Which Setup Is Best For Leopard Geckos? - Paper Towel, Carpet, Naturalistic or Bio Active 🌵

Today we'll be looking at 4 commonly used setups for Leopard Geckos - Paper Towel, Reptile Carpet, Naturalistic (loose substrate) and Bio Active. We will rate them on various criteria as well as looking at how good they actually are for our Geckos.
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#LeopardGeckoSetup #LeopardGeckos #ReptileSetups

[@mrnotsosocial1389]

I like how she said it was ok to have the paper towel and carpet setup. It kinda made me feel better about my old setup for my gargoyle gecko and leopard gecko

[@leopardgeckotalk]

haha no worries :) I tried paper towel with my crestie when I first got her, but I found the humidity was always super low, so I swiftly changed to eco earth, then eventually earthmix :)

[@mrnotsosocial1389]

Leopard Gecko I have a question, sorry if I’m not on the right platform but I have one adult female leopard Gecko and two teens, can I house them together or will my adult hurt them. My adult is really tame and only become scared when I pick her up

[@desiree2401]

@@mrnotsosocial1389 Do not house geckos of different sizes together

[@JessicasAnimalFriends]

I loathe reptile carpet for a number of reasons. Eco earth, too, just because it’s not really a soil. I think earthmix arid looks neat

[@leopardgeckotalk]

Yeah I've never really fancied reptile carpet lol

[@useryoutube3293]

Reptile carpet is just awful

[@cuddlycrochetbuddies6352]

When my Leo was a baby I kept her on paper towels so I could make sure she was pooping and eating

[@katynosework]

Agreed. It perpetually snagged the leo's teeth.

[@deletingchannelidontlikeit2593]

I used paper towels and then changed to carpet but now I realized how much better paper towels are for them.

[@Lunix_Hardcore]

I have my Crested Gecko in an bioactive tank. Cool thing is i can grow strawberrys in there =D

[@leopardgeckotalk]

Ah wow, i've never thought about growing anything like that in the tank lol.

[@Narii1252]

Lol He protecc He attacc But most importantly: He hast own snacc

[@papapossum9909]

That’s awesome! I wish I could see your setup

[@uglyribcage6982]

Lunix can you post a video on the setup of your tank? I’m really interested.

[@suicidalgaming3425]

WELL DONT EAT THEM BECAUSE THEIR IN A CRESTED GECKO TANK

[@raptor-pm3it]

I'm getting my first leopard gecko tomorrow. I've been preparing since March or February, and you've been my main source of info. I've learnt so much from you, thank you!

[@leopardgeckotalk]

aw that's brilliant, glad i could help :) thanks for watching and good luck with your gecko!! :)

[@latinospammer8441]

Good luck m8 im getting mine next week

[@LunaroseClaire]

Any updates?

[@Mar-ft9xu]

How’s he doin?

[@LightTooSmoothFr]

How is your gecko doing!?

[@WildLife_Perspective]

I personally use a naturalistic set up with Eco Earth as a substrate for my leopard gecko. She's in 20 gallon right now but I'll be upgrading her to a 40 gallon bioactive enclosure very soon.

[@leopardgeckotalk]

ah very nice! :D

[@boomarang3018]

Same! 😅

[@baker4132]

Definitely don’t use eco earth😬

[@themakdiary]

@@baker4132 what’s wrong with it

[@nigeldelong5744]

@@themakdiary using it by itslef is not recommended because the humidity level needed for a gecko leaves this substrate to dry and dusty which could cause impaction or R.I.

[@Plariou]

I’m using carpet right now but I’m gonna change to the naturalistic and mix of bioactive one so my Geckos can dig. Just like you said carpet sticks to powder

[@talianicole]

Dank The Meme same im on paper towel atm and I want to have a more naturalistic setup when I get bigger tanks

[@leopardgeckotalk]

ah nice :)

[@nohair250]

@@leopardgeckotalk I have carpet as my floor but I’m thinking of using eco earth but I’m afraid that my gecko would eat it. But I’m assuming that’s not really an issue for you ?

[@macyfenn2671]

Gecko is famous! yes that's his name. my sweet little yella fella is honored to be in your video ❤️

[@leopardgeckotalk]

wooo! thank you!

[@firewolfcaves]

I've had a bad experience with reptile carpet, my leopard gecko had some sort of reaction to it over time. His feet were red, since then i switched him over to loose substrate instead.

[@leopardgeckotalk]

aw no, i wonder what caused that. Glad he's doing better now :)

[@sammy0937]

same but i dont like it cause i have to take the mat out to clean since some like poop gets stuck and he gets his claws stuck kn there too

[@firewolfcaves]

@@sammy0937 same here, i always tired washing it off but it never fixed anything. Nastiest stuff.

[@moxiemoxen]

Thank you for mentioning the VOCs! I try to keep anything plastic away from the warm side of the tank though ideally soon I wont have anything plastic in the tanks at all.

[@leopardgeckotalk]

No problem :) Ah cool cool :)

[@thombears]

I inherited a Leo with a four feet long tank, reptile carpet and 2 hides. I added a lot of naturalistic hiding spaces and replaced the reptile carpet with eco earth after watching your videos. Unfortunately he stopped going into his warm hide and seemed really unsettled so I cut the reptile carpet into four one foot pieces so now he has one foot of carpet with a large hide on it and three feet of eco earth in the rest of the tank. He now sleeps in his warm hide during the day and explores at night, he seems to love digging which wasn't an option with his previous setup. I change the small patch of carpet twice a week and wash with reptile safe disinfectant. Maintenence is easy and he is happy and thriving.

[@leopardgeckotalk]

ah that's really cool :) it's like his nice comfy carpet bed, and then he's an explorer at night :)

[@cakelake963]

I can’t wait until you make one of your leopard geckos tanks fully bioactive 😍

[@nikkidian]

I too would love to see you show us how you would do this!

[@ayyylma0]

@@nikkidian Her enclosures already have bioactive substrate so literally all she needs to do is add springtails and isopods.

[@leopardgeckotalk]

Yeah once I can get them bigger tanks I'll like to go fully bio active :) I may set a tank up and keep it running a little while before moving a gecko isn't it :)

[@cakelake963]

@Coldhands I think you need to have live plants in a tank as well for it to be bioactive as plants help balance everything in the mini ecosystem (not fully sure on the science of it but it’s just what I’ve read that it’s not balanced without the plants but I’m not completely sure). Plus clean up crew is a little more difficult for arid tanks bc isopods and springtails won’t survive in the dry environment unfortunately :/

[@dylanwilson07]

This might be weird but I love your intro when you say “hey guys!” It’s so warm and welcoming and I just feel so happy because it sounds like you want us/me here!

[@ellie1484]

i just got a baby gecko a week ago and she’s already pretty calm around me. She ate on the second day too! Btw i’m going to name her Neoma❤️❤️❤️

[@leopardgeckotalk]

ah that's brilliant!! :D

[@scalez_4_dayz677]

I have a leopard gecko the morph is a super snow eclipse and his name is Draco

[@MitchellNihil00]

That's a pretty name 😍 I assume by the time I'm commenting she's a teen?

[@troyphillips8027]

Mines name is Santiago the 1st of bagel

[@laurengrace3455]

I have a friend named Neoma

[@kipy6333]

I’m finally getting my first crested gecko!! I’m sooooo exited!!

[@Narii1252]

Ohhh you lucky

[@leopardgeckotalk]

ahh good luck!! :)

[@rxss18]

I got mine about a month and half ago! A bit of advice... you’re going to feel like you’re doing it all wrong but you won’t be

[@ToxikDnB544]

@@rxss18 Whatcha mean? :P

[@sophiaschmidt286]

Nerf Master blaster they mean you’re gonna feel like the worst gecko owner but you aren’t

[@pangoblade]

Con of paper towels: To get the paper towels out, you have to take out everything on top first.

[@leopardgeckotalk]

true true - i guess it goes for all of them really, but must be annoying due to how frequently you have to take the paper towel out.

[@katieoneill-meledin6759]

I keep the potty corner as clear of stuff as possible. I fold the paper towel into a square so I only have to change the square. I then change all of the paper towel on cleaning day.

[@pangoblade]

@@katieoneill-meledin6759 Smart idea. I might try it out.

[@pangoblade]

@@leopardgeckotalk I guess it's fine, if he wants to climb out for a while anyway. Which he always does.

[@thistle_flowers5018]

I’m doing a paper towel, and then switch out with sand every once and a while, just to change it up a bit. I’m very nervous to get a gecko, anybody have any tips? I’ve heard to take notes, check sources, research heavily.

[@cathydonnelly6113]

Thank you so much for this video. I'm in the process of setting up a vivarium prior to bringing home our first leopard gecko. This advice has been brilliant, so informative.

[@II-bw5pp]

When my gecko was a baby I use to keep her on reptile carpet (which was soooo annoying to clean) but now she’s moved into a naturalistic setup! She’s a lot more active now!

[@leopardgeckotalk]

ah that's brilliant!

[@leah___6627]

My leopard gecko was not only my first pet reptile ever, but his enclosure was also the first ever bioactive tank I ever built! I know lots of people probably think that bioactives are for more experienced keepers, but I love a challenge! Building bioactive was the most rewarding experience I've had with pet keeping and I hope to make more in the future. I don't know if I could ever do any other kind of tank after going bioactive, besides paper towel for quarantine and hospital situations of course.

[@leopardgeckotalk]

Ah that's brilliant!! :) Yeah I also think they look more interesting, like you have a little slice of the wild in your room :)

[@leah___6627]

@@leopardgeckotalk Exactly! I want to get into wildlife education and the like as my career, so having bioactive enclosures just make sense to me. I want to be able to show people what's possible when you push those boundaries instead of just doing what's already been done for the past 20 odd years.

[@erintaylor7858]

I’ve tried a few different things with my leopard gecko Hei Hei over the year and a half I’ve had him. I started him off on repticarpet since I didn’t have a lot of time for a great set up due to the fact he was found under a refrigerator in a dorm room and was given to me. I hated trying to clean it! I then went with a bio active set up with products mostly from the bio dude but the plants died and my gecko didn’t seem to love it very much. I then when to more calm set up with kitchen cabinet liner and a super cool foam background with places to climb and hide. He loved that but some super worms escaped and burrowed into the foam and made a yucky little habitat in there. Currently Hei Hei is in a paper towel sterile tank while I make his naturalist tank with excavator clay, bio dude substrate, mostly real hides, and some real plants. I’m super excited to see how it turns out! I’m hoping in the future to turn it back into a bio active tank, since I have one for my box turtle and it is awesome.

[@jess9429]

I had a leo for a long time and I used the reptile carpet, he was blind and I didn't want to worry about him eating substrate. I only had one mat so I used paper towels for the days it was being washed and I always made sure to wash and dry it thoroughly. I never had any problems and even if it wasn't ideal it worked really well on a budget

[@ryanmm_2020]

Thank you for another amazing video! Videos like these really help me as a beginner reptile owner and allows to me to create a better environment for my leopard gecko. You keep it real and that's an amazing quality. Thanks again for the research and information!

[@leopardgeckotalk]

Aw thank you so much!! :)

[@nicholasjvr3675]

I saved one from a person who mistreated it not feeding it cause they wanted it to die , building his new habitat now cutest little guy , im giving it the life he deserves

[@sillybowiee]

As somebody whos getting a leopard gecko for my birthday, your channel and many others have been really helpful!! ❤️ also, any good name suggestions? Because I dont have many except for Two, Ritz and Rango,and I like both, but once again, thank you for your good work, and keep it up!! ❤️

[@leopardgeckotalk]

aw thank you! I like Rango, reminds me of the film about the Chameleon :)

[@divinewilliams7125]

I just got a leopard gecko today and I don’t know if it’s a boy or a girl so I decided that I would name her Ramona if it’s a girl and Roman if it’s a boy. Lol

[@thelastsamari7923]

Your voice is so perfect for these videos makes them much more enjoyable too watch

[@thomasschellenberg3818]

Nice video mate👌👏👏👏👏👏 Also, I definitely agree with you on the cost effectiveness for a bioactive vivarium. A con about my bioactive leopard gecko setup, is that you need to purchase alot of substrate if your going to be planting it properly, and the lights are quite expensive.

[@leopardgeckotalk]

thank you :) yeah lighting and all that equipment, definitely pricey :')

[@swamp2816]

Leopard Gecko, I’m getting a new many two new leopard geckos, any suggestions?

[@caitlynlentz7091]

I use paper towels for my leos, but I also give them all a dig box with loose substrate for enrichment! Paper towels are super easy to clean and I buy cute ones with lemons on it so it looks adorable. Aside from that, I find that they don’t absorb smells really well and I’m constantly replacing them. I spend around $7 a month on paper towels, but that’s nothing since I spend A LOT on bugs 😭

[@laurabowen1763]

Thank you 💖 this video was REALLY helpful , as are all your other videos . You have helped me figure out sooooo much research as I’m getting my first leopard gecko in a few weeks 😊😊 btw , give gizmo a little rub under the chin from me 💜

[@leopardgeckotalk]

aw thank you 😊😊 good luck with your future gecko!!

[@ally-qo4cu]

I have a carpet/plastic hides situation going on rn,but I am going to switch to a bioactive one soon!im so excited!

[@k.bsworldofpets4574]

I use non adhesive shelf liners! It's super easy to clean, is very cost affordable ($5 per a large roll), and looks nice! Also you don't have to replace the liner that often!

[@leopardgeckotalk]

Ah very cool! :)

[@bobbob6761]

I’ve had my carpet for my gecko then I changed it to a naturalistic tank and when I put her in her new home she was much happier so thank you so much

[@beardeddragons8721]

I use papertowel for my geckos and It works well, I don't like the idea that they could eat any substrate.

[@leopardgeckotalk]

ah fair enough :)

[@emmasmith8870]

Same I use paper towel too I have slate and cork bark hides I think just perfect at min

[@hardkorr5961]

bbdragon same when I had my gecko I didn’t want them to eat the eco earth so I used reptile carpet but I realized her nails got stuck in the carpet often so If I ever get a leopard gecko again imma use paper towel

[@beardeddragons8721]

@@hardkorr5961 sound good! I just think paper towel is the best

[@fionashepley478]

It’s very beneficial to offer digging enrichment with reptisoil, organic top soil, or a bioactive substrate. In a dig box at the very least.

[@FeatherBeautiful]

Even though I don't have Geckos, you're by far one of the few pet KZbinrs I like 🙈 Very Informative 👏🏻

[@leopardgeckotalk]

haha thank you :) means a lot :)

[@leonieburke3024]

I'm getting a my first gecko so I'm gonna use paper towels first to make sure that they don't get harmd

[@scarletshadows2139]

I used like a mat from a bird stand for my gecko and he loved it, it obzorbed heat in a good way, his claws and teeth didn’t get cought, it is really easy to clean, he couldn’t actually eat it but he did get a good hold when missing food. It gave a cool texture and he could kind of dig. Tho it probably did feel slightly weird or like fresh cut grass.

[@katieoneill-meledin6759]

I am currently using paper towel. I don't use real plants because I am horrible at keeping house plants alive. My decor and hides are a combination of man-made and natural items. I use a lot of rock and wood. Most of my plants are actually silk, though there are some plastic. I like paper towel because I find it so easy to clean and I don't worry to much about them ingesting the substrate. I am pretty new to geckos and this is what work for now.

[@leopardgeckotalk]

ah sounds nice, lots of variety. :) Like I said in the video, its cool when you can mix things up a little, so paper towel with real rock and wood is cool :)

[@imaginarytim1992]

My daughter and I love your channel. We have learned a lot from you and honestly we would have made so many mistakes if it weren't for you so thanks a ton!

[@geomancer7464]

I've actually been using that method where my geckos tank is half eco earth half tile and slate and I love it. And I feel that he does too. With a tile or slate side it's easier to feed him without him ingesting substrate. He also likes to dig. My only issue is that I he has no respect for the decor I put in there 😂 but that's ok. Also I have hides that have little nooks inside that crickets end up getting into and it makes it difficult for my gecko to eat them

[@leopardgeckotalk]

Ah that's really cool :)

[@smuvraccoon3078]

I do a mix with sand mat, and eco earth. I find the pros with sand mat, is that it probably is the most natural-looking with the rocks on it, and The Rock stick on so they never fall off and are a eating hazard I put eco earth in hides so they can dig and sleep on something comfortable

[@leopardgeckotalk]

ah that's a cool idea. I've never been able to see a sand mat in person. I heard it can smell a little when you first get it, but its good after a while :)

[@cakelake963]

Another con to the loose substrate is that they kick it into their water dishes and calcium bowls lol. My Leo loves to do that. Plus if you’re using a heating mat you can’t do a very thick layer of substrate

[@nikkidian]

They make suction cup feed bowls to put up off the bottom, which is what I'll get when I upgrade from paper towels. Also I've seen several ppl put the heating mat on the side of the glass when they have thick substrate. Just an idea. 😉

[@leopardgeckotalk]

omg yeah my girls especially will kick dirt in their water when its egg laying season. You can do a thicker layer on the cold end, but yeah not so much over the heat mat.

[@castrepts3464]

For my Leo, I use a kitchen liner without any adhesive or overall scents. Easy to clean, but she loves her calcium trails...so it is a constant clean. I do wish to make a bioactive enclosure for her soon, but adulthood bills are keeping me from getting a large exo-terro to ensure she has more space than a 20 long. Always look forward to your videos.

[@leopardgeckotalk]

Ah nice :) Oh i know what you mean, I want to eventually get bigger tanks and do fully bio active setups - then I think about all the new LEDs, drainage layers and so on I'll have to buy, as well as tanks, and just general life stuff 🙉

[@vslgrant6374]

you teach me more than my teachers teach me at school 🤣

[@crystlesenn8901]

So I just went bioactive and my leopard gecko and pretty sure that my gecko likes it. She super interested in hunting now and she wasn't interested in digging before now the bioactive set up she's really into digging now. Cons with the bio active set up would be first month or two day you have do spot clean for a while until your clean up crew can get settled. Also some plants are better suited for a bioactive tank like Zebra Aloe (I've noticed)

[@nikkidian]

I'm debating on trying it as well. Ever have issues with the clean up crew escaping? Or a stronger oder? I have to convince the hubby and he will want to know. Lol!

[@crystlesenn8901]

My mom I was worried about that too lol 😂 but they won't they like to burrow (springtails) and orange isopods and decent sized so you actually can see them. I've never noticed a bad odor and I have a sensitive nose lol If you have any questions just let me know 😊

[@nikkidian]

@@crystlesenn8901 haha! you rock, tysm. ♥️

[@skeletonizer9529]

Bioactive really seems fantastic but keeping alive plants just seems impossible, idk

[@leopardgeckotalk]

ikr! I literally just look at a succulent and it dies! I find the more humid, arboreal tanks easier and most of the plants love water, whereas I either over water or under water arid plants.

[@Brandom]

Succulent do well, it's just hard to give them proper lighting. Most succulents need a shady place and they'll thrive. My recommendation is to put them underneath a ''slope'' where they have shade, but also are able to get some lighting. I understand it's a little though, but once set-up it's great.

[@joe-tt3lp]

Is it me or do all of us just love this channel. Btw love your vids

[@leopardgeckotalk]

aw thanks so much :)

[@tacoshells741]

I do bioactive tanks for all my geckos. I just feel the carpet and paper towel aren’t really appealing to look at. Also I’ve noticed that my geckos like bioactive more. I just recently changed my leopard gecko over to bioactive and he has been exploring a lot more. Yeah in the beginning it’s very expensiveee, but as you said once it starts going you’re gonna be good. Thanks for talking about this topic. 💚🦎💚

[@leopardgeckotalk]

ah nice! Yeah I also feel with a loose substrate they can kind of customise their tank a bit too - like the other day Ziggy filled a hide up with a ton of dirt, and just kept a little tunnel for her to walk in and out of it. It's cool to see them interacting with their environment so much :)

[@tacoshells741]

Leopard Gecko aww how sweet

[@westinbasinger5022]

I will get hardwoods from where I live. I give them a light rinse cleaning to remove loose soil and plants and stuff, but I'll try to keep some of the moss and stuff. Then I'll bake it at 300 degrees for about an our or so to remove moisture and kill bacteria and insects. It adds a beautiful natural loos all while making sure it is safe. I'm currently using hickory so it provides an appealing smell when I open the terrarium as well.

[@elenafranco204]

Thoughts on the Exo Terra sand mat? I’m starting to build my first leopard gecko terrarium and I have researched ALOT but I’m still stuck on what substrate would be the best because each one has its pros and cons

[@oliviagrace2080]

Don’t recommend sand mats. It’s messy and can cause impaction

[@elenafranco204]

What would be the best in your opinion? I’m open to everyone’s thoughts and opinions

[@leopardgeckotalk]

I've heard mixed things about them - some say they have a weird smell at first, that calcium gets over them and bits come loose on them, and others say they're great. :/

[@elenafranco204]

I’ll probably start my channel when I get my baby Leo so I can keep y’all updated 😊

[@megancovington3531]

I am currently using a tile and a bit of paper towel but will soon be upgrading tanks to use tile and eco earth. I honestly LOVE my tile and am not a fan of paper towels for a few different reasons but it still works. Love these videos so much!

[@nightinggale6470]

Eco earth is dusty and unnatural. The best options are reptisoil, Scott’s organic top soil, or a soil/playsand mix.

[@megancovington3531]

@@nightinggale6470 thanks for the info I am looking into reptisoil right now. Have you used it with a gecko you have? If so will Leo’s burry and dig in it?

[@nightinggale6470]

@@megancovington3531 I’ve been using it for several months with my leo with great success (I also know a lot of other people who use it with positive results). And yep, a lot of geckos will dig in it

[@megancovington3531]

@@nightinggale6470 awesome thanks so much

[@f18e59]

I got a reptile carpet setup but Its so annoying to clean! I'm going to change to Eco Earth when my Leo is a bit older. (There only 4 months old)

[@foggy9609]

MatthewNinja yea same, especially when my Leopard gecko steps in the calcium and gets it on the carpet🙄

[@leopardgeckotalk]

ah cool, yeah it does seem like it's a bit of a pain to clean lol

[@emoXjessiX2030]

I clean my geckos carpet in the afternoon and he stays in his tube then I wash and dry it in like 10 minutes.

[@marjoriehart2232]

I had paper towel and eco-carpet before getting my bioactive setups. Paper towel was a pain and often tore, one of my Leos caught his teeth in the carpet, and you couldn’t leave extra crickets in the tanks because they had nowhere to hide away from the geckos. The bioactive is easy to maintain and I can leave a few crickets in the tank; they’re very happy to climb around or hide until the geckos eat them. The geckos have lots of places to dig and rub, so shedding is a breeze. I just mist the plants and moist hide each day and spot clean as needed. They look great, too!

[@rebeccaluis1223]

Another new thing to take note of for me lol

[@rovena996]

My geckos have a combo of all of these. I've recently switched from carpet to paper towel. I personally get around replacing the paper towels all the time by creating a small, sort of "litter box" in the corner they poop in with eco earth. It also acts as a dig pit. They seem to really like it. I like using real hides when I can and since I have ABISMAL luck with plants, I use fake plants. Some real rocks or tile for nail filling. Eventually I'd love a natural setup but as long as they're happy that's all that matters to me.

[@ebba4280]

I live in Sweden and our choice of substrate is very limited, all the stores I’ve seen sell different kinds of sand and wood chips, which are both bad substrates for geckos. I would like to use paper towels but my mum disagrees thinking the gecko should have a naturalistic substrate and my gecko is kind of a digger so I’m not sure he would enjoy it. My mum wants to use wood chips and I have informed her of the dangers of using it but she talked to a pet shop employee who convinced her that geckos enjoyed wood chips. I told her we could use eco Earth since it’s quite natural but she’s not convinced. I have looked online for eco earth but no company sells eco earth in Sweden and the shipping would be quite expensive if I bought it from another country. Please help me on what substrate could be suitable for our dilemma

[@leopardgeckotalk]

I know some places that sell bio active soils use organic top soil as there base (I think, you may have to double check), but that could be something to use, just make sure it does not contain any fertilisers/ chemicals. Serpa Design of TheBioDude on here may have videos on making soils safe for reptiles :)

[@thomasnorge224]

miss reaney I live in Norway and I have same problem, but the store I buy from finally got better. But You could try eBay?

[@farriermaiden3781]

I have a baby leopard gecko that I bought a few days ago. I think it’s about a week or two old. Right now I have him in a 20 gallon with paper towel, all three hides, water bowl and calcium bowl. The paper towel is great because it completely eradicates impaction danger and I can clearly see where the baby is pooping. I can also find him easier! There’s a few large decor pieces, like logs and plants that give him more hiding spaces, so the paper towel helps me be able to spot him under it all when I need to take him out so I can clean or just to check up on him. I’d love to give him a bio active enclosure one day but I’m a new gecko owner (I’ve had other critters in the past tho), I’ve never done bioactive before, and he’s still so little, I’d be worried about impaction or overwhelming him. So until he’s bigger (maybe a year or so) I’ll be researching bioactive to plan ahead as much as possible. My only concern is that a bioactive tank would make the humidity too high. I live in south Texas, only an hour or so from the coast, and it’s humid here! The hygrometer reads between 40 to 60 percent most of the time. Anyway that’s my experience so far. I hope I’m doing everting right for my new little family member!

[@nightinggale6470]

Impaction is caused by improper husbandry, not loose substrate. As long as his husbandry is correct (proper temps/heating, etc.) he’ll be able to pass it no problem. Paper towel is good for quarantine for the first six weeks, but after that, he can go on loose. Digging enrichment is beneficial. Is your hygrometer digital or analog? Also, I recommend upgrading to 40 gallons when he’s older.

[@farriermaiden3781]

@@nightinggale6470 hygrometer is not digital. I’ve considered getting a digital one. I’m not sure this one is super accurate. It also has a thermometer on it and tells me the cold side temp is at 80 degrees (F). I bought a temp gun the other day and have been checking the temps. Hot side ranges from low 90s to upper 80s during the day w cold side being low 80s to upper 70s. At night warm side is usually around 85 and cold side is between 75 and 65! I worry that’s a little cold but he sleeps on the warm side anyway and really only goes to the cold side for water occasionally. I can tell he’s been there because sometimes the water is spilled lol. Any suggestion for a more reliable hygrometer?

[@nightinggale6470]

@@farriermaiden3781 any digital one will be good. You can get one with a probe or without one. Online or from a pet store. They don’t have to be branded for reptiles.

[@farriermaiden3781]

@@nightinggale6470 thanks!

[@livd9578]

Aye notification gang

[@leopardgeckotalk]

yasss :)

[@DrakeNguyen4]

I used forest floor bedding for my leopard gecko, and I am shocked how fast the humidity spiked up over night!! I am now using paper towels for my little dinosaur.

[@nightinggale6470]

I recommend switching to a soil mix, digging enrichment is very beneficial for them!

[@awesomemg6100]

I am hopefully getting a leopard gecko and I’m 11 wish me luck

[@foggy9609]

awesome MG good luck I have a leopard gecko and I use carpet

[@bashirakincaid]

I am 11 and have 5 geckos lol. I hope u get one!! There really pretty creatures

[@TheRedKingsArt__]

Awesome good luck I got a bearded dragon.

[@leopardgeckotalk]

good luck :) I got my first when I was 13 :)

[@awesomemg6100]

strange_eggo 11 what lighting do you use because that’s the last thing I need to figure out before I get one

[@cooljzw_2695]

I’m getting a Leopard gecko in January I went to my first ReptileExpo a few weeks ago I’m super excited!

[@d.e.lightful5526]

I used to use reptile carpet but it was consistently nasty and as you said, my gecko’s nails kept catching it and teeth when eating off it. I use paper towels now, and it’s nice because I can take out the one sheet he poops on and the calcium doesn’t show up as much. I have a wooden half-circle hide under my lamp, but the others are plastic. I would like to one day have the space and everything to set up a more natural tank. I’ve always been interested in seeing my geck dig ;)

[@leopardgeckotalk]

Ah cool :)

[@jcferrero09]

I've had my gecko since 2021 and I have been using paper towel since. And I'm planning to change the substrate to something more naturalistic since lets be honest, using paper towel doesnt look that good. So i just wanna say this video has been helpful !!! Thanksss !!!

[@jinenjuce]

4:05 "ONWARD, MY STEED! WE RIDE INTO BATTLE!"

[@sleepyjay12]

this video is so well done!! 👏💕 also @7:50 blaze lol

[@nia2076]

This was a great video Love your chanel by the way xoxo

[@leopardgeckotalk]

Thank you :D

[@darrencrosbie-rowlands2167]

Great video, im looking at getting my first gecko and this had been really informative 👍

[@x.jeanna]

I have my Rambo on reptile carpet right now and she was on paper towels for a while when she got pinworms. I'm switching to slate tiles soon because I know the carpet probably didn't help the pinworm situation. loose substrates always make me super nervous because I fear impaction. she does have a hide with eco earth that she digs in and it also doubles as her humid hide.

[@leopardgeckotalk]

Ah well that's good, I think the slate tiles will be cool :)

[@sophia3454w]

Your videos are always soooo helpful!! Thanks so much!!

[@leopardgeckotalk]

aw thank you :D

[@reaganjones2617]

I’ve literally watched so many reptile videos that I’m getting ads for dubia roaches😂

[@reptilekeller]

I use paper towel because it is easy to clean. I have 7 leopard geckos so the less time cleaning the better. All the tanks have rocks and leaf litter over the paper. They also all have a moist hide with different substrates in them. A Facebook group I am part of will not let people promote or post photos of leopard geckos on lose substrate.

[@leopardgeckotalk]

ah cool, interesting setup :) yeah i've heard some leo fb groups hate me because my geckos are on loose substrate, but they have to understand that leos are exposed to loose substrate in the wild lol, the bio active substrates like earthmix arid and probably some of the safest :)

[@ashleyalt4525]

I enjoy your channel very much:) Good content, easily understood, love how you show animals so much :)

[@kristinmuse7791]

i am going to adopt a gecko soon! i am so exited thanks for all your help

[@LikoSavage]

If I get one in the future i will use papper towel but also put some dirt in its hide when he oe in it and probably put some in the corner

[@nightinggale6470]

Please don’t use paper towel as a permanent substrate, it’s unnatural and not enriching at all. Full loose substrate or half loose half tile is best.

[@LikoSavage]

@@nightinggale6470 Of course not im just gonna try it out for at least 1 week or so then switch to dirt

[@katynosework]

I use nontreated cabinet liner, based on a recommendation of Jessica's Animal Friends. But since you mentioned plastic emissions, VOCs, I am skeptical and need to do more research.

[@leopardgeckotalk]

Ah fair enough - it's not self adhesive is it?

[@katynosework]

@@leopardgeckotalk no, it's the kind you just lie down. no glue. I haven't researched its actual components yet. Probably because I luv you and Jessica and very much respect your advice.

[@fionashepley478]

@@katynosework That's fine to use. Although I'd switch to one of the substrates I mentioned in my other reply. Other good solids you can use for half of or the whole substrate are textured tile or paper towel.

[@katynosework]

@@fionashepley478 I would really like to use a more natural and interesting substrate. She will be tested for protozoan parasites on Monday. If she gets the clear, I can modify her whole 40 GL tank. But I have stay prepared to disinfect or keep providing a sterile. environment.

[@katynosework]

Is there a video about humid hides and where to put them? I recently added a humid hide of sorts, it looks like a ceramic tissue box that has been set on its side. She loves it so much she hasn't left it since she found it two days ago. I stuck a thermometer in it to make sure she was neither too hot or too cold. It reads the same temp as her dry/hot hide.

[@fionashepley478]

Your humid hide is fine where it is.

[@heylinmurillo8885]

I have a naturalistic set up and it has worked really well for me the eco-earth I use is it the expandable and it has lasted for two years and I still have one brick and a half left so I really like the idea of a naturalistic set up love your videos bye❤️😃

[@fionashepley478]

Eco earth can be dusty and cause joint problems. I recommend reptisoil or organic top soil

[@chrisd195]

picked up a juvenile leopard gecko, named it Jude (because now hey jude is going to be stuck in your head). I use a reptile carpet, with two hides, and a food and water dish. Like you said in the video, the carpet does stain, but it does come out easily with a wet cloth, so I would say that is also a positive to it. The only major downside that I have with the tank, and I don't think this is because of the carpet and more so air flow in the room, is that any humidity I have in the tank comes and goes a lot especially with lights on.

[@fionashepley478]

Reptile carpet catches their teeth and claws and harbours bacteria no matter how much you clean it. Paper towel, non-adhesive shelf liner, or textured tile are all good solids. It’s best to offer digging enrichment with reptisoil, organic top soil, or a bioactive substrate. You could do full loose, half and half, or full solid with a dig box. I’d also have at least three hides: warm, cool, and humid.

[@Ashleyselsewhere]

I have personally used reptile carpet, eco earth, and shelf liner. I used reptile carpet when I initially got my gecko. I absolutely hated it. I washed the carpets weekly but regardless of how well I washed them an odor always lingered. Supplement powders also got everywhere after feedings and made the enclosure look messy until washings. I gave eco earth a whirl after doing research. I wanted to form my own opinion about it. Cleaning was definitely easier and less maintenance than the carpet. The cons I had about it were my gecko didn’t seem quite so happy with the loose substrate and I noticed an appetite decrease. Feeder insects would also occasionally get loose from feeding tongs and burrow. Overall I became worried about the health/happiness of my gecko and switched very soon. That brought me to shelf liner. I have been using it for about a month or so now and it’s definitely been my favorite. It’s so easy to wipe clean, my geckos appetite seems to have gone back up, and he also seems much happier. Throughout the cage I scattered leaf litter, he has natural rock and wood pieces to climb on and explore, so he still has plenty of texture enrichment!

[@andersonday634]

I have made a naturalistic enclosure using excavator clay for caves, eco earth in some places for him to dig (and I could plant stuff in it for fresher air), and some rocks and wood. I also made a clay background with ledges and different textures for him to be able to climb. Is this a good setup?

[@nightinggale6470]

It’s good apart from the eco earth. Eco earth tends to be dusty and hard on their joints, and doesn’t support plants. I recommend replacing it with reptisoil, organic top soil (without fertilizer or perlite, Scott’s is a good brand), or a bioactive mix.

[@shmack72]

We use leolife for digging areas (she prefers to have her toilet on a loose substrate) with a large slate area in the main part of the cage. I have a mixture of resin hides, plastic tub for a humid hide, slate "shelves" for high points, and wooden ladder/bridge. I also have the aquarium hide you used to have in one of your enclosures but I can see why you removed it- it's very large and my gecko isn't the biggest fan of it! When I swap to DHP (soon!) I will be removing a lot of the artificial things and going more naturalistic.

[@leopardgeckotalk]

ah nice, definitely a lot of variety in there :) Diego still has his aquarium hide, the kind of rock/ledge one :)

[@shmack72]

@@leopardgeckotalk It's a bigger hide, sortof pointy with little green fake plastic plants in it, and multiple 'doorways'. I wanna say you had it in Ziggy's enclosure at one point but I'm not sure!

[@bradleykight2936]

This has helped me so much!!!

[@AzureArrow56]

I’m somewhere in between I think? I have tile for my floor and all my hides are fake, but I have some real rocks and branches because my girl LOVES to climb. I also have a real quartz crystal that she loves to sit on. I have been thinking of getting her a little dirt box of sorts for digging, but I’m not sure how much of a mess that would make.

[@nightinggale6470]

Definitely offer digging enrichment. I recommend using reptisoil, organic top soil, or a bioactive mix for half of the substrate

[@akumahearts8299]

Iam soo exited i going to get a leapord gecko and thanks to your help now i know how to take care of one

[@yivviepants]

This was so helpful, thank you!

[@callmeclove]

i have one of my leopard geckos with paper towel substrate, because she kept getting the eco earth in her eye. the other gecko has been eco earth since i got him and never ever had a problem with getting it in his eye, it was always just the other gecko.

[@evehughes7344]

I started with a bioactive setup, but if my Leo didn’t catch her bugs they had so many hiding places so I couldn’t get them out- I didn’t mind so much with mealworms and a couple of Dubai’s but the crickets kept chirping and they ended up breeding which wasn’t ideal as I think the pinhead crickets did bite her. I’ve recently changed to a more simple set up with vinyl flooring as it’s so easy to Clean and no pesky 🦗

[@leopardgeckotalk]

Ah that's a good point. Some of the crickets found a small gap in a rock hide, and they get in there, so I have to lift the rock every time to make sure I get any loose ones out lol

[@6strings735]

I hear you regarding the crickets, they are troublesome. What I have done is to only put about 4 crickets in, remove the cork bark and only leave the main hide, and the geckos get them all. Also, I now use plastic tubs exclusively because they are easier to dump substrate when necessary, round corners are nice. The other nice thing about tubs is that they come in sizes to accommodate an adult gecko perfectly but not weigh much. I was using some tubs with lids on wire racks, which is fantastic, along with a few glass tanks. Now I use a lidless rack system (Vivarium Products) for all, which makes things even easier to service. Leopard geckos do extremely well in tubs and glass tanks, but tubs are easier for me to maintain a perfect humidity yet keep the substrate mostly dry.

[@jaidendrew8906]

I use a brand called moss mat? I bought my gecko at LLLReptiles and that’s what they recommended to me. It has been working well for Phoenix and she seems to like the soft grass. This video was definitely helpful. I really hated when my teacher in fourth grade thought that it was okay to use sand (calcisand im pretty sure) and house two male geckos in a barely 10 gallon tank. It was horrendous 😬😳

[@leopardgeckotalk]

Ah interesting - does the gecko ever accidentally bite it/eat it? Omg haha glad you didn't listen to your teacher.

[@fionashepley478]

For future reference LLL is a mill and not a good place to get reptiles. I'd change the substrate. Good solids include textured tile, paper towel, or non-adhesive shelf liner. it's best to offer digging enrichment with reptisoil, organic top soil, or a bioactive substrate. You can do full loose, half and half, or full solid with a dig box.

[@abalt3019]

I use paper towel because it is just easier to clean up than reptile carpet and seems to be safe. Next tank will be naturalistic or bioactive and will be at least 40 gal. Right now a 20 gal seems too cramped for my leo.

[@scarkett1641]

This video is very helpful! I want to change my gecko’s tank to a much more natural look :) I have started with getting eco earth instead of paper towel, pretty sure I already said that...

[@leopardgeckotalk]

ah nice :)

[@laurengrace3455]

Thankyou I was about to get one with reptile carpet glad I didn’t

[@basicbaroque]

Have you tried tile? The breeder I was thinking of getting a gecko from suggested natural tile. It conducts heat well and makes a better gradient (supposedly). I haven't kept a gecko yet, so I am not knowledgeable on the subject. But you can make ledges and hides out of tile. I'm not sure how it is with cleaning, but she said you can use a paper towel in the area where the gecko goes to the bathroom. Sounded nice.

[@fionashepley478]

Tile is a good solid option but doesn’t offer any digging enrichment. Best to do half textured tile half soil (reptisoil, organic top soil, or a bioactive substrate). Quarantine on paper towel for the first six weeks.

[@sherfinley8855]

Great information. Thanks 😊 🦎

[@cooperlang4349]

What are the best bio active substrate? And what is the “clean up crew?

[@nightinggale6470]

A mix that’s 60% manure-free potting soil and 40% playsand works well. Or a soil/sand/clay mix. Terra Sahara from the bio dude and Arcadia earth mix arid are good premade substrates. Add leaf litter on top. The cleanup crew are tiny invertebrates that clean the tank for you. Often isopods and springtails. Darkling beetles can also be used.

[@laurellindstrom6281]

I use peat moss and my geckos seem to enjoy it. I do not have access to the bioactive bugs that you mention but my geckos like to release some mealworms, superworms and let some crickets live which have bred in the tanks. I tried the live plants in my tank but my geckos have crushed them so I need to find something tougher than what I was using that does not get to huge. I like to change up my tanks and the geckos get quite excited to explore when I do this.

[@LinkBeats15]

can you mix in charcoal dust in with echo earth & oraganic soil mix to add to texture ??

[@anaoaaugehauq5093]

Yay you posted! About to watch this with my Leo😁

[@leopardgeckotalk]

haha awesome, thanks :)

[@audriebowden7102]

I currently have my gecko on reptile carpet but I'm switching him to a full bioactive setup as soon as possible. I hate reptile carpet for the reasons said in the video and that mealworms like to tuck themselves in between the side of the tank and the carpet and i end up finding them later. The reptile carpet was not my choice, my mom got my gecko as a christmas present and only listened to the person at the pet store for advice. I had to educate myself on his care and have made many improvements since. But I'm very ready to get him into a spacious bioactive setup. (He's a juvenile in a ten gallon so i'm getting him out as soon as i can)

[@leopardgeckotalk]

ah yeah i didn't think about the feeder insects getting under the carpet, i bet thats a pain. Only good thing is, your mum didn't end up with calci sand 🙈🙏🏻😅

[@audriebowden7102]

@@leopardgeckotalk Yeah thank god that didn't happen but I'd have switched that out real quick lol. Actually as soon as I got my gecko I watched a lot of your videos since I was skeptical of what my mom told me.

[@fuzzymelon1261]

cotton weave (like old pillowcases and sheets) is a safer alternative to carpet. the way the fabric is constructed means that their claws won't get ripped off (or its at least highly unlikely bc there is not much to get caught on). still has the bacteria problem. and bro, I cant do bioactive bc of the live plants.

[@nightinggale6470]

A suitable loose substrate such as a soil/sand or soil/sand/clay mix is best, digging enrichment is very beneficial for leopard geckos.

[@hermitshoundsandhorses9971]

This video was super helpful! I just recently made a leopard gecko bookshelf and am planning on getting two more geckos. I have been going back and forth for weeks about how natural the terrariums should be and this video really helped. Also, where do you find your natural rocks that you use as hides?

[@fionashepley478]

Just wondering. will the geckos be housed together?

[@hermitshoundsandhorses9971]

@@fionashepley478 Nope, it is three separate shelves.

[@clutchcargo666]

I use excavator clay. Nothing soaks into it, cleanup involves a small vacuum. It looks great, no impaction risk. I do have a low area I provide eco-earth so he can dig and I can moisten it when humidity is needed (I live in Las Vegas). I also have various textured hides he can climb on for enrichment. He must be happy, he is always grinning ear to ear!

[@leopardgeckotalk]

Ah nice! I've seen some cool setups from excavator clay, but I could use it properly myself 🙈

[@altr3777]

I got my gecko July 12 and he was in shed the day I got him and he shed a week and a half after that. I dont know how old he is but he looked a bit thin so got a kitchen scale to keep track of his weight. Is he shedding so quickly because he was under weight when I got him? I've just never kept geckos before. He already looks so much better than when I got him. Sort of a rescue he was a bit neglected because his previous owner was a little kid. Last I checked he's at 56g

[@mandadotnet]

Just got my little guy and he came with carpet and a heat lamp. i was instructed go upgrade him to a no adhesive shelf liner for easy clean up and to protect his teeth and nails. I will be laying paper towel down underneath just in case of anything. I'm not a fan of the carpet as I don't want to harbor bacteria for my guy. Adding in more hides and vines soon as well as a heat mat and a thermostat.

[@nightinggale6470]

Make sure you’ve got a digital thermometer as well. Once he’s been quarantined for six weeks and once he’s at least six months old I recommend switching to reptisoil, organic top soil, or a bioactive mix for digging enrichment. For heat, a deep heat projector is worth looking into