’t attract bugs, it’s literally just coconut fiber. You’d have to change it out every month or every other month (your gecko is small right now so it shouldn’t need changed a hole lot right now). But if you don’t want to have to EVER clean your substrate you can look in to making your enclosure bioactive. That consists of making a drainage layer of clay balls or gravel, a layer of screen, and then the substrate (I’ll include a picture). And then you simply add these bugs called “springtails,” they’re itty bitty white bugs that live in the substrate and they clean up the mold, poop and pee I have enclosures that have had the same substrate for 4+ years because the bugs keep it clean and healthy. I only ever have to wipe the glass off.

And here’s what the springtails look like. These are all in one of my water dishes, they’re the little white bugs. They don’t drown so they’re all alive lol

 

I use paper towels but have been planning to switch to eco earth.

I have a few female breeders though And I worry their eggs will get lost in eco eArth but if you don’t intend to breed thEn it’s great for cresties.

BReefer97 can you just mix springtails in eco alone?

 

I kinda like using ABG or a
Mix of peat moss and coconut fiber. I add in Springtails and dwarf white isopods to keep the mild and mildew at bay.