Hello I'm new here but have been stalking for months! I have 2 desert tortoises who are a little over a year old. I've been keeping them in a glass tank though I've read that's not ideal and just bought a dresser after realizing I'm not a builder and have no tools, to make a bigger space for them. SUBSTRATE?! I've read so much and am very confused. My mom raised a gaggle of tortoises all from the parents of these 2 and always just put them in tanks, heating pads but no lights and only newspaper. I've been usuing coconut husk on carpet squares. Some say that's bad, some good. I know these are desert tortoises and perhaps I'm reading about other species I'm just not sure. I bought bags of Garden Soil, the only kind that looked to have nothing added, from orchard supply. I read "top soil" is what I need, but they didn't have that. Is top soil different than garden soil? There are tiny white rocks and sticks in it and I know they will try to eat those or anything actually. They prefer my shoe to endive at times. Is it ok for them to eat this? It's not that crumbly bad white stuff, perlite? But tiny rocks.
Moisture- ?? Some say keep it moist, some say keep it dry. Some say mix with play sand, some say noooo play sand! How do I clean it? Scoop out poop? What about the pee? Does it start smelling? I have to figure out a way to clamp their lights overhead.
My gardener built an out door box with a lid as well but it's been sitting there for months because I don't know what to fill it with. They are cramped in their tank with their makeshift cars board hut and ramp I modeled after a table I saw online. Any help would be appreciated! Thank you !
Tanya
Moisture- ?? Some say keep it moist, some say keep it dry. Some say mix with play sand, some say noooo play sand! How do I clean it? Scoop out poop? What about the pee? Does it start smelling? I have to figure out a way to clamp their lights overhead.
My gardener built an out door box with a lid as well but it's been sitting there for months because I don't know what to fill it with. They are cramped in their tank with their makeshift cars board hut and ramp I modeled after a table I saw online. Any help would be appreciated! Thank you !
Tanya