MARBLE SUBSTRATE??????

[LennyTheLizardKing]

My questions are:
#1 Has anybody done this before or will it be too slippery for my BD to crawl on?
#2 My measurements are 4ftx2ft will this be too costly?
Anyone know of any other types of tile/slate flooring that looks really good in viv's? I live in Vancouver and have access to Home Depot, Rona etc.?
Thanks for any replies

 

[definitions]

don't do marble substrate the beardie can ingest a marble. reptile carpet, newspaper,paper towel, linoleum, , nothing loose. 4ft long 2 ft deep is perfect 18 inches tall. Sandstone tile looks nice in vivs, I like the half and half look half tile with half repti carpet. Looks kind of nice gives the beardie different textures to feel.

 

[Denise Bushnell (RIP)]

I've never used pieces of Marble as a substrate, but I can tell you that, although it would, no doubt, look really nice, Marble is EXTREMELY expensive! It's very smooth, with basically no texture to it at all, so your beardie most likely would have problems getting a foothold on it. Also, Marble pieces really retain heat, so they may get way to hot for his little feet, because of his heat lamps. Due to all of these concerns, I really wouldn't recommend it!

If you're interested in something that will look really nice, AND be comfortable for him, as well as easy to keep clean, I would recommend a piece of scotchguarded commercial carpeting, like the type that they use in office buildings. It comes in all sorts of colors and patterns, so you can pretty much match any type of decor with it.

If you're at all interested in considering this as a substrate, please let me know, and I'd be glad to post all the particulars on this thread, or send them to you in a Private Message, or an E-Mail to you, if you prefer.

You just can't beat commercial carpeting as a substrate.....it far surpasses anything that I've ever used in comfort for your beardie and ease of care. I've been using the same pieces of commercial carpeting in my three tanks for the last 5 years, and it looks and smells just as nice now as it did the day I put it in there. You just can't beat it as a substrate!

Hope you find this information helpful!

 

[Jess]

Sorry to invade the thread LOL... But is that carpeting easy to clean, and how do you clean it? I use ceramic tile and non-stick shelf liner, but I like the idea of carpeting because it would be softer. How much does it cost, and where can you buy it?
Ive never heard of using that before, but Im liking the idea!

 

[jeritta]

We use the repticarpet at the petstore. Fairly cheap and I just put it in the washer (with old towels or old stuff) and wash it with clorox and very little soap. Then put in dryer for about 10 minutes or hang outside for about 30 minutes. works great and they like it.

 

[LennyTheLizardKing]

I've never used pieces of Marble as a substrate, but I can tell you that, although it would, no doubt, look really nice, Marble is EXTREMELY expensive! It's very smooth, with basically no texture to it at all, so your beardie most likely would have problems getting a foothold on it. Also, Marble pieces really retain heat, so they may get way to hot for his little feet, because of his heat lamps. Due to all of these concerns, I really wouldn't recommend it!

If you're interested in something that will look really nice, AND be comfortable for him, as well as easy to keep clean, I would recommend a piece of scotchguarded commercial carpeting, like the type that they use in office buildings. It comes in all sorts of colors and patterns, so you can pretty much match any type of decor with it.

If you're at all interested in considering this as a substrate, please let me know, and I'd be glad to post all the particulars on this thread, or send them to you in a Private Message, or an E-Mail to you, if you prefer.

You just can't beat commercial carpeting as a substrate.....it far surpasses anything that I've ever used in comfort for your beardie and ease of care. I've been using the same pieces of commercial carpeting in my three tanks for the last 5 years, and it looks and smells just as nice now as it did the day I put it in there. You just can't beat it as a substrate!

Hope you find this information helpful!

Denise,
your reply was very helpful. I'm very interested in your carpet idea with scotch guard for easy cleaning. I would love to see the particulars you have.
Thanks Alot

 

[LennyTheLizardKing]

Ok so i was using ground walnut shell as a substrate and found out it is very bad. It causes impaction, there are x-ray photos of beardies in the ER section with impaction so bad they died.
So after Denise suggested using carpet i went to the carpet store which is a few mins away and the guy gave me a 6ftx6ft roll for free. Heres a few pics of the old walnut shell, temporary towel , and current substrate. (upgrading to a bigger enclosure then going to use tile)

 

[Denise Bushnell (RIP)]

Sorry to invade the thread LOL... But is that carpeting easy to clean, and how do you clean it? I use ceramic tile and non-stick shelf liner, but I like the idea of carpeting because it would be softer. How much does it cost, and where can you buy it?
Ive never heard of using that before, but Im liking the idea!

Jess..... Check your Private Messages......I just sent you complete instructions for installing and cleaning scotchguarded commercial carpeting substrate!

 

[Jess]

I did! Thanks!
I have one concern though... I mentioned the idea to my mom, and she said that the Scotchguard is a chemical sprayed on the carpeting, and she didnt think it would be safe for my beardie to be sitting on chemicals all day. :? Thoughts?

 

[Denise Bushnell (RIP)]

As long as you purchase the carpet with the "Scotchguarding" already pre-applied, using it in any sort of animal's cage is completely safe. When the carpet manufacturers produce scotchguarded commercial carpeting, the scotchguarding is actually applied to the fibers that are used to make the carpet, in such a way that the scotchguarding becomes part of the carpet itself, and the chemical is basically locked in ,when the rug is finished, so the chemical becomes harmless to both people and pets.

The only time using scotchguarding will cause a problem is if you purchase the sort that comes in a spray can, that you can buy in places like Home Depot, and apply it to a carpet yourself. When its applied in that manner, the chemical is not "locked into" the rug itself, and it may wear off over time, or, if your pet should chew it, or eat it, it could make him very sick.

Hope this clarifies the difference for those of you who might be interested.