Issues with slate tile?

[dolphin_ac]

Hi Guys,

I'm using slate tiles for my leopard gecko tank, but sometimes he looks like he has trouble walking due to lack of traction. When on paper towel or if I let him walk around on the carpet he has no issues. He is alert and active. He's fed every other day and I give him multivitamins dusted on worms once a week, and calcium with vit D once a week. Has anyone else noticed a problem when using tiles?

 

[Yuk]

I was using tiles and hadn't noticed any slipping issues (they were a large flat slab) however I did notice that they were not getting warm enough and switched to paper towels. The geckos seem more willing to walk on the paper towels, but I didn't particularly notice a slipping problem with the slate.

 

[Completeleopard]

What sort of tiles are you using?

Its recommended they are either ceramic, porcelain or slate!

 

[dolphin_ac]

What sort of tiles are you using?

Its recommended they are either ceramic, porcelain or slate!

Hi Completeleopard,

They are slate tiles. They're not completely smooth, they have some texture to them as well.

 

[Completeleopard]

Hello!

Oh OK . Have you ever used reptile carpet? Wondering if your Leo still has her little claws? The reptile carpet could have caused him to lose her claws

 

[dolphin_ac]

Hi,

I used reptile carpet briefly before switching to tile. Unfortunately he has lost 2 claws during a bad shed a couple of months ago (thankfully he still has all toes). Now everytime he sheds they tend to rebleed. :-(

 

[Completeleopard]

I see, could this be the reason he has issues gripping? How are the bottoms of his feet, no stuck shed?

To see the bottoms of your Leo's feet put him into a clear plastic container!

 

[dolphin_ac]

I looked at his feet yesterday.... no stuck shed that I can see. Must be the loss of claws that is the problem. He's healthy otherwise, and I still advocate for slate tiles because they're easy to clean and heats well with the UTH heater. Thanks!

 

[Completeleopard]

Maybe a idea to get some rougher tiles to help him grip?

 

[AlaskanBlizzard907]

if your title is getting hot enough an just bad traction? I personally might take come clear gloss or any clear sealant type of paint....I use modge-podge, or clear acrylic..and then paint a light layer an sprinkle with sand an let dry...it will just like a real rock in nature an the sealant won't be an issue just make sure it's water-based if you can...will dry better on tile, an be better for ur gecko.....
On a side note..I've always wondering why people haven't used roofing tiles before?? Only reason i suggest it is we had a bad wind an in the morning there was some shingles laying around....upon picking them up I realized it would make a great surface for a gecko's tank....water proof, covered in texture an already sealed.....just a thought...hope it helps! best of luck

 

[CorgiNole]

Not knowing what goes into a roofing tile, I would be worried about what fumes the tile might emit.

Cheers, K

 

[Yuk]

Roofing tile is also messy. I think it might be hard to clean it. And loose particles are always falling off mine (on a chicken coop)

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Hi,

I used reptile carpet briefly before switching to tile. Unfortunately he has lost 2 claws during a bad shed a couple of months ago (thankfully he still has all toes). Now everytime he sheds they tend to rebleed. :-(

Hi ~

I'm wondering why his toes rebleed every time he sheds.

--How often is he shedding?
--What brand multivitamin?

 

[dolphin_ac]

Hi ~

I'm wondering why his toes rebleed every time he sheds.

--How often is he shedding?
--What brand multivitamin?

Hi Elizabeth,

Gizmit sheds every 3 weeks, and I`ll find blood in the tank overnight. He has 2 toes that are have been missing their claws for 6 months. I usually give his toes a warm soak the day after to remove any stuck shed, usually 2 or 3 toes.

I use zoo med`s reptivite once a week, and zoo med`s calcium and vit D once a week. (Choices are limited here!)

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Hi Elizabeth,

Gizmit sheds every 3 weeks, and I`ll find blood in the tank overnight. He has 2 toes that are have been missing their claws for 6 months. I usually give his toes a warm soak the day after to remove any stuck shed, usually 2 or 3 toes.

I use zoo med`s reptivite once a week, and zoo med`s calcium and vit D once a week. (Choices are limited here!)

Good on the supplements! Be sure to very lightly dust with each. Is your Reptivite plain (no D3)?

3 weeks seems long enough for his toes to have healed. Hummmmmmmmmm? Does Gizmit have a warm MOIST hide 24/7 to assist with both hydration and shedding?

How's the humidity in his enclosure? Best to be 40-50% RH with higher readings in the warm MOIST hide.

When Gizmit's toes rebleed, they're susceptible to infection.

 

[dolphin_ac]

The Reptivite includes D3. One of his hides has sphagnum moss that I moisten daily. It is located in the middle of the tank, so not on the warm side per se. Humidity gauge is between 40 - 50% in the tank. He does also have a warm dry hide. I don't see him in the humid hide that often. I'm concerned about the bleeding as well, although the toes have always stopped bleeding by the time I see him in the morning after the shed.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

The Reptivite includes D3. One of his hides has sphagnum moss that I moisten daily. It is located in the middle of the tank, so not on the warm side per se. Humidity gauge is between 40 - 50% in the tank. He does also have a warm dry hide. I don't see him in the humid hide that often. I'm concerned about the bleeding as well, although the toes have always stopped bleeding by the time I see him in the morning after the shed.

Best to have one supplement with D3 and one without because too much D3 is as bad as too little D3. I'd get plain Reptivite.

Placing the warm MOIST hide on the warm end allows for the warmth to help increase the humidity of that hide.

 

[dolphin_ac]

Thanks for the advice! I thought I'd post a couple of pictures of his toes since Gizmit just shed today. The bleeding does stop fairly quickly but still concerning. The toes will also start to re bleed when I soak his toes to remove leftover shed.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Thanks for the advice! I thought I'd post a couple of pictures of his toes since Gizmit just shed today. The bleeding does stop fairly quickly but still concerning. The toes will also start to re bleed when I soak his toes to remove leftover shed.

You're welcome.

Gizmit is one handsome leo!

How many toes are involved? Might Gizmit tolerate having those legs gently wrapped with soggy gauze for a short time like little knee socks?

I'm wondering whether the remaining skin (stuck shed) could benefit from more hydration before you help him remove the shed.

METHOD #1:
Take a plastic container a little bigger than your gecko
Poke holes in the lid so your gecko can breathe
Place a dampened paper towel or washcloth on the bottom
Add a rough rock or piece of cork bark
Spray the insides of this container
Add the gecko
Snap on the lid
Place this container near a lamp (or other low heat source) using a low wattage bulb (15 watt or 25 watt incandescent bulb or similar wattage compact fluorescent) to further increase humidity
Monitor the temperature frequently
Monitor your gecko at all times

After an hour or two, perhaps longer, remove the gecko and gently attempt to remove the stuck shed using a gentle rolling motion with a wet q-tip.

Some folks place this covered container containing the leopard gecko into shallow warm water to generate the desired humidity.

Depending upon the amount of retained shed, this procedure may need to be repeated on several successive days.