Leopard geckos are an excellent reptile to keep as a pet and many beginners to keeping pet reptiles often start with a leopard gecko before expanding their reptile keeping hobby into various other reptiles too.
Although leopard geckos have been popular for many years, they have seen a surge in their popularity recently as more and more people have added a pet leopard gecko to their family.
With many of these people being brand new to keeping a pet leopard gecko, there has also been a correlating spike in the number of people reaching out with various questions about keeping a pet leopard gecko recently.
After publishing our article going over using ceramic tiles for a bearded dragon, we also noticed a number of people reaching out to ask about using ceramic tile for a leopard gecko so we decided to publish this article.
Our hope is that we will be able to help our readers better understand the advantages and disadvantages of using ceramic tile for their leopard gecko as well as pick up some tips and tricks that you may be able to use with it in your vivarium.
What Do People Use Ceramic Tiles For With Leopard Geckos?
One of the most common questions we get asked is what do people use ceramic tiles for with leopard geckos?
The answer to this question is actually quite simple, people use ceramic tiles for a variety of reasons when it comes to keeping leopard geckos.
The three most popular reasons are listed below:
- As a heat source.
- As a place to basking.
- As part of their vivarium décor.
As you can see, there are a variety of reasons why people use ceramic tiles for leopard geckos and in this section we are going to go over each one of these reasons in more detail.
Ceramic Tiles As a Heat Source
One of the most popular reasons why people use ceramic tiles for leopard geckos is because they make an excellent heat source.
If you are using a ceramic tile as a heat source, it is important to understand that you will need to use a reptile thermostat to ensure that the temperature does not get too hot or too cold.
You will also need to use a reptile heat mat to attach the ceramic tile to as this will allow the heat to travel up through the tile and into the leopard gecko’s enclosure.
Ceramic Tiles As a Place to Basking
Another popular reason why people use ceramic tiles for leopard geckos is because they make an excellent basking spot.
Basking is an important part of a leopard gecko’s thermoregulation and if you do not provide your leopard gecko with a basking spot, they will likely become sick or even die.
When selecting a ceramic tile to use as a basking spot, it is important to select a tile that is large enough for your leopard gecko to comfortably bask on.
You will also want to make sure that the tile is not too hot as this can cause your leopard gecko to overheat.
The best way to test the temperature of the tile is to use a reptile thermometer and make sure that the tile is around 90-95 degrees Fahrenheit with this temperature being specific only to the basking area.
Ceramic Tiles As Part of Their Vivarium Décor
The third and final popular reason why people use ceramic tiles for leopard geckos is because they can add a nice touch of décor to their vivarium.
Leopard geckos are not the most active reptiles and as a result, they do not need a lot of space to move around.
This means that you can get away with using a smaller vivarium which in turn means that there is less space for décor.
Ceramic tiles can help to fill this void and add a nice touch of décor to your leopard gecko’s vivarium.
When selecting ceramic tiles to use as part of the vivarium décor, it is important to select tiles that are safe for reptiles.
You will also want to make sure that the tiles are not too small as your leopard gecko could accidently ingest them.
The Advantages of Using Ceramic Tiles For Leopard Geckos!
Now that we have gone over the three most popular reasons why people use ceramic tiles for leopard geckos, we are going to go over the advantages of using ceramic tiles.
The advantages of using ceramic tiles are listed below:
- They make an excellent heat source.
- They make an excellent basking spot.
- They can add a nice touch of décor to your leopard gecko’s vivarium.
- They are easy to clean and disinfect.
- They are relatively inexpensive.
As you can see, there are a variety of advantages to using ceramic tiles for leopard geckos.
If you are looking for a way to heat your leopard gecko’s enclosure or add a nice touch of décor, ceramic tiles are an excellent option!
Ceramic Tile Alternatives For Leopard Geckos!
In our opinion, slate is probably the best alternative to ceramic tile for leopard geckos.
Slate is a natural material that is easy to clean and disinfect and it can also be used for a variety of purposes such as a heat source, basking spot, or even just part of the vivarium décor.
The only downside to slate is that it can be a bit more expensive than ceramic tile.
Should You Use Ceramic Tile For Leopard Geckos?
If you are looking for a way to heat your leopard gecko’s enclosure or add a nice touch of décor, ceramic tiles are an excellent option!
We hope that this article has helped you to better understand the advantages of using ceramic tiles for leopard geckos.
