Substrate issue

[Chewbecca]

Now, I've spent FOREVER searching this. I just read an 8 page thread that was a substrate poll.


We use plastic tubs for each of our geckos. The girls' tubs are a tad longer than the tub we have our male in.

We were able to put ceramic tile in our male's cage and it fits where we need it to.


We aren't, however, able to put it in the girls' cages. The tile doesn't fit right...BECAUSE...their cages bow upwards in the center, which pushes the tile up. And we pushed on it, and it would need a considerable amount of weight to hold it down.

So tile is a no-go for their cages.


I am looking for new substrate because their feeder insects get under the paper towel and end up not getting eaten.
It's driving me CRAZY.


So...I thought I'd use shelf liner.


Can anyone who uses shelf liner link me to what they use?
And if you don't use anything with glue on the back of it, is shelf liner going to really be any better to use than paper towel as far as the feeders being able to get under it?


Thanks for any help!

 

[AMoore311]

You can get a tile cutter. That would probably be the easiest, but not necessarily the cheapest.

I already had a cheap version of a wet saw. You can get a cheapo ($18) tile cutter that you basically score the tile a couple times and then break it along the score line.

I had this problem b/c I have a 29 Gallon Aquarium for a tank... 30'' x 12''. The 12"x12" tile was to big long wise by like an 1/4". I also needed a 6" tile for the last spot, so I had to cut the last tile in 1/2 as well.

 

[Chewbecca]

We tried cutting the tiles. They were not cutting right.

And even if we could use tiles, the cage bows upward in the center of the cages for whatever reason.

 

[reddmann]

I think you can get shelf liner at walmart.

 

[Chewbecca]

I think you can get shelf liner at walmart.

But does it work better than paper towel?
I mean, does it work better than paper towel when it comes to whether or not feeder insects can get under it?

 

[Yamori]

If the center of the tank is bowed upward then you will most likely face the same problem with shelf liner as you did with tile. I wouldn't advice gluing it down either.

I had the same problem with paper towel, roaches and crickets would get under it and just stay there.

I now use a sand/peat moss mix.

 

[Chewbecca]

If the center of the tank is bowed upward then you will most likely face the same problem with shelf liner as you did with tile. I wouldn't advice gluing it down either.

I had the same problem with paper towel, roaches and crickets would get under it and just stay there.

I now use a sand/peat moss mix.

Is there anyway I could get you to PM me how exactly you work that type of substrate?

You have no issues with any attempt to ingest any of the substrate (sand-wise, I mean)?

Is there anyway you could PM me, please? Pretty please?

Thank you!

 

[gothra]

I use thick table mat (cotton) for my tanks; since it is soft and have a little weight, its not so easy for feeders to get under it. I've just posted some pics in the "Show off your geckos" section, you can take a look if you're interested.

 

[Chewbecca]

Thank you!

how often do you wash them, though?

I was kind of looking for an easy clean up substrate. But I am going to take this into consideration.
Thanks!