thank you for the tile recomendation. I will def be going that route, but need to go get some slate tiles and cut to size first.
In the mean time... i grabbed the Exo terra sand mat, just so that i could get that sand out right away and not worry about injesting it. It is really nice... looks like real rock... yes, i know it will be a pain until i get the tile in, as the whole piece has to come out to wash it.... but at least you can wash it.. its more rubber and rock (so his nails file down and dont get snagged)... and waaaaay better than the sand.
oh! and i did have a climbing branch (thick piece he loves to bask on)... picked up another big one today.
i picked up this resin piece too, as i coundlt decide. Do you think he would like the real branch wood thing, or a fake resin bamboo thing?