Anyone not use substrate?

[trex]

I have my 3 year old Merauke on aspen shavings at the moment and I just finished doing a total cage cleaning today. After cleaning, I noticed that there were fecal stains on the cage floor that I had missed throughout the year when I would spot clean. This got me thinking, what if I went totally substrate free? Cleaning would be even easier and I wouldn't have to worry about missing a spot.

Anyone think this is a good idea? It seems to me that this would also allow the floor to absorb more heat from my heat lamp instead of having it being covered by aspen shavings. I know certain substrates are necessary to maintain higher humidity, but I live in a relatively high humidity area with daily averages of 75. The highest can be up to almost 95 in the summer.

The cage material is made of melamine, which for those that aren't in the know, is particle board that has been sandwiched between two sheets of laminated white resin that is very smooth and easy to wipe.

Just doing a little brainstorming.

[Laceflower]

As much as blueys love to burrow, that may cause a good deal of unnecessary stress on your little buddy. They feel most secure (and are consequently the most amiable) when they have at least a designated area or two with deep enough substrate to bury up in. You could try reptile carpet or shallow bedding and provide a couple of deep mounds of substrate in corners or only on one side of the tank so the little guy still has room to exert his instincts.

I understand the struggle though. Haha.

[splashy07]

Ditto what Laceflower says, and I'd like to add that I wouldn't use aspen for a merauke regardless of how humid your area is...pretty humid here on Long Island too in summer, but heat lamps quickly dry up any humidity in the tank, unless you are using a totally enclosed terrarium (no screen cover). I even had to stop using it for my northerns because of difficulties in shedding. I found it to dry up quickly, mold if sprayed and be incredibly dusty. You could also use a humid hide area with some sphagnum moss or similar, but by no means would I remove all substrate as they are natural burrowers. I've got the same issue with staining under the substrate, but most of my guys 'go' in the same place all the time so that makes it a bit easier. I know where to look, so it's not that bad...good luck!

[Janella]

I absolutely agree with the two above responses as well. Blue Tongues love to burrow and if you take that away you would be adding alot of stress. For my Merauke and Northern I use Jungle mix and then Reptibark on top. I clean their enclosures everyday of fecal and urates. Then every 3 months I do complete substrate and cage clean. I never have any issues. Also this holds water great for humidity. Hope this helps

[starscream3232]

For meruakes you want the humidity around 80%. If kept too dry they can develop respiratory problems and shedding issues. A mixture of cypress mulch and top soil is a good choice.

[trex]

Appreciate the comments, everyone. I will be adding substrate back to his cage as soon as I can.

However, after the cage cleaning process, I noticed a bleeding problem that might have progressed unknown. I made another topic here:
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=29823

Perhaps it is related?