Substrate question...

[GexPex]

So I'm getting tired of the paper towel, and one of my new females keeps digging at it and tearing it into pieces in one corner. I know that sand is a big no, as well as any loose particles. I refuse to use reptile carpet since it can be difficult to fully clean, can catch nails, and I have known of leopard geckos to develop sores on their feet and bellies from it. Tile, unfortunately, is difficult to get into Vision cages due to the not-so-flat bottom (mine have 2 ridges to allow for stacking), causing the tile to wobble and shift, therefore making little toes not so safe. I'm not wanting to stick anything to these cages unless it's removable in case I need to change some animals around (after disinfecting the cages, of course).

I've thought of linoleum and shelf liner, but how do I prevent insects and geckos from going underneath? I'm wanting something more sturdy than paper towels and nicer looking, as well.

 

[NikkiC223]

If you wanted to use tile, you can put play sand on the bottom to even the bottom out and then put the tile on top. That would also help with regulating the disbursement of heat through the tile.

 

[Embrace Calamity]

If she's a digger, honestly, I'd suggest soil. I use a rocky soil in my enclosure (mixed with a little sand, but that's optional), and it works very nicely. I like it because of how natural it is, and it allows them to dig. Make sure to keep your humid hide moist, though, as I know other reptiles dig to find humidity when they're dehydrated (though I don't know if this is true of leos). I know you said no particle substrates, but just something to keep in mind. You can see my substrate here (sorry the pic's kind of big):

~Maggot

 

[GexPex]

Picture's fine...if it was too small, it wouldn't show much detail on the soil. I like the idea of giving her something to dig in, but I would still be nervous about possible impaction. I do have a humid hide with EcoEarth, and it's kept moist, but I'm thinking she's wanting something else to dig in...so possibly a small box of a loose substrate. That way, she can dig, but there'd be less of a chance of her ingesting if it's not all around her cage.
As for the sand with tile, it's an idea, but I'm not too handy with cutting tile and I'd be worried about the tile shifting, possibly injuring a gecko's toes.
Beautful gecko in the picture, though. Love that lil smile.

 

[JasonO80]

I am against the sand as well but I do use the ground english walnut. It seems to work really well and I have had no issues with it what so ever.

 

[Alison Ferguson]

Brown wrapping paper?
Cheap, easy to clean, looks half decent and no risks.

 

[Embrace Calamity]

Picture's fine...if it was too small, it wouldn't show much detail on the soil. I like the idea of giving her something to dig in, but I would still be nervous about possible impaction. I do have a humid hide with EcoEarth, and it's kept moist, but I'm thinking she's wanting something else to dig in...so possibly a small box of a loose substrate. That way, she can dig, but there'd be less of a chance of her ingesting if it's not all around her cage.
As for the sand with tile, it's an idea, but I'm not too handy with cutting tile and I'd be worried about the tile shifting, possibly injuring a gecko's toes.
Beautful gecko in the picture, though. Love that lil smile.

If your husbandry is right, there should be no possibility of impaction. Remember, these guys do live outside. "Leopard Gecko habitat is characterized by sandy-gravel, rocks, hard clay, coarse grasses and drought-resistant shrubs." The little bit they might ingest while eating should pass through their systems as long as temps are right and the gecko is healthy. (Personally, I think the impaction thing is blown way out of proportion, but that's just my opinion and doesn't need to be everyone else's too.)

Your idea about the box could work though. You could just put it in that same corner she usually digs in and make sure there are rocks around it to make it easily accessible. She might grow out of it too. My gecko used to always dig in one corner, but she hasn't done it for months.

~Maggot

 

[katie_]

I am against the sand as well but I do use the ground english walnut. It seems to work really well and I have had no issues with it what so ever.

Thats just as bad.

 

[Embrace Calamity]

Thats just as bad.

Wouldn't it actually be worse? Because aren't the particles larger? Though I don't think sand is a big issue if the gecko is healthy and temps are good, but even I'd be a little cautious of ground walnut. But I've never seen it in person, just based on pics it looks like the particles are bigger.

~Maggot

 

[B&B Geckos]

Pretty gecko,Laura. i like the symmetry of the head markings.
I'm not sure what the best solution is here, but one of my geckos regurgitated about 4x1 inch piece of paper towel. I know exactly how she ate it. I put a dubia in her tub and she must have caught the edge of the paper along with the roach., pulled, tore and swallowed it with the dubia. Now I stick around to watch if I don't put the feeders in the dish. She was rubbing her tummy against a corner on top of her hide for a day in discomfort. Thankfully it passed. Last night though, one of my babies(an albino that feeds by feel) got so excited when i was feeding the others that she bit down on the paper towel alligator rolled and had swallowed about 2 inches by the time I noticed. I had to slowly pull it out of her throat. I know these are rare ocurrences, but twice in 3 weeks has me concerned. I'm now brainstorming ideas for fixing the corners of the paper towel to the tub.

 

[Embrace Calamity]

Pretty gecko,Laura. i like the symmetry of the head markings.

Thank you.

I'm not sure what the best solution is here, but one of my geckos regurgitated about 4x1 inch piece of paper towel. I know exactly how she ate it. I put a dubia in her tub and she must have caught the edge of the paper along with the roach., pulled, tore and swallowed it with the dubia. Now I stick around to watch if I don't put the feeders in the dish. She was rubbing her tummy against a corner on top of her hide for a day in discomfort. Thankfully it passed. Last night though, one of my babies(an albino that feeds by feel) got so excited when i was feeding the others that she bit down on the paper towel alligator rolled and had swallowed about 2 inches by the time I noticed. I had to slowly pull it out of her throat. I know these are rare ocurrences, but twice in 3 weeks has me concerned. I'm now brainstorming ideas for fixing the corners of the paper towel to the tub.

If you want to keep the paper towels instead of switching to something else, why not just put rocks on the corners?

~Maggot

 

[GexPex]

Wouldn't it actually be worse? Because aren't the particles larger? Though I don't think sand is a big issue if the gecko is healthy and temps are good, but even I'd be a little cautious of ground walnut. But I've never seen it in person, just based on pics it looks like the particles are bigger.

~Maggot

Completely agree. I would use sand before I used ground walnut shell.

Now then, I'm still thinking about linoleum. But fiance wants to know if this will crack when subjected to heat on a 24/7 basis? Also, as far as keeping animals from going underneath, how would I go about doing that without having to place rocks all the way around the cage?