Cleaned repti carpet.

[Gecko977]

Today I cleaned my gecko's repti carpet by hand washing it with hot water in the bath tub. I did this two times and then I put it in the dryer...BIG MISTAKE.I took it out and it had lint all over the edges. I washed it again and tried to pick all of the lint off. I put it outside to air dry because it wasn't raining anymore(I put it in the dryer because it was raining) Could the lint hurt my gecko? I don't think he would eat it. This may seem dumb but I want to be sure.

Thanks,
Ty

 

[im faster]

You shouldnt use repti carpet anyway.. but yes.. if your leo ingests it while trying to eat insects it could cause impaction..

 

[Gecko977]

Okay I will do my best to get it all off. Using repti carpet is a personal preference so there is no reason that it shouldn't be used other than the fact that the gecko's nail COULD get stuck. I think it looks better than paper towels and my gecko has no trouble walking on it.

 

[im faster]

Not could.. do ... Along with his teeth..


Why not use slate if your going for looks?

 

[Gecko977]

I just like reptile carpet because it looks good and it's easy to clean. My gecko runs on this carpet and does not have issues. The first time I see him get stuck then I'll take it out. But until then it's fine.

 

[PaladinGirl]

I wouldn't use it either. Besides the possibility of getting their nails and mouth stuck on it, I personally think it's just nasty. I used it for Toon when I first got her. And it may look like your leo is not having trouble walking on it because they don't necessarily get completely stuck to where they can't move. I just happened to be watching Toon closely while she was walking on it and I could see her nails getting snagged briefly. I imagine that it's probably kind of uncomfortable. But if you want to use it, why not get some new stuff instead of messing with the lint?

 

[OnlineGeckos]

I highly recommend slate tiles. Surprisingly they're cheaper than repti carpet ($1 per 12x12 piece), and even easier to clean (you can spot clean those very well). They look good unlike paper towels, they give your tank a natural look while it'd make your leopard geckos feel like home because in nature they live in rock caves. They also retain heat very well.

I did start off by buying repti carpet, I have repti carpet in 4 of my 20 gallon tanks. But on my 5th tank, I decided to give slate tiles a try. I did so mainly because I've watched my leopard geckos get their teeth stuck on the carpet when they eat. Man, first off I didn't know they were that cheap. Secondly they are easy as heck to clean. Third they look very good, and the leo I have in it seems to like it. So the next time I clean the other 4 tanks, slate tiles are going in them

 

[Franklinj480]

Tile of any kind is great. It beats carpet in terms of looks, price, sanitation, heat conduction and safety... I really see no reason why not to use it. I can't help but think of velcro when it comes to leo teeth/nails and repticarpet. Plus the thought of fecal particles being trapped inside the carpet while being used over and over again makes me want to vomit.

We had leftover ceramic floor tile from our kitchen remolding so I just used those pieces. It is very attractive, plus leo's in the wild are from rocky regions so I'm sure their bellyies love the tile feel. Have you ever dragged your stomach across carpet? Friction burns hurt.

edit: speling iz hard.

 

[blueappal]

Tile of any kind is great. It beats carpet in terms of looks, price, sanitation, heat conduction and safety... I really see no reason why not to use it.

I completely agree.

My cage is here.


I use ceramic tiles with a second-level piece of slate that has been purposely broken. It's super easy to clean and I never have to regulate the warm hide's temp... it's sets at a perfect 95f.

 

[PaladinGirl]

Beautiful tank, James!!

But yeah, reptile carpet is just bad all around imo. I'm sure it harbors all kinds of bacteria too.

Like I've said before, brown paper lawn bags all the way! Nicer looking and more durable than paper towel and newspaper! My raving about it probably gets annoying.

 

[AmberJean86]

Now I read this.....I just ordered repi carpet for my new leo. Looks like that'll be getting returned and tile it is.

 

[PaladinGirl]

Now I read this.....I just ordered repi carpet for my new leo. Looks like that'll be getting returned and tile it is.

Hehe I had also just ordered some fresh repti carpet and a day later read that it's not the best thing to use. Unlike you, I didn't return it. I should've. I may donate it to a pet store or something, if they'll take it. Better than the sand they usually use lol

 

[fl_orchidslave]

It's always handy to have a box of extra reptile supplies around, never know what you might need in a couple months. When my chameleon was a young juvenile, I used carpet in his smaller screened cage. Sometimes I'll use a piece in a display tank for a mini show our herp society has. Stuff can be picked up in garage sales, like plastic kritter keepers, tanks, lights, bowls, even screen tops. Herps always need accessories.

 

[Adinar]

Can always throw your carpet in the washer without detergent so you don't have to hand wash it in the tub. Then let it air dry on a drying rack (or toss it over the towel bar in the bathroom, ect) to let it air dry. Usually drys in about half an hour. Carpet comes out of the machine looking spotless. We keep a bunch on hand so whenever they get dirty, we swap them out. (only have a few tanks that we use them in and are cutting down on them all slowly.) It's always nice to have at least one extra so you can do a quick swap when once gets dirty.

 

[Gecko977]

I'm going to use the reptile carpet for now since I just bought it and because I have seen no issues so far. But next time I will buy slate(in a month or so) Can I buy it at Menard's or Lowe's?

 

[M_surinamensis]

As I was typing, the response felt familiar.

Repti-carpet is terrible stuff.

It's made from synthetic fibers, recycled plastic actually, drawn and formed into extremely fine microfibers, pressed into mats and cut to size.

It frays quickly but not cleanly, loops and partial frays are a common occurrence. These can catch, trap, constrict, damage and remove toes and teeth- or even limbs if it is allowed to go too long before being discarded. Incidental consumption of strands can also lead to impaction or digestive tract damage.

What's worse, the shape and size of the individual strands, stacked in densely the way they are, makes it pretty much impossible to truly dry after it comes into contact with animal waste or when it is washed. Water combined with an enormous microscopic surface area makes it a festering environment for bacterial blooms.

It's really a very poor product. Material fatigue happens quickly and it is impossible to keep reasonably sterile. If you are avoiding particulate substrates, go for the tile or slate options others have mentioned.

Ever check it out under a microscope after it had been used or cleaned? The fibers are so small and so densely packed that the cohesive properties of water actually prevent evaporation or draining away from the external surface. Snip a cross section of the stuff even after running it through a laundry drier or allowing it to sit for days and there is a clear band of moisture running through the entire center of it. Crank up the magnification enough- even using just a decent compound microscope- and bacterial blooms are pretty readily evident. Oxygen, water and a surface to grow on- those single celled organisms explode, especially adjacent to and underneath areas where animal waste is or had been present.

Most of them aren't going to be infectious species but it will harbor the virulent stuff just as readily as the benign.

 

[Gecko977]

Okay M_surinamensis convinced me. Just where can I find the slate at?

 

[Adinar]

Okay M_surinamensis convinced me. Just where can I find the slate at?

Lowes and Home Depot in the flooring section. I used to work for Lowe's and there if you brought in your exact measurments they will cut the tile for a small fee per cut (it was 25 cents per cut at my store, it should be the same at every store but I can't garuntee it). The tiles themselves are not expensive. I would assume Home Depot would offer the same services.

 

[im faster]

As I was typing, the response felt familiar.

IM quoting a quote of a double quote of his one quote!:main_laugh::main_laugh::main_laugh:

 

[fl_orchidslave]

Quote:
Originally Posted by M_surinamensis View Post
Repti-carpet is terrible stuff.

It's made from synthetic fibers, recycled plastic actually, drawn and formed into extremely fine microfibers, pressed into mats and cut to size.

It frays quickly but not cleanly, loops and partial frays are a common occurrence. These can catch, trap, constrict, damage and remove toes and teeth- or even limbs if it is allowed to go too long before being discarded. Incidental consumption of strands can also lead to impaction or digestive tract damage.

What's worse, the shape and size of the individual strands, stacked in densely the way they are, makes it pretty much impossible to truly dry after it comes into contact with animal waste or when it is washed. Water combined with an enormous microscopic surface area makes it a festering environment for bacterial blooms.

It's really a very poor product. Material fatigue happens quickly and it is impossible to keep reasonably sterile. If you are avoiding particulate substrates, go for the tile or slate options others have mentioned.

Quote:
Originally Posted by M_surinamensis View Post
Ever check it out under a microscope after it had been used or cleaned? The fibers are so small and so densely packed that the cohesive properties of water actually prevent evaporation or draining away from the external surface. Snip a cross section of the stuff even after running it through a laundry drier or allowing it to sit for days and there is a clear band of moisture running through the entire center of it. Crank up the magnification enough- even using just a decent compound microscope- and bacterial blooms are pretty readily evident. Oxygen, water and a surface to grow on- those single celled organisms explode, especially adjacent to and underneath areas where animal waste is or had been present.

Most of them aren't going to be infectious species but it will harbor the virulent stuff just as readily as the benign. end quote.


That's just gross. And just when I was about to have a snack. But excellent info, Seamus, thanks.