gravel substrate

The girls are costing me a fortune in kitchen roll for the other 1/3 of the viv the slate doesnt cover and crickets were getting under the slate and hiding etc - im sure you all know the annoying situations. So I decided to give them a new substrate on the non-slate parts, went to the local petshop and bought a bag of white fish tank gravel (obviously washed it first) and they seem to be enjoying it! Its too large for them to ingest too so no impaction risk... the girls exploring:

That looks like white limestone or quartz which really isn't good for herps. The limestone, if they stand on it enough will leech minerals into their skin (it's not recommended for dog kennels either), and quartz is very sharp to walk on when it's the chipped pieces and they're not buffed like creek bed stone/pebbles are. Also they are small enough to be ingested should the jag strike your leo to eat one, so overall hon I don't think this is the best substrait alternative for your leo. If you want easy to clean, feeder hiding proof substrait go with peel and stick vinyl tiles. $2 a piece and never need replacing They really do work the best imo. There's a lot on the forum about it, you could use the search feature and read all about it.

ah see, this is why i need you guys! Well then thats coming out tonight... I like my slate though which is the only thing, I may invest in some nice looking stick on vinyl will look around some DIY shops or online.

what a shame it looked so nice, but whatever is best for them! I'll read up on this just so im clue'd up. thanks

It does look really nice, but like you said, what's best for the lil ones... I have seen vinyl simulated slate at home depot and lowes in the US and on their online shops. It looks pretty darn nice and really easy to use. I have tan/sand colored vinyl simulated slate in my viv and I love how it looks.

It wouldn't be anything to go to your local DIY store and get the same slate you've got and have them cut it to size to fit that little area. It may or may not cost money, I know my local store does so many for free then they cost after that.

@Kermit
what is the brown stuff in the bottom of your tank? it looks like moss

Sphagnum moss and treebark

does that work well for your Geckos? I wanted to do something more natural for my Geckos when they got older...
If you wouldn't mind sharing your wisdom.... tell me what brands you use and how well it works for your Leos... Does it get in their ears, nose, eyes, ect?
Please share your information!

It was a bag of orchid moss I found in home depot, can't recall the brand name off hand, but it's longer and stringier than traditional sphagnum moss even tho it is still labeled as sphagnum moss. The tree bark was actually field collected off logs I had on my property holding flower pots. I just cut it, stripped it and baked it at 250*F for about an hour to make sure there weren't any nasties in it. I've never noticed it in his ears or nose, he actually doesn't seem to like walking on the moss too much seeing as how he was tub raised I think it feels strange to him, altho I did actually see him in the moist moss hide the other day for a bit. Between the bark and the moss I notice it def. helps keep his humidity up. I only have to mist maybe once or twice a week.

oh okay thanks Kermit

You're welcome

and also i forgot to ask... do you feed your Leos in that tank?

Yes I do. I hand feed supers and drop them right on the tile in front of his hot hide so theres no risk of him eating the moss by accident.

oh, okay