So damn frustrated...

[LCReptiles]

I don't know if anyone even posts in these forums anymore. It seems like posts get 50 views with no responses but whatever. I am so frustrated with my rack system at the moment. I know most "breeders" (Which I am not) prefer paper towels in their bins. I HATE paper towels. They get balled up within an hour and then my geckos might as well be in a plastic bin. I have tried shelf liner, which I know some people use, but either I didn't get the right kind or my geckos hated it.. not sure which. Some people have said newspaper, but I don't want ink on them... slate and tile are too heavy and defeat the purpose of having a rack to start with...

So what the hell do I use?

 

[GexPex]

I'd be interested in knowing the answer to this, as well. I currently use paper towel, and only one of mine has bunched it up, but the crickets/dubia roaches like to go underneath and stay. I've tried wetting it a bit to weigh it down, but then that can sometimes make it too humid inside the bin. I do have bowls for the mealworms, but the dubias will sometimes be able to get out, depending on how large they are...and crickets? Of course they jump out.

And as for the 50+ views with no responses, I definitely understand how frustrating that can be.

 

[LCReptiles]

In the past I have used Repti-carpet. It was easy to use, you throw it in the washing machine and put a clean one in.. the problem with that is when you have racks you end up spending crazy amounts of time cutting carpet until you get a huge supply.

 

[ehebert]

How about that shelf and drawer liner?

 

[LCReptiles]

How about that shelf and drawer liner?

Do you mean that rubber, no slip stuff Ehebert?

 

[acpart]

I'll confess that I only use a rack for my overflow leo hatchlings and my fattie and banded geckos that eat crickets. I have one 16-tub 6qt. rack. I don't use any substrate and they do fine. My Gecko Time co-editor, Matt (Select Gex on the forums) uses paper towel but also uses a pretty heavy terra cotta hide that seems to anchor the paper towel.

Aliza

 

[Jarred Davis]

I just started using newspapers myself, I switched from calci=sand after I lost a leo to impaction (only one I lost in 6 years), as to the worry of ink on the gecko, I have a friend that uses it and tells me to allow the papers to dry for a week before using and the ink will not come off the paper in the short time its used. Also it is great for me to use newspapers since I get one everyday so I have a huge supply

 

[lisa127]

I have used newspaper before. I do what the above person said.....I used the oldest ones first. It will be fine.

 

[DrCarrotTail]

IMO adult geckos don't really need any substrate. I use it only if it makes their tanks easier to clean. For those that ball up their towels or poop in inconsistent places I use nothing. Those that poop in a consistent corner get a half paper towel. I mist the paper towels with water when I put them in to get them to "stick" to the bottom better and lie flat. I live in a small apartment and try to keep them super clean and un-smelly so I clean poop 2-3x a week and wash bins out on the weekends.

 

[B&B Geckos]

I use paper towels. For very active geckos I use velcro to fix the dishes in place and position them at the edge of the paper towel to minimize its movement. You can also use sand paper or pumace rock to rough up the bottom of the tub, thus increasing friction, in order for the paper towel to move less.

 

[katie_]

I use painters tape on the corners of the paper towel

 

[Kylerbassman]

You can use the more expensive sticky tiles. The cheap ones can give off gases but some of the nicer ones use different adhesives that won't deteriorate with heat. The more expensive ones will crack or be impossible to bend unlike the cheap ones. They are super easy to cut and never move. Also, they are thin so it makes it great for heat transfer. Just a thought.

 

[Ozy]

Tape.. A herp keeper's best friend... LOL

 

[Whitemarsh Ball Pythons]

Lol tape really?