
11-30-2009, 12:24 PM
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Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: S. Ontario Canada
Posts: 3,389
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I've used them before with dart frogs. They're great for the uses stated, but somewhat limited with geckos. If they're moist for long, as in a humid environment, they do tend to soften a bit. With dart frogs it's no big deal, they don't dig, no claws etc. When I tried it with geckos, the mats tended to crumble a bit, leaving holes after a few months. For dry environment geckos like leopards, they worked a bit longer, but again, the geckos managed to dig grooves into them.
Poop tends to really stick, making it hard to remove without leaving some residue, so you have to hope you get it all off, or pray the geckos don't stomp it into the mat before you get it. The organic residue in a moist environment is a breeding ground for mold (again, small frogs don't have that much waste, it works). Live plants would help keep the organic matter under control, but gecko sized poop does take quite a while to break down.
One place it does come in handy is with juvie geckos who don't produce a lot of waste. You can take a few small chunks of it and build a rough shelter for shedding. Keeping the chunks on the moist side works well for the little guys. Larger slabs don't work well, they sag when moist unless there's reinforcement.
I have a few pieces in hatchling crested gecko enclosures to use as a base to hold the food dishes. Just tear out a depression big enough to nestle the dish and it's almost impossible to tip with even the most awkward gecko.
It's worth a try though, your way of doing things might work, or you could improvise something to make it work.
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