i need advice about herman tortoise substrate. im currently using a Komodo Tropical Terrain Compact Brick which hasnt been a very good substrate because when my tortoise walks on it it kind of like moves so then she basically walks to the bottom of the enclosure (idk how to explain). due to this she only stays on her slate and avoids walking on it. does anyone know any good substrates i could get on amazon? thanks x
herman enclosure substrate
- Thread starter Victoriab
- Start date
TeamZissou
Well-Known Member
What you want is 'fine grade fir bark,' also known as 'orchid bark' and is also sold as ZooMed Reptibark. You want at least 3-4" of substrate. What you have now is not enough. Alternatively, you could use the coco coir like what you have, but you'd need a lot more. The Reptibark is a lot less mess.
Here's a longer description of the care info. Compare it against your current setup:
tortoiseforum.org
Here's a longer description of the care info. Compare it against your current setup:
The Best Way To Raise Any Temperate Species Of Tortoise
I chose the title of this care sheet very carefully. Are there other ways to raise babies and care for adults? Yes. Yes there are, but those ways are not as good. What follows is the BEST way, according to 30 years of research and experimentation with hundreds of babies of many species. What is...
tortoiseforum.org
The stuff you have is fine, but you need a 3-4 inch layer of it, it must be kept damp, and you have to hand pack it to keep the mess down. Having a thin dry dusty layer is not good for your tortoise.
The stuff you are using is what I prefer for babies, but admittedly, it can be messy. Once they reach 3-4 inches, that is when I move them to the fine grade orchid bark that Team Zissou recommended.
