Eco earth is one of the most popular substrate products in the world and with leopard geckos being such a popular reptile to keep, we often see people asking if they are able to use eco earth with their leopard gecko.
Now, using eco earth with leopard geckos is controversial and although there are a large number of people who do really like using eco earth, there are a large number of people who don’t like the substrate.
All in all, we would guess that there are more people who use eco earth as a substrate for their pet leopard gecko than those who don’t and eco earth just keeps getting more popular.
Due to this, we wanted to publish this article about using eco earth for a leopard gecko to try and help as many of our readers make their own minds up as possible.
What Is Eco Earth?
Eco earth is a brand of compressed coco fiber that is used as a substrate in reptile and amphibian tanks.
It’s made from the husks of coconuts and it’s becoming an increasingly popular substrate because it looks great, it holds moisture well and it’s also biodegradable.
There are two types of eco earth available; the original which is a dark brown color and the new eco earth exotic which is a bright green color.
The benefits of using eco earth are that it has a very fair price tag relative to performance, it holds moisture really well, it is easy to use, it looks great, it offers great performance, and it’s also biodegradable.
It’s also very easy to find in pet stores and online.
Can Eco Earth Cause Impaction In Leopard Geckos?
There are two types of impaction that can occur in leopard geckos; gastrointestinal impaction and respiratory impaction.
Gastrointestinal impaction is when a leopard gecko eats something that they shouldn’t have and it gets stuck in their digestive system.
This type of impaction is fairly common in reptiles and amphibians and it can be caused by a number of different things.
The most common cause of gastrointestinal impaction in leopard geckos is from eating substrate.
This is because leopard geckos will often eat substrate when they are looking for food and if the substrate is too big, it can get stuck in their digestive system and cause an impaction.
Eco earth is a substrate that is made from coco fiber and the fibers are quite long.
This means that there is a moderate risk of gastrointestinal impaction occurring if a leopard gecko eats eco earth but this is a similar level of risk to other popular substrates for leopard geckos too.
However, this doesn’t mean that it will definitely happen and there are a number of things that you can do to reduce the risk.
How Can I Avoid Eco Earth Causing Impaction In My Leopard Gecko?
The first thing that you can do is to make sure that your leopard gecko’s enclosure is clean and that there is no food debris on the substrate.
If there is food debris on the substrate, your leopard gecko may be more likely to eat it and this could lead to an impaction.
The second thing that you can do is to choose a smaller particle size for your eco earth.
The smaller the particle size, the less likely it is that your leopard gecko will be able to eat it and this will reduce the risk of impaction.
The third thing that you can do is to feed your leopard gecko outside of their enclosure.
This means that they won’t be looking for food in their enclosure and they will be less likely to eat the substrate.
The fourth thing that you can do is to choose a different substrate.
There are a number of different substrates available for leopard geckos and if you are worried about eco earth causing impaction, you could choose a different substrate such as paper towel or reptile carpet.
Should I Be Worried About Eco Earth Causing Respiratory Impaction In My Leopard Gecko?
The second type of impaction that can occur in leopard geckos is respiratory impaction.
This is when something gets stuck in the leopard gecko’s respiratory system and it can be caused by a number of different things.
The most common cause of respiratory impaction in leopard geckos is from dust.
Dust can get into the leopard gecko’s respiratory system and if it’s inhaled, it can cause an impaction.
Eco earth is a substrate that is made from coco fiber and the fibers are quite long.
This means that there is a low to moderate risk of respiratory impaction occurring if a leopard gecko inhales eco earth.
Is Eco Earth Coconut Fiber Safe For Leopard Geckos?
Although eco earth does have some moderate level risks when used for leopard geckos, there are a number of different things that you are able to do to help reduce the chances of this problems taking hold of your leopard gecko.
In addition to that, many of the risks that we have seen people worry about when using eco earth are just as common in many of the other leading substrates on the market.
It is surprisingly common for someone on social media to make a post against using eco earth for a leopard gecko only to then recommend another substrate that has the exact same risk levels for the exact same problems.
There are also a large number of leopard gecko keepers out there who keep eco earth in their leopard geckos vivarium without issue.
Due to this, we feel confident in saying that you can use eco earth for leopard geckos provided that you keep the risks in mind and take steps to counter them such as the various steps we covered earlier in the article.
How Should You Use Eco Earth For Leopard Geckos?
Now that we have covered the risks and how to avoid them, let’s take a look at how you should be using eco earth for leopard geckos.
The first thing that you need to do is to make sure that you choose the correct particle size for your leopard gecko.
The smaller the particle size, the less likely it is that your leopard gecko will be able to eat it and this will reduce the risk of impaction.
The second thing that you need to do is to make sure that you moisten the eco earth before you add it to the vivarium.
This will help to reduce the dust levels and it will also make it less likely for your leopard gecko to eat the substrate.
The third thing that you need to do is to make sure that you don’t add too much eco earth to the vivarium.
You should only add a layer that is around 2-3 inches deep.
Any deeper than this and it will be more difficult for your leopard gecko to burrow and it will also increase the risk of impaction.
The fourth thing that you need to do is to make sure that you provide enough hiding places for your leopard gecko.
Leopard geckos like to feel secure and if they don’t have enough hiding places, they may be more likely to eat the substrate.
The fifth and final thing that you need to do is to make sure that you monitor your leopard gecko for any signs of impaction.
This includes loss of appetite, lethargy, weight loss, and diarrhea.
If you notice any of these signs, you should take your leopard gecko to the vet as soon as possible.
Does Eco Earth Cause Irritation In Leopard Geckos?
Another common concern that people have when using eco earth for leopard geckos is that it may cause irritation.
This is because eco earth is made from coco fiber and the fibers can be quite sharp.
However, we have not seen many reports of eco earth causing irritation in leopard geckos.
In fact, many leopard gecko keepers report that their leopard geckos seem to prefer eco earth over other substrates.
If you are concerned about irritation, you can always choose to use a smaller particle size or you can moisten the eco earth before adding it to the vivarium.
Is Eco Earth Similar To The Natural Environment Of A Leopard Gecko?
Eco earth is often marketed as being similar to the natural environment of a leopard gecko.
However, this is not entirely accurate.
The natural habitat of a leopard gecko is dry and arid with very little vegetation.
Eco earth is much more moist and it also has a lot more plant matter in it.
How Often Should You Change Eco Earth For Your Leopard Gecko?
Eco earth should be changed on a regular basis like any other substrate.
How often you need to change it will depend on a number of factors such as the size of the vivarium, the number of leopard geckos, and how often you clean the vivarium.
As a general rule of thumb, we recommend changing eco earth every 2-3 months.
Advantages of Eco Earth For Your Leopard Gecko!
Here are some of the key advantages of using eco earth with your pet leopard gecko:-
- Eco earth is made from a natural material
- Eco earth is safe to use
- Eco earth is affordable
- Eco earth is available in a variety of sizes
- Eco earth is easy to clean
Disadvantages Eco Earth For Your Leopard Gecko!
Here are some of the key disadvantages of using eco earth for your pet leopard gecko:-
- The fibers can be quite sharp
- It may cause irritation
- It is not as dry as the natural habitat of a leopard gecko
- You need to change it on a regular basis
- There are moderare risks of impaction
Can You Use Eco Earth For Leopard Gecko Eggs?
Yes, you can use eco earth for leopard gecko eggs.
In fact, many breeders choose to use eco earth because it is easy to work with and it holds moisture well.
If you are going to use eco earth for leopard gecko eggs, we recommend that you use a small particle size and that you moisten the eco earth before adding it to the incubator.
You should also make sure that you provide enough ventilation so that the eggs don’t get too humid.
Can You Use Eco Earth For Leopard Gecko Hatchlings?
Yes, you can use eco earth for leopard gecko hatchlings.
However, we recommend that you use a small particle size and that you moisten the eco earth before adding it to the vivarium.
You should also make sure that you provide enough hiding places for your leopard gecko hatchlings.
