Alternative Substrate?

[Keir64]

Hey all =)

As alot of you probably think, kitchen roll isnt exactly the most pleasing to the eye when it comes to leo vivs.
I'm planning a new viv build for my leo (soon to be leoS) and would like to hear any suggestions on any alternative substrate. Ive seen people keep their leo's on wood chips/sand but obvs this can be pretty dangerous as it can lead to impaction.

Oh and another thought before you leave.. What about.. a tropical LOOKING viv.. but with desert humidity for my leos? Could be quite cool.. was thinking fern tree panels and building little caves and climby bits and stuff..
Would like to know your views/suggestions.

Thanks!

[dionator]

what about this ?
http://www.reptileforums.co.uk/habit...fake-rock.html

[Pendragon]

Originally Posted by Keir64

Hey all =)

As alot of you probably think, kitchen roll isnt exactly the most pleasing to the eye when it comes to leo vivs.
I'm planning a new viv build for my leo (soon to be leoS) and would like to hear any suggestions on any alternative substrate. Ive seen people keep their leo's on wood chips/sand but obvs this can be pretty dangerous as it can lead to impaction.

Oh and another thought before you leave.. What about.. a tropical LOOKING viv.. but with desert humidity for my leos? Could be quite cool.. was thinking fern tree panels and building little caves and climby bits and stuff..
Would like to know your views/suggestions.

Thanks!

Hi,

Dionator's viv looks good

Leo's come from the mountains of Pakistan, Iran, Afghanistan. Very rocky, barron desert type environment, So I would stick with rocks and gravel. If you want to go with plants as well, then I would sugest Mother in laws tongue, and carex buchananii grass.

Good luck

Jay

[dionator]

ohh just so you know its not my viv , its just a thread i found

[Pendragon]

Originally Posted by dionator

ohh just so you know its not my viv , its just a thread i found

doh!!!

[Ron Magpie]

Originally Posted by Keir64

Hey all =)

Oh and another thought before you leave.. What about.. a tropical LOOKING viv.. but with desert humidity for my leos? Could be quite cool.. was thinking fern tree panels and building little caves and climby bits and stuff..
Would like to know your views/suggestions.

Thanks!

Why???? I doubt the lizards will care, so long as the humidity is right, but if you want a 'jungle' why not keep jungle lizards? Supposedly calcium sand is 'digestible', so you could always try a setup with that and cork bark or rocks. Maybe with the plants suggested above in pots.

[Keir64]

Awesome idea dionator! Thats the kinda thing i was thinking about.. but putting a few more plants and stuff in it. I love the little caves =)

Ron Magpie - The tropical looking viv is just an idea. I already have tropical vivs and i love the look of them so i was thinking i could do something similar but use a substrate that doesnt keep humidity in (eg i use coco fibre and wood chip for my basilisk).
The calcium sand is a great idea too =).. Thanks for all your inputs people =)

[Kiel]

do NOT use calci-sand. Impaction risk is massive with leos.

i personally love the Repti-Carpet.

[kaikara]

I use big pieces of slate sitting on play sand. That way you get good transfer of heat from the heat mats and it is a more natural look instead of repticarpet or any other manufactured stuff. Where they poop all the time I will put a smaller piece of slate that I can pull out and wash. You do get a little bit of sand here and there but that chace of inpaction impaction from that is minimal. Plus I bowl feed so I am not worried.