Tub Substrate's

[jakemyster44]

Currently I am using paper towels as my substrate in my rack. Some of my gecks tend to crawl under the paper towel though, and I have to show them the way out; its cute at first but it gets old lol. Along with that, in the next month or so I will begin feeding out of my dubia colony, and I dont want them hiding under the paper towel. It always seems that as soon as I drop one in the tub, they always run the the edge, and get under the paper towel; I dont want a bunch of loose dubias in there!
So, I am asking for other ideas. What else do you huys use? I am thinking of just getting some large rolls of reptile carpet and cutting it to fit all the cages. I could cut it so that it would fit really snug, therfore no gecks/dubias would get under it. It wont break my bank, beacuse I only have 14, 16qt tubs to carpet (I know using reptile carpet would be very unrealistic for all you larger breeders). I am also looking into shelf liner, so anyone who uses that, if you could post pictures they would be most appreciated!
Thanks in advance,

 

[ajveachster]

We use legal size copy paper. We use a paper cutter to trim off about 1 1/4 inches of it to make it fit the bottom of the tub. We still have some bugs that manage to get under it, but not as much as with paper towels.

 

[Mel&Keith]

We use trifold commercial papertowels (the kind you find in public restroom dispensers) for the ones who like to trash the Bounty papertowels. They're much heavier and stiffer like paper compared to the fluffy, grocery store papertowels. You can usually find them at restaurant supply stores or bulk discount chains.

 

[LeapinLizards]

I use paper towel, but have absolutely no problems with it. The bugs that get under, come out eventually, and get eaten. I feed dubia as well, and have yet to find any left over from the night before's feeding - even when I've seen them go under the paper towel within seconds of being thrown in there. If you are really worried about it though, I would suggest a thick paper, or shelf liner...I know of a few people that use either of those and really like it.

 

[Kitsune]

I use paper towels in my tubs.. I know how much of a pain it is. I have one gecko that LOVES to ball his up and leave them in a corner. Ugh!

When I only had a few geckos, I used shelf liner, but they were all in tanks. :3
I liked the shelf liner a lot. I never had feeders get under them.. Though, some of my more stubborn geckos found a way under. lol!

Edit: I'll see if I can find some pictures of what my tacky shelf liner looked like. I know I had some pictures somewhere. lol.

 

[jakemyster44]

Thanks everyone, I will be on the lookout for the pictures, and will have to check out some local resturant supply stores. Thanks again.

 

[acpart]

Just out of curiosity, is there any reason to use a substrate of any kind in tubs? Just about all of my geckos are in tanks on tile but I do have a 16-tub rack which is my hatchling overflow and probably permanent home of my hatchling SW banded geckos because they're so tiny. The heat runs along the back of the tubs, so I just put them in there with a hide, water and food dishes.

Aliza

 

[jakemyster44]

you bring up a good point. I know a few people who dont use substrate at all. But for me, with only a few tubs its almost too easy NOT to provide substrate for them.

 

[TheYear2011]

I use tile for mine too. and i know a lot of other people do too.

 

[ajveachster]

We find the paper works because it makes cleanup easier. You don't have to pry or wipe poop up off the plastic. We still wash the tubs occasionally to keep everyone healthy.