What's best for transmitting the feel of the bottom? Also can I just paint some olive green to blend in with my worms? Remember tungsten is off limits. It's just to exspensive.

Lead is my go to

I've been using lead but I wanted to see if there was any thing a little better but still affordable.

here are the densities (kg/m³) approximates.

 

Steel                                 7850

Brass - rolled and drawn   8730

Lead                                11340

Tungsten                         19600

 

I'd stick with lead if you don't want to go with tungsten unless the Lead(toxic) worries you.