Cement tiles reptile safe?

[JohnM]

Hello. I'm new to this website, and my interest is uromastyx and armadillo lizards, but close enough. I wanted to use roofing tiles as hides, but I'm not sure if the ones made of concrete are reptile/lizard safe. Clay tiles are hard to find but everyone has concrete. My concern is the alkalinity of concrete roof tiles, especially new ones that are not well weathered. Does anyone know if new concrete roof tiles are safe and will not cause skin burns due to alkalinity? Thanks for your help.

 

[Hbdarla]

Hello. I'm new to this website, and my interest is uromastyx and armadillo lizards, but close enough. I wanted to use roofing tiles as hides, but I'm not sure if the ones made of concrete are reptile/lizard safe. Clay tiles are hard to find but everyone has concrete. My concern is the alkalinity of concrete roof tiles, especially new ones that are not well weathered. Does anyone know if new concrete roof tiles are safe and will not cause skin burns due to alkalinity? Thanks for your help.

Hi there! The only thing I would say about using concrete tiles is that it is recommended not to use porous tile or slate because of moisture and or bacteria. I would maybe try some non porous slate.
Sorry if this didn’t help much but I’m trying

 

[xp29]

I would think if you sealed them with a reptile safe sealer and let them cure before using they would probably be ok.

 

[JohnM]

Hi there! The only thing I would say about using concrete tiles is that it is recommended not to use porous tile or slate because of moisture and or bacteria. I would maybe try some non porous slate.
Sorry if this didn’t help much but I’m trying

I appreciate you at least answering my question to some degree. My understanding is that people frequently do use roof tiles as hides, but I don't seem to be able to find a single one that discusses concrete verse clay/terracotta. Perhaps no one had given it a thought or didn't know that there were two types. I certainly didn't until I got a little deeper into it. I was under the impression that beaded dragon owners also used roof tiles. Perhaps not, but I was sure that I read that somewhere. And I figured with how long BDs have been kept that someone would have addressed or had experience with the two types. I suppose that they could be sealed with something to make them nonporous but I haven't found anything regarding that yet. Perhaps someone will eventually chim in with an answer. Thanks.

 

[Claudiusx]

Sealing it will undoubtedly make it safe. It should be safe unsealed too. As long as it isn't getting wet, the alkalinity shouldn't be an issue.

-Brandon

 

[JohnM]

Sealing it will undoubtedly make it safe. It should be safe unsealed too. As long as it isn't getting wet, the alkalinity shouldn't be an issue.

-Brandon

That's kinda what I was thinking, but I wasn't sure about that or if it goes straight from the bath/water dish to the tile to dry off perhaps that would cause concentrated alkalinity. Thought I'd include some pictures of my new C. joneseii. 

 

[Claudiusx]

Awesome looking little dude!

I wasn't sure about that or if it goes straight from the bath/water dish to the tile to dry off perhaps that would cause concentrated alkalinity

It might, but the older the tile gets, the less and less alkaline it will get. Cement naturally drops pH over time due to carbon dioxide in the air reacting with it, although I don't know for sure how long that process takes in our scenario of the surface being the only thing of real concern.

-Brandon

 

[xp29]

Oh those are awesome!

 

[JohnM]

Thanks. Common names are sungazers and armadillo lizards. They give birth to live young but usually only have one or two. I've got a male and three females. Wish me luck.

Also thanks for CO2 tidbit. Hadn't thought about that specifically, but I do know that aged concrete is safe. That's why I've been trying to find salvage tiles

 

[xp29]

GOOD LUCK!!!!!

 

[JohnM]

GOOD LUCK!!!!!

Thank you sir