Slate?

[GSM-Ranger]

New leopard gecko owner here and I was looking for a really good substrate for them and I was wondering if slate tiles would be any good.I was also debating ecoearth but I have heard both good things and bad things about it. So would slate work or not, I imagine with leopard geckos originating from Iraq and Iran in rocky deserts some tile might be decent for them. Thanks for answering.

 

[Zux]

Slate tile will work excellently, as will ceramic.

Eco-Earth will allow for some more natural behaviors in the sense they can dig and forage but I can only advise any loose substrate be used in cases where the keeper is 100% sure the enclosures inhabitant is in good health, well hydrated & supplemented and properly heated. If any of these are in question there is always a small impaction risk over time.

My suggestion would be ceramic tile, all the benefits of slate but without the porous nature and thus easier to clean / wont harbor any bacteria.

 

[GSM-Ranger]

Thank you for answering I think I need to do some more research if I used Eco earth but I am probably going to go with some form of tile. But with the tile what would I do for the moist hide should I put some spaugnum moss or something in there I imagine I wouldn't just spray the tile. Thanks again.

 

[Zux]

Yes for the moist hide you will need some sort of enclosed space in which you can place a damp medium. There are many made by different brands or you can make your own also like those I linked below.



All credit for the above image goes to Elizabeth and her care-sheet, which is well worth reading if you haven't seen it.

http://www.geckosunlimited.com/comm...-macularius-demo-video-4-jan-2013-update.html

 

[warhawk]

I agree with Zux. Elizabeth does have a nice care sheet.
I have used ceramic tile for years works great. Slate will be about the same maybe a little harder to heat so might need a larger heater.

As for the eco earth I use that in my moist hides and have for years never had a issue. I wouldn't use it as a substrate because as it drys out it gets kinda messy. If you do a loose substrate make sure you use a feeding bowl that stays clean, if they only eat from the bowl they will eat less substrate and cut down on the risk of impactions.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Yes for the moist hide you will need some sort of enclosed space in which you can place a damp medium. There are many made by different brands or you can make your own also like those I linked below.

View attachment 39235

All credit for the above image goes to Elizabeth and her care-sheet, which is well worth reading if you haven't seen it.

http://www.geckosunlimited.com/comm...-macularius-demo-video-4-jan-2013-update.html

Full credit for this homemade humid hide and its image goes to Russ, GU's [MENTION=57044]wicked gecko[/MENTION]! I was just the messenger.

Quoting Russ:
"Here's a shot of my humid hide made from GladWare. I melted the entrance with a soldering iron, so it's really smooth. I then cut a single piece of aquarium airline tubing a little extra long and split it down the middle. It's on the warm side and filed with Eco Earth's coco fiber. I made the entrance higher up to contain the coco fiber if leo Hiccup decides to dig."