Pros and Cons of bark substrate?

[BH-]

Hello there

I am just wondering the pros and cons of using bark as substrate, orchid bark to be exact. The reason I use it is because the store I bought my geckos from kept them on bark.
I'm just wondering if it's worth keeping the bark for the looks or does paper towel work as a better substrate than bark although it may not be as nice to look at?

Thanks,
Ben.

 

[Golden Gate Geckos]

Pros - looks good, cheap, holds humidity

Cons - can be swallowed, collects mold & bacteria, feeders hide, stains feet

Again, this is one of those substrates that can cause more harm than it's worth just to look nice.

 

[BH-]

Thanks for your help So definitely worth swapping to paper towel then?
One thing I can't grasp with paper towel, surely when the geckos walk over it their toes would pull it all up and make it all crumply?

 

[grboxa]

Thanks for your help So definitely worth swapping to paper towel then?
One thing I can't grasp with paper towel, surely when the geckos walk over it their toes would pull it all up and make it all crumply?

Like was said, bark can lead to problems so yes I would strongly encourage you to make the switch. You should be fine with paper towel in that aspect. A lot of people on here have numerous geckos in racks and breed, so paper towel is much more practical. I'm assuming your only dealing with 1 or 2 tanks?, so if that's the case, I would research into slate tile. 0% chance of impaction through substrate ingestion, good heat distribution and retention, looks very nice, easy to clean, and cheap!.:main_thumbsup:

 

[Jusselin]

Get rid of the bark, no pros about it.

 

[Dimidiata]

This is what gets me, are we talking little wood chips or big sheets of bark? I have a large bottle brush out side that makes large sheets of bark, i dont think a gecko could swallow something bigger then it. What exactly is orchid bark?

 

[BH-]

Like was said, bark can lead to problems so yes I would strongly encourage you to make the switch. You should be fine with paper towel in that aspect. A lot of people on here have numerous geckos in racks and breed, so paper towel is much more practical. I'm assuming your only dealing with 1 or 2 tanks?, so if that's the case, I would research into slate tile. 0% chance of impaction through substrate ingestion, good heat distribution and retention, looks very nice, easy to clean, and cheap!.:main_thumbsup:

Yep, only dealing with 2 tanks here Will make the switch to paper towel later today and research into slate tile.

Thanks for your help everyone!

 

[BH-]

Switched to paper towel

 

[Golden Gate Geckos]

If you are keeping geckos in a glass aquarium type tank, using slate-type tile (not glazed) works very well and looks great. You can usually pick up a 12 x 12 tile at Home Depot or Lowes for under $2 each, and they might even cut it for you if you need partial pieces.

 

[BH-]

If you are keeping geckos in a glass aquarium type tank, using slate-type tile (not glazed) works very well and looks great. You can usually pick up a 12 x 12 tile at Home Depot or Lowes for under $2 each, and they might even cut it for you if you need partial pieces.

Thanks Will keep that in mind and possibly visit a store like that here in the UK in the future

 

[acpart]

The one time I needed to use paper towel for a gecko tank, I duct taped the edges and it worked. I'm also partial to the ceramic tile, though I have one bow front tank where I've been experimenting with "bioactive substrate" since July: mostly coco fiber, a small amount of desert sand mixed in, leaf litter from outdoors. The substrate is pretty hard packed and the geckos are thriving (so are the crickets breeding in there with a lid of gutload to eat instead of the geckos).

Aliza