Why slate?
- Thread starter HeKai
- Start date
Mardy
New member
You can definitely make your own. But slate/ceramic tiles are recommended because hardware stores sell them, and they come in 12x12 and 6x6 pieces, which fit into standard terrariums quite nicely. Non-glazed tiles give geckos traction to walk on, they're easy to clean, easy to keep clean, conduct heat very well, and they have zero impaction risk. Plus they look good, and they come in a wide variety of colors and patterns.
You can make your own, just be sure to bake them at high temperature to kill anything bad that could come from outside. Some will do a combination of bleach soak + oven bake. Also make sure there's nothing sharp that could cut the geckos.
You can make your own, just be sure to bake them at high temperature to kill anything bad that could come from outside. Some will do a combination of bleach soak + oven bake. Also make sure there's nothing sharp that could cut the geckos.
grind down the edges, sure... just interest anyway. I might get tiles as well but I have a ton of rocks here, might as well use them.... And yes, I have pilfered branches and all sorts of goodies from outside. I have been known to cut large branches in half to cook them then reattach them to fit larger enclosures. Not big on paying $75 for a large branch I can get for free 
(snake tanks)
(snake tanks)
XoVictoryXo
New member
I love ceramic because it is super duper easy to clean, and not really pourus like slate is so nothing adheres to it, (like urates and calcium dust)
Riverside Reptiles
Administrator (HMFIC)
I think that basalt would be a poor choice because a) it's super porous and would be very difficult to clean and b) it's edges can be extremely sharp especially on tiny little gecko feet. Besides slate, there's tons of other natural stone tiles that can be easy to get and there's also ceramic tiles that just look like stone as well. I'm not quite sure why more people don't use stone like travertine and sandstone which looks a lot more like something from a leos natural environment.
Well, the basalt I was thinking of was cut beach stones so I would round the edges... in any case, I am going with slate since I got four 24"X 6" tiles for only four dollars. Pretty good steal. I will have to cut two of them but it shouldn't be a big deal. I gather that heat tape or UTH both transfer the heat through the glass and stone well and that it doesn't put the glass at risk of cracking. Thanks guys!
Elizabeth Freer
Well-known member
How thick is this slate? Probably should not be more than 1/4 inch thick for best heat transfer.
Just be sure to have ventilation under the tank
.I cracked the glass on my 33 gallon quite badly because of lack of ventilation. I don't think I will be repeating that mistake. Found out today it is probably cheaper to buy a new tank. Boo to disposable society.
Damn, didn't think of that! The are 3/8 an inch, so just over a 1/4-grrr. Experimentation with proportional thermostat?
Damn, didn't think of that! The are 3/8 an inch, so just over a 1/4-grrr. Experimentation with proportional thermostat?
Elizabeth Freer
Well-known member
How thick is this slate? Probably should not be more than 1/4 inch thick for best heat transfer.
Just be sure to have ventilation under the tank
(That's part of the fun/research.) Can't say for sure whether 3/8 inch will be too thick. A thermostat would not make the difference. Depends upon the UTH or the heat tape.
Edit: FlexWatt Heat Tape, that is
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GeckoManiac91
New member
Personally I wouldn't do that. They digest their food from The heat from their bellys so therefore I feel you need some sort of UTH. I'll wait to see if someone else has more to say...
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Good idea, thanks! I actually talked to some reptile zoo owners and I think I will use a combination of substrates in order to provide belly heat. Also, one of the people I am in contact with raises and houses some very rare, some endangered (he is working on preservation and trying to establish a captive bred stock so diminish demand on wild caught animals) gecko species. I will clarify with him but I know he puts heat tape on the back of some of his enclosures. But yes, I will wait and hear from both ends Anyway, I would think the heat tape and whatnot will take at least a week to get shipped here... so some time to think.
I actually talked to some reptile zoo owners and I think I will use a combination of substrates in order to provide belly heat. Also, one of the people I am in contact with raises and houses some very rare, some endangered (he is working on preservation and trying to establish a captive bred stock so diminish demand on wild caught animals) gecko species. I will clarify with him but I know he puts heat tape on the back of some of his enclosures. But yes, I will wait and hear from both ends Anyway, I would think the heat tape and whatnot will take at least a week to get shipped here... so some time to think.
Mardy
New member
Good idea, thanks!
Leopard geckos require belly heat, you don't want the back heat on the side, it'll do them no good. There are different species of geckos and reptiles, each with different needs. Sometimes people do things one way even though they have multiple species.
In order for back heat to work properly and heat the ground, you'd need to crank the heat tapes very high in order to achieve the ideal low 90's belly temperature for your leopard geckos. Energy, efficiency, and practicality wise, belly heat is just a much better option than back heat. It'll provide a larger surface area heating than back heating would.
Fair. I think I am going to use a combination of substrates because 3/8 inch thick slate might be too thick. I don't want more cracked glass. It is a lot of stress smuggling tanks into my 6th storey place. And yes, I was reading up on gecko needs today and belly heat is a must.
Thanks, you guys are so helpful. Akinna actually ate 3 mealies this morning, here's hoping he eats some more, now that I have got them He seems active and healthy, though. Good recovery.
Thanks, you guys are so helpful. Akinna actually ate 3 mealies this morning, here's hoping he eats some more, now that I have got them
He seems active and healthy, though. Good recovery.
Mardy
New member
Ugh 6 story, I was whining and crying when I moved a year ago from a 2nd story apartment. Honestly I'm never leaving the ground again after moving 16 tanks and 3 racks :lol: 2nd story studio sounded good when I was a teenager, but...no more.
I'm glad your gecko's doing well! Remember you can get standard slate/ceramic tiles that are 12x12 from homedepot for $1.50 a piece. In a standard 20 long you'll only need to get 2 pieces, and they'll fit very well into the 20 gallon tanks. I started out with slate tiles, then realized they're twice as heavy as ceramic tiles and ceramic tiles actually are easier to clean. I made the switch and now all of my tanks have ceramic tiles, never going back to slate.
Think about trying ceramic tiles if you don't want the heavy slate
I'm glad your gecko's doing well! Remember you can get standard slate/ceramic tiles that are 12x12 from homedepot for $1.50 a piece. In a standard 20 long you'll only need to get 2 pieces, and they'll fit very well into the 20 gallon tanks. I started out with slate tiles, then realized they're twice as heavy as ceramic tiles and ceramic tiles actually are easier to clean. I made the switch and now all of my tanks have ceramic tiles, never going back to slate.
Think about trying ceramic tiles if you don't want the heavy slate
or you can get 24"X6" slate tiles for a dollar each from the extra stock at a tile store.
I am using a mixture of things-this tile is a bit too thick and so I want to use other substrates as well to ensure proper conduction of belly heat. Heat tape and thermostats should arrive next week-woop!
Now I just need to figure out decor.
I am using a mixture of things-this tile is a bit too thick and so I want to use other substrates as well to ensure proper conduction of belly heat. Heat tape and thermostats should arrive next week-woop!
Now I just need to figure out decor.
GeckoManiac91
New member
or you can get 24"X6" slate tiles for a dollar each from the extra stock at a tile store.
I am using a mixture of things-this tile is a bit too thick and so I want to use other substrates as well to ensure proper conduction of belly heat. Heat tape and thermostats should arrive next week-woop!
Now I just need to figure out decor.
The Home-Depot in my area actually carries single 24x12 tiles so Im using them and they fit very easily into my 20gallon tanks