Can this be used as a substrate/bottom of tank

[geckoracing]

Hello everyone.

I have an extra 10 gallon tank that I usually keep supplies in, and I was considering using it temporarily to separate one of the leo's and check out her eating habits because lately she doesn't want any waxwoms and normally she would love them.

Well I figured being this is temporary I could just use paper towels, however I came across this white foamy stuff that is used when packaging a laptop for shipping. It just so happens it fits quite nicely in the tank. Would this be safe to use? safer if I covered it with paper towel? It makes a interesting slightly raised level.

I have included some quick test pics. but well its foamy stuff, doesn't exactly photograph to well.

 

[sportbike_rob]

possibly, however, im not too sure how well the UTH (under tank heater) would work through it, may possibly melt it too. you could use it to make home-made backgrounds and hides though, as i did with froto's (my AFT) tank.

http://z4.invisionfree.com/HerpinVerts/index.php?showtopic=1187

http://www.geckoforums.net/showthread.php?t=6366

 

[geckoracing]

I am not creative enough to make something nice like you did, plus this well probably just be a temporary tank.

I should have added, since the tank is only 10gallons, I was just going to use a heating lamp from on top.

 

[juju]

If it's the soft foam, I would be concerned that the leo would be able to bite a piece off. And with heating it, I'm not sure about that stuff, but I know with some sorts of plastic, like vinyl tiles, it can let off harmful fumes. I would just use paper towels. Also, why is the separation only temporary? Why not set it up as her new home?

 

[geckoracing]

If it's the soft foam, I would be concerned that the leo would be able to bite a piece off. And with heating it, I'm not sure about that stuff, but I know with some sorts of plastic, like vinyl tiles, it can let off harmful fumes. I would just use paper towels. Also, why is the separation only temporary? Why not set it up as her new home?

I just want to monitor her eating habits, if I find she is eating like normal then she can be with the others, they all seem to get along rather well. , I can't really be setting up multiple tanks, it won't go over well with the other people living here.


Yah, I will probably end up just using the paper towel. Hmmm what about a cardboard box securely covered in paper towel? This second level thing has my mind going in case I actually can get away with keeping a 2nd tank up and running.

 

[juju]

She may very well eat great when she's separated from the rest if there's dominance issues going on. And then you're back to square one once she's put back into the tank with the others. Leos are solitary animals and do best alone. What size tank are the three in now?

 

[geckoracing]

They are in a 20 gallon long tank. There is enough room that they can all go to separate places if they want, hide seperately etc.. I don't think there are dominance issues though because they hang out together quite a lot, no fighting or any kind.

Keep in mind too, the not eating could be just my imagination/paranoia. She still is a good weight, had a nice tail etc and is plenty active.

This pic is from yesterday. It shows how they like being together.

and this pic, I took just now.

 

[juju]

Hanging out together, sleeping together, cuddling - dominance issues. They don't like being together, they are not social creatures. It's not always shown in aggression, but it could start at any time. A 20L is most certainly going to be cramped with 3 leos.

 

[ReptileMan27]

I dont think it would hurt the gecko but not sure how well it will work with an UTH.

 

[acpart]

Maybe you could give them an upstairs with the 20 gallon long (I posted a picture of mine but I don't remember where it is on the forum) to give them a break. Then you could feed the one you're concerned about "upstairs".

Aliza

 

[geckoracing]

Maybe you could give them an upstairs with the 20 gallon long (I posted a picture of mine but I don't remember where it is on the forum) to give them a break. Then you could feed the one you're concerned about "upstairs".

Aliza

I like this idea too. I am just trying to figure out how to get them to press the button for the elevator. j/k

There is this too. While it wouldn't seperate them it would give them more space. However I would like to see it in person before I pay for it.

 

[geckoracing]

Well I was out running an errand today and I saw the Home Depot out of the corner of my eye so I stopped in an grabbed some cheap ceramic tiles.

now the tank dimensions are 30x12x12

The tiles I bought were two 12x12's and two 4x6. I figured I would only have a small uncovered area and would deal with that later by putting paper towel and whatever accessories in that area. The 12x12's fit absolutely perfect. The 4x6 was a little bit to long somehow so I used it to create a hide kinda sorta.

No more sand since I figured tiles would be nicer.

Will the tile get warm just as easily as the sand did? hotter?

I know everyone says the leo's are not social and don't like to climb, so I think I have a rare social climbing breed lol. Mine come to the glass all the time to see what anyone in the room is doing, and they climb on anything they can get a hold of, and will even try and climb the glass sometimes.

Oh I just realized the drop from the net is about 8.5 inches, and while they very rarely go off the deep end, it has happened a time or two, and when it does they hang down slowly as far as possible and then drop the rest. what I am wondering is if they did happen to fall right from the net, and land on the ceramic tile, how bad is it for them? can they handle it? no big deal? I may consider putting something soft in that bottom right hand corner incase they fall off that side.