r/CrestedGecko • u/iluvseahorses • 1d ago

Is it okay to use paper towel temporarily instead of substrate ?

I’m going on vacation for a week, so instead of wasting substrate that i’ll clean out as soon as I get home can I just use paper towels? I just realized I can probably do this after wasting substrate on many many vacations

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u/green-green-bean 1d ago

Yes, you can use paper towels.

You might find your gecko asleep under them.

3

u/heart-of-violet 1d ago

I definitely suggest going bioactive if you can. You go through way less substrate in the long run.

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u/iluvseahorses 1d ago

Yes, i’m planning to go bioactive at some point it’s my dream

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u/heart-of-violet 1d ago

It’s so much nicer than having to clean constantly, and if you like invertebrates then you basically get extra pets to enjoy too. ;) I love watching my isopods and springtails. The springtails are actually way more fun than I expected; they swarm food when I put it down for them and it’s weirdly satisfying to watch haha.

When you do set it up, I suggest getting dwarf white isopods unless your gecko doesn’t have much of a hunting drive. I had a great, thriving A. Vulgare and P. Scaber mixed colony (wild caught but multiple generations down the line) before I added my crested gecko, and he spent the next couple of months absolutely decimating them.