- Joined
- Jul 30, 2013
- Messages
- 436
I am in the process of tripling the size of Uncle Bri's enclosure. I am debating about the substrate. As some of you know I have always raised my torts on plywood - straight, hard, dry plywood! and its worked out great. Never any shell rot, plenty of traction, soft enough. never had a problem. I just sweep and vacuum it on occasion. It is not however conducive to hosing down and it leaks. Now that Uncle Bri has well surpassed the size of any tort I have had in the past I am experience new requirements. For example, when he pees - holy cow! the volume is...... a lot!. The plywood floor no longer works well, at least not in it's current configuration.
I've been thinking about lining his new enclosure with reinforced sheet rubber roofing, just liked you'd use on a commercial flat roof. the design of the enclosure is such that all surfaces are slightly sloped with several drains so that i could hose the place down periodically. He would also have a bath area built right in that I could fill with water as needed, and drain as needed. This would mean that he would be on rubber all the time. I cannot think of any other surface that would allow this type of maintenance. i also cannot think of any material that could go on top of the rubber that would drain, not mildew, not trap debris below it. I've thought of having a sand area, but could that be hosed down and still dry out?
I am not concerned about traction, I think there would be plenty of that. I also do not think he would tear through it. it's pretty strong stuff.
I just wanted to get peoples thoughts. i know that substrate is often a hotly contested subject, but I can take it! I received a lot of pushback for breeding my Leopards on plywood over the years, but it was never a problem. Yhe sheet rubber would be new and so I'd like some feedback. Thanks
I've been thinking about lining his new enclosure with reinforced sheet rubber roofing, just liked you'd use on a commercial flat roof. the design of the enclosure is such that all surfaces are slightly sloped with several drains so that i could hose the place down periodically. He would also have a bath area built right in that I could fill with water as needed, and drain as needed. This would mean that he would be on rubber all the time. I cannot think of any other surface that would allow this type of maintenance. i also cannot think of any material that could go on top of the rubber that would drain, not mildew, not trap debris below it. I've thought of having a sand area, but could that be hosed down and still dry out?
I am not concerned about traction, I think there would be plenty of that. I also do not think he would tear through it. it's pretty strong stuff.
I just wanted to get peoples thoughts. i know that substrate is often a hotly contested subject, but I can take it! I received a lot of pushback for breeding my Leopards on plywood over the years, but it was never a problem. Yhe sheet rubber would be new and so I'd like some feedback. Thanks