Prairie Mom
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Sep 13, 2014
- Messages
- 4,339
Hi All,
I'm in the process of setting up a warm humid room for my sulcata this winter. The floor is concrete. I will need to have a deep thickly applied substrate both for tortoise comfort/insulation and clean up.
I'd rather not use much soil and would prefer wood chips. I could throw in a rotation of dry Autumn leaves as well. (I've done this for squirrels). I would REALLY like to avoid expensive cypress mulch in this larger area, but am still trying to understand what is best for reptiles.
What do you guys think about untreated wood chips? The trees are mainly cottonwood and elm, but there are other untreated mystery bits mixed in too. My tortoise already walks in this stuff throughout the yard and gardens. Haven't had any problems with her walking in it or eating plants out of it.
I'm interested in your thoughts about the substrate, as well as anything else that comes to mind regarding my project. If you do not believe my substrate is a good idea for indoors, do me a favor, and please try to convince me why not -Thanks!
I'm in the process of setting up a warm humid room for my sulcata this winter. The floor is concrete. I will need to have a deep thickly applied substrate both for tortoise comfort/insulation and clean up.
I'd rather not use much soil and would prefer wood chips. I could throw in a rotation of dry Autumn leaves as well. (I've done this for squirrels). I would REALLY like to avoid expensive cypress mulch in this larger area, but am still trying to understand what is best for reptiles.
What do you guys think about untreated wood chips? The trees are mainly cottonwood and elm, but there are other untreated mystery bits mixed in too. My tortoise already walks in this stuff throughout the yard and gardens. Haven't had any problems with her walking in it or eating plants out of it.
I'm interested in your thoughts about the substrate, as well as anything else that comes to mind regarding my project. If you do not believe my substrate is a good idea for indoors, do me a favor, and please try to convince me why not -Thanks!