Everywhere I go, from pet stores to even the reptile wildlife rehabber who helped the Eastern Box Turtle I found, I see Leopard Geckos kept on sand of some kind. (The rehabber, a wonderful woman who's volunteering her time and money to care for turtles, didn't even know the sex of her adult Leopard Geckos, but had them separated because they fight -- I was able to tell her they are both males, and I only heard of Leopard Geckos a month ago! She had them on sand, and explained when I expressed concern that she used to work at a reptile-specialty pet store, where all the Leopard Geckos are kept on sand. "Oh," I sighed, trying not to be rude in her home after she shelled out -- pun intended -- her own money, as well as some of mine, to rehab the little turtle I brought her.)

I've tried twice to let people know that this is a risk to the Leopard Geckos' health, but the information is rejected. In both cases I was told, "Oh, maybe for juveniles sand is an impaction risk, but it's fine for adults." And at Petco, where I get my crickets, even the juvies are on sand. I'm not interested in getting into big arguments with people (I always have my kids in tow -- it's actually my 7-yo son who urges me to say something, because he's so worried about the poor Leopard Geckos), but I would like to figure out a way to explain the risks to people in a way that makes it clear that sand is a risk for juveniles *and* adults, and let people know safe alternative substrates. I'd also like to figure out a method that is most likely to get people to listen to and consider what I have to say -- and maybe even convince them to make a change.

Should I print out a caresheet and carry it in my purse? Or an article specifically dealing with the risks of sand? (Is there such an article someone could point me to?) I imagine the employees at Petco (or any other store) will just throw it out... Should I mail it with a letter to the store owner/manager? Maybe with a letter I can get my point across without confrontation or unpleasantness (because it will scare my kids and also make people unwilling to listen to what I have to say). I know I'm unlikely to change the world, but I'm a big believer in doing the best I can even in the face of unlikely odds -- and I'm trying to teach my kids how important that is. Because when you give up, nothing changes (except that you feel more powerless), but when you try to make a change, sometimes you succeed.

Any tips from people here on how you (or if you) discuss this topic with pet owners and pet store employees/managers would be greatly appreciated. My son wants me to buy all the "at-risk" Leopard Geckos in the world and bring 'em home to keep them safe, lol. Aside from budgetary concerns, I've explained to him that this would just give more money to the pet stores, which would then be used to buy more Leopard Geckos, who will again be kept on sand.

I'd really love to get the pet stores to change *their* caresheets, which they give to customers. They can make profit on repti-carpet or reptile tile just as well as they can on sand... Speaking of which, is there a product out there called "Rep-Tile" or something like that? Maybe that would be a good product to launch. Or a "special" (specially-labeled, lol) type of nonadhesive shelf liner material, especially for reptiles, made in designer colors and patterns? With pet stores, they need to be able to sell stuff, so giving them new stuff to sell might help...

--Amy

Try promoting alternatives ideas for acceptable substrates. I think sand is overused because of its simplicity for keeping an enclosure clean. The same problem arises with herpers keeping Uromastyx on sand. There really is no high short term risks other than impaction which isn't all that common. But sand in itself is not the end to creating an artificial environment which is beneficial to the reptile. Sand is first beneficial to the herper because of it's ease of use. I don't think it will be easy for inexperienced herpers to see why it's not great to use it. But that's just my opinion. Good luck with it.

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Mike
"Never worry about numbers. Help one person at a time, and always start with the person nearest you." - Mother Teresa

Try to find some good references that agree with your arguments. That will add some creditability to what you are telling them. Also if you can find some anecdotal evidence that may help also.

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Jan. 25, 1963 - Sept. 10, 2006 (R.I.P)

Hello,

I will normally cut people off that try to tell me anything about sand and I repeat this to them:

Granular substrates have been known to cause impactions in leopard geckos. There are two types of impaction that could occur. The first is called an Acute Impaction. An acute impaction is when the Leo swallows a large amount of substrate and it blocks the vital organs used to process food. (Stomach, intestinal tract, etc.) The results of this type of impaction will lead to lethargy, lack of appetite, lack of bowel movements, sand in the stool, etc.

The other type of impaction, and often the most deadly form, is the chronic impaction. A chronic impaction is the slow accumulation of sand that binds to the lining of the intestinal tract. Over time, and often years, it will create a blockage. This blockage will also have the same detrimental effects as an acute impaction. The biggest problem with this type of impaction is that when it is discovered, it is most often too late to cure.

To prevent the possibility of this happening to your leopard gecko, avoid all granular substrates. None of them are as digestible as they claim and each poses the CHANCE that your gecko could become a victim of an impaction.

Substrates that are safe would include unprinted newspaper, paper towels, and repti carpet with all the frayed edges melted, linoleum, cloth, etc.

If you actually care about your pets, explain to me now how you can continue to use these substrates knowing that each day that passes could be potentially killing your pet.

That little speech has shut down most people I have encountered. Of course you will need to be able to chat them up afterward. If you like, type yourself something up and get them to visit HC. I would be more than willing to chat them up about sand and the risks it poses.

If you want to spread around a caresheet, you can use this one: Leopard Gecko Caresheet Make sure you add a link to it that leads to HC. lol

__________________

I used to carry a picture of an iguana with thermal burns from a heatrock in my wallet..it usually helped to get my point across...I don't know how you feel about shocking people into listening to you but maybe you could find pictures of a necropsy where the death was caused by impaction.... I tend to just cut right to the chase...

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Those who say it can't be done should get out of the way of those who are doing it.

~*~Lacey~*~

My Photos

As far as the pet stores go, I would hate to say hopeless, but I can't imagine how to get profit-driven retailers to act in the best interest of animals. Pet stores make a lot of money selling calci-sand and such, and because housing leopard geckos on sand seems so 'natural', people eat it up the bull$*!~without a second thought.

As far as individuals are concerned, it is extremely difficult for people to admit to themselves that they have been improperly taking care of their animals. I think that most people, when hearing about the risks of impaction with sand, need time to digest all the info . I know, because a long time ago I was one of them.

I've learned that trying to push your point makes people more likely to reject what you are saying without even considering it. Here is my advice: Be informative, but don't get too emotional or pushy. People might think about and research your claims even if they initially shoot down your helpful advice. Inform, suggest, but don't push.

Here is a site with pics of a necropsy
*GRAPHIC PICS WITHIN LINK*

I show this to anyone who tries to talk me throught he "benefits" of a natural environment created with sand! Apart from the fact that Leopard Geckos and most other captive herps do not originate form areas that are loose sand, I think that it is unhygeinic because it retains moisture including urates which can cause all kinds of bacterial problems - that is only my opinion though and I am sure everyone has their own ideas of sand.

Here is the link for you though

http://homepage.mac.com/exoticdvm/re...oAlbum181.html

Thankyou for that link...it has alot of useful (albeit graphic) pictures on it!

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Those who say it can't be done should get out of the way of those who are doing it.

~*~Lacey~*~

My Photos

I already posted that link but nobody cares about Joeking