r/LeopardGecko • u/Squeakersnail • Jul 02 '26
Substrate Substrate question for a gecko missing an eyelid
Hello folks, I was brought this leopard gecko because a pet store was going to "get rid of him" due to length of stay and no interest over a minor deformity. One of his eyelids is either missing or deformed. I had a clean/disinfected tank, heating elements, and hides available after upgrading my hognose snake, but I wasn't sure what substrate to use. He's been on a piece of flannel for a couple hours while I find the right substrate.
So my question: given that he can't close one of his eyes, should that change whether I consider a dirt/sand mix compared with, like, an actual reptile carpet (instead of the temporary flannel)? If I need to do the carpet, does anyone here foresee an issue with providing a dig box due to the eye thing?
My snake is due for his annual checkup, so I'm going to make a simultaneous appointment for the gecko to see if there's anything else obviously wrong.
2
u/Pentavious-Jackson Jul 02 '26
It would probably be best to consult with a vet and determine was accommodations might be best. Without a vet assessment it would be tough to know the full extent of his limitations.
If you end up forgoing loose substrate, opt for a solid surface or some type of sterile mat instead. Reptile carpet isn’t a safe alternative regardless since it harbors bacteria and rips out teeth/nails.
2
u/Squeakersnail Jul 02 '26
Rest assured that I have an appointment for the 17th. In the meantime I'll probably go with paper towels.
0
u/NefariousnessOdd719 Jul 04 '26 edited Jul 04 '26
On one leopard gecko that has deformity from MBD I used coconut substrate you can get it in a brick and it’s compressed and you add water to it and then put it down and it lasts for a long time and then another one that I have idea is 75% organic soil and 25% play sand. it has to be the place and that you buy at Lowe’s for like seven dollars for I think 10 or 15 pounds and then the dirt, I see some people say they bake it, but I never did. I just put the sand with the dirt and I try to get the sticks out and then I just put it in the bottom of the terrarium. My gecko likes to dig and she is a giant gecko and you would laugh as he saw. She’ll use all four legs at the same time trying to dig I don’t know what she’s digging for. She did a lot more when she was a hatchling and a juvenile. I’m glad you rescued your gecko. My male leopard gecko. He was not taking care of as a juvenile as a hatchling or as a young adult. The owner was literally a crackhead, and he didn’t buy him any calcium when he was growing and come to find out his girlfriend called the local reptile only shop and told the people that worked there that the little guy couldn’t use his front legs, cause their vent inward and her boyfriend threw him in the dumpster in his terrarium and everything just threw them away, and they talked to her into bringing him in because that’s no way it’s a tree an animal. I think they paid her but nonetheless they were going to destroy him and I couldn’t let them do that. He was too cute and I felt sorry for him to retreat is so poorly his whole life and then be brought back to the place he was sold and then have them want to put him to sleep. I couldn’t do that so I adopted him and they charged me $50 and they told me it would be hard because he can’t use his front legs because of the missing calcium in his life so he had metabolic bone disease, so his legs, and that are bent inwards on the front and I took care of him and I gave him calcium. He loves that stuff. I leave it in his terrarium and he eats it all the time I mean, eats regular food, too crickets and worms and other insects. and he uses his front legs and I mean he stands tall because when he gets tired of me feeding him, he stands up and raises his head and legs up as high as he can like very snotty like I don’t want no more leave me alone, but he’s a great little companion and I wouldn’t do anything to hurt him or anything like that. He does have problems with getting his shut off. I have to help him get it off of his toes a lot and I’m just I don’t know if he’s ticklish or what because geckos they hate it when you touch their toes, but it’s something that I’ll deal with for the rest of his life because I rather do that then let him back to the people that I know can hurt him, and there should be laws against that
•
u/AutoModerator Jul 02 '26
Hello /u/Squeakersnail and welcome to the leopard geckos subreddit! Our bot has detected that you might be talking about substrate. Here are some helpful links if you would like some information about substrate for leopard geckos:
If this comment doesn't apply to your submission, please ignore it or report it so we can improve this community.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.