Background and substrate

[BeardieMum❤️]

Hi everyone,

so I will be staring off with tile and I was going to make a custom background, but then I came across this....

https://www.reptiles.swelluk.com/exo-terra-terrarium-background/

could I use this as a tile substrate , as well as a background? I would just remove it and clean it off then put it back? Is there a reason why this would not be suitable for that?

thank you
Amy

 

[Sadie]

Hi everyone,

so I will be staring off with tile and I was going to make a custom background, but then I came across this....

https://www.reptiles.swelluk.com/exo-terra-terrarium-background/

could I use this as a tile substrate , as well as a background? I would just remove it and clean it off then put it back? Is there a reason why this would not be suitable for that?

thank you
Amy

I would not use as a substrate --- tile is best for cleaning - that has too many groves and crannys in it for a good cleaning --

 

[Skybug]

Hi everyone,

so I will be staring off with tile and I was going to make a custom background, but then I came across this....

https://www.reptiles.swelluk.com/exo-terra-terrarium-background/

could I use this as a tile substrate , as well as a background? I would just remove it and clean it off then put it back? Is there a reason why this would not be suitable for that?

thank you
Amy

Hello amy, as long as it’s getting cleaned every day (which will get very old, taking out all the decor washing it down then putting it all back) , i say go for it , if thats what you want building an enclosure takes some trial and error, ive had to try out some things that ended up not working.

 

[BeardieMum❤️]

Ok I will stick with the tile, thank you.

 

[Skybug]

Ok I will stick with the tile, thank you.

If you can get tile with some texture thatd also keep ur beardie from sliding around on it, this stuff is cheap, also ceramic (the redish orange kind) is abrasive and if u get that itd help help keep ur beardies nails down my only critique with tile is if your beardie has high places they jump from tile can be very bad on their joints (you’ll notice the soles of your beardie feet becoming pink, watch for that)

 

[Sadie]

Ok I will stick with the tile, thank you.

You want textured smooth tile some w/ a little texture for non slippage but nothing coarse -- this is what I got at Home Depot and my dragons have never had issue w/ it --

 

[BeardieMum❤️]

There are so many different options, I will have a good look around, I will only be using tile until baby beardie gets bigger. Would slate be ok? Or a porcelain made to look like slate?

what are both of your tiles made from @Sadie and @Skybug?

 

[Skybug]

There are so many different options, I will have a good look around, I will only be using tile until baby beardie gets bigger. Would slate be ok? Or a porcelain made to look like slate?

what are both of your tiles made from @Sadie and @Skybug?

I used tile in the past for my baby, as she was getting girth to her I noticed her soles were getting sore, i got rid of it a while back, i believe it was ceramic, as when it gets broken it was redish orange on the inside, i chose a lighter tile so I could really analyze my beardies poop. Slate it a good option it’ll hold heat nicely, if the edges are sharp those will need to be ground down though.

 

[Skybug]

If you have Any gaps id recommend using silicone to seal them, you dont want to have to pull everything out if poo gets down in the crack.

 

[Sadie]

There are so many different options, I will have a good look around, I will only be using tile until baby beardie gets bigger. Would slate be ok? Or a porcelain made to look like slate?

what are both of your tiles made from @Sadie and @Skybug?

You want a slated ceramic tile -- go to the store and feel the tile -- mine is a smooth but has texture to it -- run your hand across it - you dont want something coarse that when your dragon walks across it its going to cause abrasions - so rough I saying -- my dragons seem to like the tile - the sleep on it even tho they have fleece blankets in their hides -- mine does not heat up and get real hot either -- no real smooth stuff either -- something w/ no texture other wise he will be slipping all over that tank

 

[Sadie]

If you have Any gaps id recommend using silicone to seal them, you dont want to have to pull everything out if poo gets down in the crack.

You can seal it if you like I did not seal mine -- mine was left loose so I can pull it I have a thick shop paper towel under the tile to catch the watery poo or so - it does a very good job at doing that -- so when cleaning if they happen to poop on the crack then I just pull the one tile clean w/ vinegar/ water and replace the one towel - those towels are purchased at Walmart -- automotive -- I did not grout or seal for reasons of deep cleaning the tank - Blaze had coccidia a while back and I had to pull that tank apart to deep clean it -- it actually was easy as I only did the one area he pooped w/ sanitizing etc ---- most of decor I pulled and left out till he was over the stuff --- I only left certain pieces in the tank so I wasnt having to clean all the decor --

 

[Sadie]

I used tile in the past for my baby, as she was getting girth to her I noticed her soles were getting sore, i got rid of it a while back, i believe it was ceramic, as when it gets broken it was redish orange on the inside, i chose a lighter tile so I could really analyze my beardies poop. Slate it a good option it’ll hold heat nicely, if the edges are sharp those will need to be ground down though.

Its best to use a tile saw cutter then you avoid jagged edges -- Home Depot some of the stores will cut the tile for you - you would need to check tho