I have a bag of vermiculite and I have read how it can contain asbestos. Now I'm not sure I want to use it anymore. Does the horticultural vermiculite contain asbestos?
Keep him on the calcium carbonate sand. First of all it is similar to what they are on in the wild, which is soil or sand. And they dig as a natural behavior. Secondly it is slightly digestable if they eat it (but make sure they are getting a high quality calcium suppliment like Mineral I so they dont eat it because too much ingested can cause impaction).The calcium carbonate sand also retains heat well, and cannot harbor parasites such as mites because it is inorganic, dry, and constantly shifting which means any parasites that might get in the cage cannot reproduce because the constantly shifting sand desicates the eggs so any parasites will quickly die off.Stick with the calcium carbonate sand. Ive used it on leopard geckos for 20 years and never had a single problem with impaction.
I wouldn't recommend either one. Get yourself something solid such as tile, laminate, paper towel, or newspaper.
