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#2167680
Racerx1909
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Slate tile bottom 
hello all,
i’m in the process of building a new viv and was thinking about slate tiles for the bottom.
i’ve seen them used as a hide/basking platform, but not the whole bottom...
anyone have any experience with them ?
have you sealed them ?
the tile store was recommending a sealer that is used for granite counter tops in kitchens...so it would certainly seem safe-once the fumes were gone from drying.
thanks
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08/07/10 08:04am
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#2167682
Rtl402
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Message To: Racerx1909 In reference to Message Id: 2167680
Slate tile bottom
you will need to use natural slate with no coatings on it. the chemicals used on tile are all going to emit toxins, especially at the temps that Uro’s require. I use natural slate, you have to clean it a bit... rise it with some hot water a few times, but it is easy to maintain. Just take it out every once in a while for a warm water wash
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08/07/10 08:26am
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#2167724
Racerx1909
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Message To: Rtl402 In reference to Message Id: 2167682
Slate tile bottom
great
thanks
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08/07/10 02:22pm
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#2168131
HeathBar
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Message To: Racerx1909 In reference to Message Id: 2167724
Slate tile bottom
I switched to the slate a few weeks ago and so far I like it. Home depot sells natural slate tiles in 6x6 tiles and 12x12 ones, I like the smaller ones personally. I just washed them all with a sponge before I put them in the enclosure, no sealing or anything. It’s easy to remove just one or 2 at a time to clean then put them back in.
Good luck.
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08/09/10 01:50pm
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#2168165
Telemachus
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Message To: HeathBar In reference to Message Id: 2168131
 Slate tile bottom
yes slate is awesome... I changed to slate when G had pinworms and I managed to make the entire enclosure into slate, I’m going to make a little slate sand box for her.. Ill show you some pics.. it looks sick.. looks like a well renovated Italian home... lol... everything was from home depot... made some slate steps as well... easy to clean, like cleaning a puzzle... pics soon..
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08/09/10 03:48pm
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#2168179
UROKEEPER
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Message To: Telemachus In reference to Message Id: 2168165
Slate tile bottom
you can get eco friendly dish soap to clean the tiles. not the regular " environmentally safe" soap you get at a grocery store...they lie. if you go to a truly eco friendly store you can get it. mine has no dyes,fragrances,preservatives,petroleum solvents,APEO’s,EDTA,NTA,acids,caustics or chlorines. the stuff marketed as "plant derived" or "environmentally safe" are just gimmicks used by companies. You will not be able to find them at a regular store. You can use a hard bristled brush and hot water to scrub the rocks and tiles down.rinse well. this will wash away feces,bacteria and parasites. warm water will not "do the trick".
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08/09/10 04:46pm
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#2168211
Telemachus
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Message To: UROKEEPER In reference to Message Id: 2168179
Slate tile bottom
Urokeeper what is your opinion in regards to vinegar, it’s a natural cleaner and people recommend it to be used for terrariums/aquariums/tiles as a cleaner, which is a great disinfectant?
Thanks...
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08/09/10 06:54pm
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#2168233
UROKEEPER
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Message To: Telemachus In reference to Message Id: 2168211
Slate tile bottom
some people use it but it doesn’t kill everything such as certain strains of Coccidia and certain parasites. but it does clean well and may work for some applications. certainly much safer than bleach and other cleaners. there are certain things bleach will not even kill. I do use a bleach water solution and spray it on my glass enclosures,fixtures but I try not and use it on porous items. obviously I rinse it very well. on porous items I use the eco soap and hot water and if my uro’s are in quarantine for any reason such as truly parasitic infections or heavy loads and they have undergone treatments I use a high pressure steamer to kill anything missed. You would even be surprised at what extremely hot tap water can kill. I have had my Uro’s a very long time and from time to time over the years they contract certain parasites. Sometimes bad sometimes not depending on what was found and their numbers. healthy captive uro’s get parasite from wild blooms and even their leafy greens bought from a supermarket. when I clean and steam I move my uro’s to safe locations.
different cleaners kill different things. some overlap.
nothing wrong with boiling water for smaller items and steam, hot water and eco soap for larger items. with a very good rinse. It is better than using harsh cleaners especially in porous items. Us as Urokeepers have heat and low humidity on our side. many organisms cannot live in the climate we provide. if you provide a humid hide parasites may be able to get a better foothold but nothing like an animal in a very humid climate. If you keep a clean cage and spot clean and clean soiled items promptly it is more difficult for the organisms with a direct life cycle to thrive. or the eggs to survive. sorry for the long post... all you ask was about vinegar lol hahaha
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08/09/10 07:44pm
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#2168235
UROKEEPER
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Message To: UROKEEPER In reference to Message Id: 2168233
Slate tile bottom
To the OP tiles are a very safe option and makes a good underlay. you can make nice hides too simulating a burrow. make them large and very dark and the uro will not go crazy trying to dig everywhere. A large cage helps. you will notice the uro’s may be a bit messy with their feces on tile keep it clean. I would have a very large cage if I went slate bottom. that way it minimizes waste on their bodies. imagine a small cage with tile bottom. you would own a dark green/brown uro lol
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08/09/10 07:53pm
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#2168325
Telemachus
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Message To: UROKEEPER In reference to Message Id: 2168235
Slate tile bottom
thank you... lol.. no worries...
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08/10/10 07:13am
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