please help

[DarrenRoe]

hi all i got my exo terra terrarium extra large today planning on getting a leopard gecko i am wondering does the heat mat go inside or outide the terrarium and if it goes into the terrarium where do i put the wires ?
thanks,Darren

[CoogieBear]

IMO outside, heat penetrates glass very well hence why a green house works, what substrate you going for?

[DarrenRoe]

ok thanks not decided yet between repti bark or repti sand which would be better for a leo

[FionnanBurke]

Everybody's going to have different opinions on the pro's and con's of sand over wood chippings or bark. When the leo is an adult, I would use sand but thats me personally. However, a young leo would best be housed on something he couldn't eat. Newspaper or paper towels are the way to go! I know they don't look great but they are very safe.

[CoogieBear]

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/rhOpF2Qyuu0&amp;ap=%2526fmt%3D18&amp;rel=0" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/rhOpF2Qyuu0&amp;ap=%2526fmt%3D18&amp;rel=0</a>

Not as rare an occasion as many can tell you, personally i would go with paper towls, tiles are by far the best, so easy to keep clean and sterile

[DarrenRoe]

alrite thats great lads thanks alot thats a big help

[MarkJD]

Iv been keeping Leopard Geckos since i was 12 years old. Always on sand with no impaction or deaths related to sand intake. I monitor when he eats and yes sometimes he does get sand she he hunts.

Iv always been a believer in what works for people as aposed to people who say immediately yes or no to something without any experience. That is not to say that it couldnt happen. I am cautious with new lizards as i wouldnt be aware of their habbits or if they have ever been kept on sand.

Im toying around with the idea of using Bran, its very sand like and would be ok if digested in small amounts.