Aimless
Super Moderator
hey guys - this is really long and I apologize in advance.
I did a search for "cork tile" and didn't come across my particular issue, so I'll post a thread and hopefully someone here has experience and can help.
I have traditionally not added texture/surface to the back of my planted and/or naturalistic vivs, thinking that they're really more for me than the animals. however, I've recently decided to add them, thinking it would a) make the animal a bit more secure by blocking view of whoever's in the next tank; b) give more interesting vertical climbing surface than glass and the sticks or corkbark; and c) look nicer.
I got some of this, thinking cork would be good, and pretty thin so it wouldn't take a lot of the volume: Amazon.com: BROWN CORK SHEET 12" X 36" X 1/2" - 2 PACK: Industrial & Scientific
here's the product description: "Our Brown Cork Sheets can be used for vibration absorption, insulation, underlay, and technical applications. These value sheets are cured by sending each sheet through an oven to bind the cork. Fragile but effective, these brown cork sheets are perfect for users who do not need a fine finish. Brown sheets are 100% natural and light weight. Offered in thicker sizes than conventional cork sheets, these allow greater densities at a more affordable price. Available in different sizes."
well, I was satisfied with the "100% natural". however, the baking in the oven to "bind the cork" results in a light dusting of ash. I pulled it out of the packaging and got some black dust that smells faintly of char on my hands. I rinsed the hell out of it, and a ton of black dust came off. I soaked and rinsed until the black dust stopped emerging and it doesn't smell like burnt paper.
however, I'm concerned it may not be safe to put in a gecko cage. it wasn't very expensive and I'm inclined to toss it and start over with something else, but I wanted to ask here first.
the faint char smell is what worries me - will the geckos lick off hydrocarbons that can make them sick?
has anyone tried to use this in caging and have it be OK? if others have used it and been successful I might salvage it and give it a go, but I don't want my geckos to be test-cases.
I did a search for "cork tile" and didn't come across my particular issue, so I'll post a thread and hopefully someone here has experience and can help.
I have traditionally not added texture/surface to the back of my planted and/or naturalistic vivs, thinking that they're really more for me than the animals. however, I've recently decided to add them, thinking it would a) make the animal a bit more secure by blocking view of whoever's in the next tank; b) give more interesting vertical climbing surface than glass and the sticks or corkbark; and c) look nicer.
I got some of this, thinking cork would be good, and pretty thin so it wouldn't take a lot of the volume: Amazon.com: BROWN CORK SHEET 12" X 36" X 1/2" - 2 PACK: Industrial & Scientific
here's the product description: "Our Brown Cork Sheets can be used for vibration absorption, insulation, underlay, and technical applications. These value sheets are cured by sending each sheet through an oven to bind the cork. Fragile but effective, these brown cork sheets are perfect for users who do not need a fine finish. Brown sheets are 100% natural and light weight. Offered in thicker sizes than conventional cork sheets, these allow greater densities at a more affordable price. Available in different sizes."
well, I was satisfied with the "100% natural". however, the baking in the oven to "bind the cork" results in a light dusting of ash. I pulled it out of the packaging and got some black dust that smells faintly of char on my hands. I rinsed the hell out of it, and a ton of black dust came off. I soaked and rinsed until the black dust stopped emerging and it doesn't smell like burnt paper.
however, I'm concerned it may not be safe to put in a gecko cage. it wasn't very expensive and I'm inclined to toss it and start over with something else, but I wanted to ask here first.
the faint char smell is what worries me - will the geckos lick off hydrocarbons that can make them sick?
has anyone tried to use this in caging and have it be OK? if others have used it and been successful I might salvage it and give it a go, but I don't want my geckos to be test-cases.
