Hardwood mulch for tortoise

[Warhawk]

I have been reading articles online talk about using mulch with the substrate as long as it is hard wood mulch.

Are they talking about the normal mulch you can find at the local hardware store?

I know I have read many times Pine is not good but Cypress mulch is hard to find locally so I always use dirt/sand mix.

Just wondering what I'm missing.

 

[JoesMum]

On here, Orchid Bark and Coco Coir seem to be the preferred mulches for their water retention properties.

I haven't heard of a hardwood mulch

 

[Yvonne G]

Fir bark is good. Hardwood mulch is good if it hasn't been dyed. Read the ingredients. If it has pine or cedar stay away from it. Call around to plant nurseries and ask if they have big bags of orchid bark. Orchids need a fairly clean potting medium, free of pesticides and herbicides, so orchid bark is something good to use as substrate.

 

[Warhawk]

Thanks for the info everyone. I'm thinking about changing my substrate but that will be July so lots of time to keep researching.