![]() You can put the moss directly into your leopard gecko’s tank, and should also put it into at least one cave to create a humid hide. When shopping for substrates for hides, make sure to choose sphagnum, which is harvested fresh and is better for the planet. Moss is an important part of a leopard gecko’s habitat – it helps keep the lizard healthy and can provide a hiding spot for the gecko. That’s why it’s better to put the feeder insects on a feeding dish, or another non-loose substrate like mats or tiles. While eating them, pieces of the plant can get ingested. Moss in the feeding areaĪccidental ingestion can also happen when your gecko is feeding on worms or other insects that are sitting on top of the substrate. Because of their natural habitat, your reptile should get most of their water from food and air, rather than drinking it. Make sure to provide fresh, clean water in a dish, and provide fresh, live feeder insects, which actually provide a lot of fluids as well. However, if your pet is eating moss, it can be a sign of other issues, too: DrynessĪ lack of water/moisture might also cause your gecko to eat the moss – for its moisture content. This can be determined with a fecal test at the vet. One reason for moss ingestion is an intestinal parasite infection. If you notice that your pet is eating a lot of it, try removing some from its habitat and see if that helps. This is why it’s important to only give your pet moss that has been properly rinsed and soaked. Moss can cause impaction in leopard geckos if it is ingested in large quantities. Here’s a good choice for a pre-made humid hide (you only need to add the moss):Ĭan moss cause impaction in Leopard Geckos? Both heat and lighting also play an important part in your pet’s health. The high temperature not only helps with the humidity in the hide but is also important for digestion. One important note: the humid hide should be on the warm side of the tank, usually above an under-tank heater. ![]() Paper towels are a safer, simple option, but need to be replaced frequently. Also, sand should never be used, as it has a high risk of causing impaction. ![]() Some sites may suggest substrates like coconut coir, coconut fiber, or reptile carpet for hides, but for managing the humidity level, these are not great choices. For a humid hide to work, it needs to be big enough, but with a small entrance to capture and retain moisture properly. Unless you’re very crafty, it’s best to buy a pre-made cave or hide for your pet. The best way to create a humid hide for your leopard gecko is by using a small plastic container. This is a small cave-like hideout that you can fill with moist moss to help your Leo with shedding, which requires high humidity (around 80%). When you’re adding moss to your leopard gecko’s habitat, you may also want to create a humid hide for them. Once it has been soaked, you can either place a thin layer of it directly into your Leo tank or you can put it into a hide – small caves for your Leopard Gecko to hide in. This will help rehydrate the moss and make it easier for your reptile to burrow into it. The first step is to rinse it in clean water to remove any dust or dirt that may be clinging to it.Īfter it has been rinsed, you’ll need to soak it in a bowl of water for at least 30 minutes. Once you’ve selected the type of moss you want to use, it’s time to prepare it for your leopard gecko’s tank. This can also come pre-formed as balls or small mats – just make sure you’re buying real moss (not fake/textile variants), and only products that are specifically meant for reptiles. When buying from reputable brands, Terrarium Moss is another simple option. It’s essentially the same but better for your reptile AND better for the planet. Additionally, some organizations claim that the mining of peat makes the swamps it’s mined from release tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.īecause of this, we recommend going for sphagnum moss as substrate, not peat. That’s why peat moss is not considered a renewable resource. Peat, on the other side, is decomposed sphagnum moss, which takes hundreds to thousands of years. The difference is that Sphagnum is harvested as fresh, live plants. Peat Moss, often labeled Peat Sphagnum Moss, is very different, even though it seems similar.
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