Gecko safe clay type soil?

[Britt005]

Hello!

So I've been looking to redo my tank and was interested in the slate tiles everyone seems to love. The only problem is I can't find anyone who will sell me less than 10 sq ft in the small tiles or who would cut the larger tiles down to size without charging me an additional $40 for the pleasure :-x.

Sooo...I had a brainchild, bought a large tile at home depot, and hit it with a hammer! My idea, instead of doing straight slate, is to do a slate mosaic rocky outcrop sort of thing with the grout being some sort of substrate. I was thinking a packed clay would work to keep everything in place, look natural, wouldn't be as easily consumed accidentally, but still be removable for when I inevitably decide to redecorate. I was considering the zoo med excavator clay, but I'd have to order it online and I've seen mixed reviews. Any ideas?

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Zoo Med's Excavator Clay definitely insulates. It's important for the heat from the UTH to reach the surface. I have no experience with clay.

Consider Lugarti's Natural Reptile Bedding.

Click: http://www.geckosunlimited.com/comm...ptile-bedding-moldable-terrarium-product.html

 

[Britt005]

That looks interesting! Not 100% sure if it's what I'm looking for, but I haven't read through the whole thread. Luckily it looks like they sell it (somewhat) locally so I can try before buy. Thanks for the suggestion! You bring up a good point about excavator clay, I didn't even think of the heating aspect. So it doesn't transfer heat from the uth? That's unfortunate.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

That looks interesting! Not 100% sure if it's what I'm looking for, but I haven't read through the whole thread. Luckily it looks like they sell it (somewhat) locally so I can try before buy. Thanks for the suggestion! You bring up a good point about excavator clay, I didn't even think of the heating aspect. So it doesn't transfer heat from the uth? That's unfortunate.

Too much Excavator Clay prevents the heat from an UTH from reaching a gecko.

Based upon Jess's, Shane's, and Swisswiss's feedback, a 1/4 inch thick layer of Excavator Clay will allow adequate heat transfer as long as the caves sit right upon 1/4 inch thick layers.

 

[JessJohnson87]

I use excavator clay and I do not have issues with heating. I made sure to make the hides deep and touching the surface of the 1/4" layer of clay on the bottom of the tank so that he could get the adequate belly heat he needs, 2 months later and no digestion issues.

 

[Britt005]

Thanks for your input Jess. Does the excavator clay have to be changed every 2-3 months like they advise you to for the lugarti natural bedding? What is your cleaning routine like with the clay?

 

[Zux]

I also have used the clay and found that with a thin enough layer heat conduction is no problem, particularly so if you dilute or rather mix the clay with sand.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Here's a thread in which Swisswiss has used a ~70% Excavator Clay/30% sand mixture for two leo vivariums.

Click: http://www.geckosunlimited.com/comm...s-terrarium.html?highlight=excavator+clay+leo

 

[Britt005]

Hmmm...while the Lugarti product sounds promising I think I might go ahead and try the excavator clay since some people have had good experiences with it. I think what I'll do is concentrate the slate "chunks" on the warm side, putting a thin layer of regular sand underneath to ensure they are laying flat and the heat can get to the tiles. And I'll just use the clay on the warm side as more of a grout and burrows will only be built on top of the tiles if I want to. I'll probably just leave her normal hide right on the tiles. That should make sure the tiles get nice and warm right? Then I can go crazy with burrows on the cool side. And if all fails, I can always throw it away and go for the lurgarti!

How many pounds of the excavator clay should I use for a 20L tank? Would the 10lbs bag be enough?

 

[JessJohnson87]

I have a bioacive enclosure
http://www.geckosunlimited.com/comm.../80614-bio-active-leopard-gecko-vivarium.html <---this is my thread on that and shows the process of me constructing everything.

I bought a 20lb bag to be safe and only used about half when I diluted the clay with play sand and topsoil.

 

[Britt005]

Yes! I love the bio active idea! I've seen it before, but it always seemed way complicated and confusing. But your thread lays it out simply and makes me think it's possible! Hmmm, now I have new ideas to mull over.

 

[JessJohnson87]

Awesome! I owe a lot of it to the article on Gecko Time, that authors thread(on another forum) and the bioactive setups group I'm a member of on Facebook. It seems complicated, but its really not that complicated.

 

[Britt005]

Hello Everyone!

I was able to acquire another 20gal L tank last week, so I thought it was a good time to start working on my bioactive viv! A good friend of mine had a leopard gecko who passed away at the age of 12 She was glad to see it go to another gecko so she let me have it super cheap.

Behold!





I used a mix of the clay, organic top soil, dirt from the yard, and sand. The stones are slate, underneath layer in pure sand, with the clay mix just shoved in between to make a grout. This hopefully that will allow enough heat to come through, but I don't have a 2nd heat mat so I haven't tested it yet. I'll use one of her existing caves for the warm hide.

On the cool side, I created two hides with a secret tunnel connecting them! That was a bit difficult to make, I had to create a roof with slate pieces and just mold the clay around it, hoping it doesn't cave in! I planted some succulents in a mix of sand and organic potting soil. I know some people add peat moss to this, but I was too cheap to buy some. I also have my cork bark for a CUC refuge if needed. There is also a drainage layer underneath filled with hydro balls.

All in all, I'm pretty proud of it! A 10lb bag of the clay was just short of what I wish I'd had. But 20lbs would have been way too much. I wish they sold a 15lb bag! I'm still trying to figure out what I'm going to do for a moist hide, as I don't want to use the ugly tupperware she has now.

Now I just have to let it dry and add some bugs!

 

[Zux]

Looks great, excellent work !

 

[Britt005]

Thanks, Shane! I had so much fun making it, I wish I could do it again. Hopefully Rizzo will like it just as much come moving day!

 

[JessJohnson87]

I used a tupperware container covered in clay for my moist hide. When I switch everything over to the 40 gallon, I'll be doing things differently with the moist hide to make it easier to spray, right now he absolutely boycotts it and only drinks from his bowl.....

It looks great, make sure to get a light for those succulents. I bought an 18" under cabinet fluorescent light fixture from lowes and an 18" daylight 6500K bulb to go in it and my plants are doing just fine.

 

[wicked gecko]

Looks good, I like the looks of the excavator and similar tanks. Ordered 3 more exo last night and going to mess with it in them. Plenty of time as the females I'm planning to purchase for the tanks haven't even hatched yet lol

 

[Britt005]

Yeah I realized yesterday or the day before that my succulents, especially the ogre ears, weren't doing so hot. It may be a combo of lack of light and my certified black thumb! But I'll be heading to the store after work today to grab one. For my moist hide I'm was thinking of getting one of those exo terra gecko caves and adding some more clay and/or more succulents around it to make it fit in a little better. That way I can just pop the top off to spray it. But that probably won't happen anytime soon because with all these vet visits Rizzo has reached her budget cap!!

It's good to get started early, Wicked! I'm still trying to pin down some health issues for mine, so she won't be introduced into that tank for a while yet. But I'm glad I started early because, as you can see above, I'm still tweaking things! The clay is pretty cool. I was worried about it being crumbly and an impaction risk, but it seriously dries like concrete. Super solid!

 

[wicked gecko]

Yeah I'll play around with 1 at a time. I've got a couple months to get them ready ahead. Prob even quarantine them in a different setup first.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Nice work, Britt! I hope Rizzo likes it too.

I have a couple questions.

Is there room enough between the entrances to the secret cave for a leo to go in and out? I'm speaking about the tube coming out from the left.

Have you been able to check out the temps on the warm end?