Excavator Clay

[Kiowakaykay]

So, I've been thinking my leos need a better, more enriching environment. So I made the logical decision and impulse bought two excavator clay kits for each leo tank. I have 2 20 gallon long tanks with 3 hides each, though the decorations differ a little bit because of what I had on hand. I just HAD to make a post because I'm positively stoked for my excavator clay to arrive.

The only thing I'm not looking forward to is having to put my leo in a small temporary tank while I sculpt/dry the excavator clay. My leos aren't used to handling, though I'm trying to fix that. Sadly I don't think they were handled a lot when they were babies (I bought them on craigslist from someone who bought them from petsmart for her kids, and was cohabbing them.) but I've managed to scoop them up into a temporary enclosure a few times without injuring them.

My main reason for making this post is for pointers. What advice do you guys have for excavator clay? Do you make cliffs for climbing? Mindy likes to climb, although Mork is a bit of a mystery on what he likes. Should I make both tanks the same or try to personalize them a bit more? Should I cover the whole bottom with excavator clay or should I leave a little bit of it covered with other substrate (I use reptile carpet, no problems at all.) I always put their food in a shallow dish, if there's any fear of them accidentally eating excavator clay.

 

[Fanatic]

I am using excavator clay in my enclosure now, but I have it mixed with EcoEarth as well, and it's completely dry. The only reason why I did not moisten it to shape it is because it becomes very messy, and because it's a pain if you need to remove it for any reasons.

There's one small issue with this, and that is the fact that the clay will block the undertank heating, unless you keep the substrate very thin on the heated side, you may need to supplement the tank with more heating above via ceramic heat emitter or something similar. Thanks to Elizabeth for telling me this when I was planning my tank.

You don't have to do both tanks the same, you choose what you works for you. As for the eating substrate concern, if it's hardened you don't need to worry much at all about consumption, nor would I honestly be concerned when loose as well. My gecko gets occasional mouthfuls of this substrate, and it passes through just fine. When the husbandry is correct, there should be very little risk of gecko impaction.

 

[Kiowakaykay]

I am using excavator clay in my enclosure now, but I have it mixed with EcoEarth as well, and it's completely dry. The only reason why I did not moisten it to shape it is because it becomes very messy, and because it's a pain if you need to remove it for any reasons.

There's one small issue with this, and that is the fact that the clay will block the undertank heating, unless you keep the substrate very thin on the heated side, you may need to supplement the tank with more heating above via ceramic heat emitter or something similar. Thanks to Elizabeth for telling me this when I was planning my tank.

You don't have to do both tanks the same, you choose what you works for you. As for the eating substrate concern, if it's hardened you don't need to worry much at all about consumption, nor would I honestly be concerned when loose as well. My gecko gets occasional mouthfuls of this substrate, and it passes through just fine. When the husbandry is correct, there should be very little risk of gecko impaction.

I plan on using the excavator clay very lightly on the bottom of the warm hide, or use tile on the spaces that I couldn't cover with the clay. I may need to get more tile though for both tanks.

 

[Fanatic]

I plan on using the excavator clay very lightly on the bottom of the warm hide, or use tile on the spaces that I couldn't cover with the clay. I may need to get more tile though for both tanks.

Okay, that sounds good to me

 

[Kiowakaykay]

Mindy's tank has been sculpted! It's nothing too special, but I plan on adding plants/decor when I can. I also intend to vacuum it out when it dries so there's no loose chunks for her to swallow.