Substrate

What is the best substrate for Hermanns? Pet shop recommended these awful pellets - similar to cat litter, I changed to sand/soil mix but have read this may not be good if she eats it.

yea sand is not good, that sand can cause damage to there intestines if consumed. i would recommend coco coir, holds humidity really well and wont harm your tort. how big is your torts enclosure?

also cypress mulch is really good.

It's far too small im afraid, I didn't realise it would be as small, just went with what the pet shop recommended...ive had to order the extension which will double the size but it won't be here til Wednesday.

Are either of these the right kind of coir stuff? Ive no idea at all what to get, trying to soak up all the info I can

Your absolute best bet is to do the mix I describe in the care sheet above as far as substrate goes. However, it's not crucial that you do that. There are a few methods that work and while many people will steer you away from sand, it is actually very natural for sand to be part of a Hermann's tortoise's substrate. In more than 2 decades of breeding this species, we have never, ever had an issue with sand causing any kind of issue when it is mixed in with the soil we use. But, it comes down to personal preference. If it scares you to use it, simply don't. It won't make or break it for the animal, it's just something we like to use here as part of our preferred method of housing these tortoises. Impaction does happen, so it's a very real issue, there's just a lot of fine details that come along with why it happens.

Coir is ok to use but don't let it dry out. The stuff becomes incredibly messy so mixing it into top soil helps minimize that and is better for the tortoise. Hope this helps and maybe tell this pet shop person that you're through taking his advice. People on here are your best bet. Just remember one thing, there's no "my way or the highway", some people will think there is only one method that works. That couldn't be any further from the truth. Take in all you can, pull info that makes sense to you from various successful sources who have years of experience and always be open to learning more. You'll find what works best for your tortoise and yourself.

If you're looking to read in depth about Hermann's and their care, feel free to visit my site: www.hermannihaven.com


Hope this helps!

Yes it helps such a lot thank you! I just want to make up for her poor past and get it right for her now. It's been a bit of a crash course since last Friday but I think I'm getting the hang of things now...