Small reptiles are becoming more and more popular and are preferred by many to be pets. Not to mention crested gecko, geckos are small in size and extremely easy to breed. It is now the favorite pet by beginners all over the world.
However, they are also vulnerable species if not properly cared for. So before deciding to breed crested gecko, you should learn and understand the techniques to take care of them in captivity.
In addition to factors such as light, food, and temperature, another factor that directly affects the health of the pet is crested gecko substrate. So we will give you the most useful information about substrate so you can take care of crested gecko in the best way.
Our Top Picks for Substrate for Crested Gecko 2021
Best overall: Galápagos Terrarium Sphagnum Moss
“Acting as a smooth bed, providing the most perfect moisture and the most beautiful appearance.”
Best Budget: ReptiChip Premium Coconut Reptile Substrate
“When submerged in water, it can expand up to 72 quarts to save you significant amounts of quality substrates.”
Best moisturizing: Zoo Med Eco Earth Loose Coconut Fiber Substrate
“Small coir fibers absorb water extremely well, maintaining perfect moisture.”
Best camouflage: Zoo Med Terrarium Moss
“Natural colors, feel like a real forest, stimulating the instinct of crested gecko.”
Best thermal retention: Zoo Med ReptiSand
“Not only does it disguise itself as a true desert, but it also retains heat for the environment.”
Best for performance: Fluker Labs Repta-Bark All Natural Bedding
“Keeping moisture well, decomposing droppings and facilitating the natural activity of pets.”
Best for health: Exo Terra Coco Husk Terrarium Substrate
“Made from coconut husk, which is completely natural, does not use any chemicals and is extremely safe for pet health.”
Best combination: Zoo Med Hydroballs
“Creating the best conditions to combine with any other substrate, improving the ideal habitat for pets.”
Best function: Exo Terra Plantation Soil
“Create an ideal environment for both crested geckos and plants to thrive.”
Top 9 Substrate for Crested Gecko 2021
#1 Galápagos Terrarium Sphagnum Moss
Crested gecko bedding is a job that requires you to understand the moisture that suits it, so you should choose substrates that retain moisture.
Moss is a very good hygroscopic material with superior water retention creating an environment suitable for reptiles and amphibians such as frogs. For an animal that needs a stable ambient humidity like a crested gecko, this is the right substrate.
Especially during the molting phase to develop, crested gecko always needs a moist and soft environment to avoid unwanted effects. If you provide a non-moisturizing substrate that will affect your pet\’s appearance like the skin is not smooth or there are still some flakes of old skin stuck on your pet.
Sphagnum Moss not only provides excellent moisture and water repellency, it also gives a natural green color even after packaging. Because it is carefully washed, you do not need to worry that the impurities in the moss will harm the crested gecko.
#2 Zoo Med Terrarium Moss
When it comes to pet products, it\’s impossible not to mention Zoo Med. Right! The company\’s products always give users a rich and satisfied experience.
Terrarium moss substrate of the company is also a product that many users choose with much appreciation. This product is extremely perfect in maintaining a good environment, helping to crested gecko from infectious diseases. In particular, this substrate product is completely natural, does not use any additives or chemicals in the process of processing and packaging. Therefore, this is a product that users appreciate because it does not affect the health of the pet.
However, compared to the above, Zoo Med\’s Terrarium moss has more debris and is not green. But it is also a good investment and one of the best substrate for crested gecko.
#3 Exo Terra Plantation Soil
Another soil substrate that also holds excellent moisture for a crested gecko environment is plantation soil. And one of the best plantation soil substrates today is Exo Terra.
This product of the company provides excellent moisture and natural because made from coconut husks and some other tropical plants should be very safe for pets. Besides this is also the ideal substrate for the growth of plants in crested gecko tanks. The product contains absolutely no chemicals or dyes so you can be assured of the health of your pet.
As a very natural and hygroscopic substrate, it can be more easily molded than other crested gecko substrate options. But ignore that problem, this is the product I recommend you to try.
#4 Zoo Med Hydroballs
If you want to create crested gecko substrate layers, then don\’t ignore Zoo Med\’s HydroBalls. As mentioned, Zoo Med products rarely disappoint you, and this is one of the company\’s most innovative and beloved products.
All you need to do is put HydroBalls underneath other substrates to breakout moisture. Not only does it provide a great moisture substrate, it also creates a novel landscape for crested gecko captivity. You only need to add a little water to the HydroBalls to create a water table below, which also creates great growth conditions for the growth of the roots.
Although providing different moisture, this is also a difficult substrate to clean. Every time you want to clean the crested gecko habitat, you have to clean up all the substrates on HydroBalls.
Reptichip Premium Coconut Substrate is a cost effective product and can provide a clean crested gecko habitat. These all-natural organic coconut shell pieces will give your pet a great substrate at a low cost.
With this organic coconut shell product, you just need to soak it with water for a while so that they absorb enough water and swell. Once enough water is absorbed, the blocks of the coconut shell will hold that amount of water to create an environment of suitable humidity. Besides, this product can also disintegrate waste naturally so it will maintain a clean living environment for crested gecko.
However, the product may cause damage to some skinned species if not soaked in water. So, make sure these coconut shells are expanded to about 72 quarts after being soaked to avoid damaging pets.
#6 Exo Terra Coco Husk Terrarium Substrate
Besides Zoo Med, Exo Terra is also a prestigious brand and is trusted by many people. The Coco Husk substrate from Exo Terra is also a quality product and has received much praise.
Products made from coconut husks in tropical areas are completely natural, do not use any toxic chemicals or dyes, so do not adversely affect pets. Like other substrates, this product also absorbs water well then slowly creates the ideal moisture for crested gecko.
With its texture, Coco Husk stimulates the digging of crested gecko to help the animal operate freely without injury. The product is suitable for all amphibians and reptiles because it creates a natural and safe substrate for their delicate skin. Suitable for all crested gecko substrate setup, from decoration to many plants to water decoration.
#7 Zoo Med ReptiSand
Desert sand substrate for reptile is lining made of specialized sand. Zoo Med ReptiSand is a product that provides stable crested gecko temperatures on low days.
This desert sand product is naturally colored, completely dye-free, so it does not affect even the smallest pet. The sand is smooth so it does not scratch the skin of the crested gecko, while stimulating its digging behavior. This is also a great substrate for crested gecko hides itself, arouse the inherent identity of this animal.
Besides, this substrate in addition to simulating desert environment and heat conductor, it also keeps the living environment of pets always clean. If the crested gecko\’s droppings are released into the sand, the sand will immediately curl it up and be buried deep thanks to the animal\’s movements.
Therefore, the task of cleaning up pet waste will become a lot easier. Your task now is too simple, can use chopsticks to pick up droppings or use shovels, a basket with small holes to remove sand.
#8 Fluker Labs Repta-Bark All Natural Bedding
Fluker Natural Bedding is made from bark and 100% natural so that it can retain high humidity for a long time, and does not affect pet health. Because it is made from natural bark, it is very environmentally friendly, absorbing waste naturally.
Crested gecko living in a natural environment like this would be difficult to catch the way infectious diseases caused by the unclean environment. The ability to absorb water quickly not only brings the perfect moisture for pets but also a good base for their activity.
However, this product is somewhat drier and dustier than some other substrates so you should regularly observe for timely intervention. However, it is more difficult to mold or rot than other substrates.
#9 Zoo Med Eco Earth Loose Coconut Fiber Substrate
Once again, Zoo Med does a very good job. This 100% natural coconut fiber substrate provides pets with a comfy bed at night and provides an ideal daytime operating environment.
Zoo Med\’s product is made from small coir fibers so it is very soft and can absorb water easily, thereby slowly humidifying the environment. It can also disintegrate livestock waste, so it helps maintain a clean, low-disease living environment.
However, because they are small coir fibers, it is quite dusty compared to other types of substrates. Although softer, they are also more prone to mold than bulk substrates.
What should be noted when choosing a substrate for crested gecko?
Crested gecko substrate depth:
Substrates help deodorize, keep warm and moisten the living environment of pets. However, how much do we need to use for a base layer at a time? This is a question that many cannot give themselves the correct answer.
An amount of about 2 -3 inches of substrate is sufficient to keep the moisture and temperature reasonable for the terrarium. Do not use too much substrate because the substrate quickly mold and rot, and above all it is unnecessary and expensive.
Substrate mix:
Crested gecko substrate mix is a way to increase the quality of the substrate, creating a better living environment for pets. This is also the method by which you can optimize the advantages of different types of substrates.
However, you should be careful not to combine substrates with the same texture, such as sand and coir. For example, you can use the HydroBalls we reviewed above along with coconut shell or moss. Combinations like this will make a significant difference to the animal\’s habitat.
Time to change substrate for reptiles:
The safest and most reasonable time to change substrate is about once a month, as this is when the animal is still comfortable. When excreted excreta will be surrounded by substrate so the stool will not stick to reptiles easily.
Any recommendation from the reptile doctor is that it is not allowed to change the substrate once more than 1 month, which will cause the animal to be ticked. Even the absence of substrate will lead to undesirable phenomena. Not only can ticks be more likely to get intestinal parasites.
DIY substrate available in nature
Besides substrates that can be easily purchased online, you can also make your own 100% natural substrate with the available materials.
The first ingredient is also the main ingredient, accounting for 70% of the material – sawdust. This is an ingredient that acts as an effective repellent moisturizer and deodorant for reptiles. Sawdust eliminates 98% of the animal\’s fecal odor so it plays a very important role.
The next ingredient is dried seaweed. Dried seaweed has a moisturizing effect that makes it easier for animals to shed than it is not to use.
The final material is pine bark. Pine bark not only has a decorative effect but also provides natural texture and pleasant scent for the substrate. These three ingredients, when mixed together, create an extremely natural vegetation for the terrarium.
Conclusion
Substrates are an important determinant of the health of crested gecko, so you should not be subjective when choosing substrates. Understanding the behavior of the crested gecko as well as understanding the appropriate characteristics of the substrate will help you get the best look.
Hopefully through this article we can help you choose the most suitable and ideal substrate for your own cresed gecko.
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