Substrate For New Habitat

[NickWag]

Hello everyone!

I am just about finished building my hatchling Sulcata a new habitat. It's 7x4, wood frame.
The problem is that I'm using strong mesh screen (like for a screen door) on the floor, so that I can leave him outside and not have to worry about Louisiana rainstorms flooding him out.
I've been using cypress mulch and coco coir in his current tank, but coco coir is not gonna be feasible now because of the screen bottom.
Would it be wise to go strictly cypress mulch? He LOVES digging in the coir now, so I'm trying to help him keep his hobby!
Thanks!

 

[theelectraco]

I don't understand the need for screen flooring.


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[NickWag]

It rains a lot in Louisiana. I'm going to leave him outside a lot. Therefore, I don't want his box to flood.
Make sense?

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Also, the box is raised on 30-inch legs with wheels. Not on the ground.

 

[NickWag]

Anybody?

 

[Levi the Leopard]

Can you reinforce the bottom with extra support beams so the screen mesh can hold up the weight of the coir/dirt?
Is this your question?
I'm still not too sure what you are asking...

Heather
Sent from my Android TFO app

 

[NickWag]

Holding up the screen isn't the problem.
The problem is the coir falling through the screen.

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Because of the fine particles, not the weight.

 

[theelectraco]

I think a proper bottom with drainage holes will work a lot better.i don't see any substrate really working out, since it will be very heavy, and screen door material isn't that strong.


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Seems like you already answered your question. Cypress mulch is prob the only thing that will work. Or moss.



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0.0.1 Redfoot
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[NickWag]

Cool. Thanks!

 

[thea lester]

Hey! I live in New Orleans and keep box turtles. 2 years ago I built an enclosure that had heavy screen on the bottom which was elevated 4" from the ground. What I used to keep the soil in was fabric weed barrier. You want to get the porous kind. I stapled it down onto my wood frame and it worked super well for 2 years!
Hope this helps!
I did it that way because my turtles were living on a flat rooftop garden and drainage was an issue.
Thea

Feel free to PM or email me and I can go into further detail about it if you like!

 

[NickWag]

Hey, neighbor! I'm in Mandeville!
I used the weed barrier on the bottom as well.
I'll PM you about the rest!

 

[rocky1998]

I think for substrate there are lots try to avoid using any sand

 

[NickWag]

Yeah, I used top soil and cypress mulch, with weed barrier to hold it up.

 

[Sheldon the russian tortoise]

Im in mandeville too what neighborhood are you in im in

 

[NickWag]

I'm down the street from Franco's! How about you?

 

[WillTort2]

You could take 2 thin sheets of plywood and drill a hole every few inches for drainage and place the weed barrier between the sheets to prevent the coco coir from running out of the holes.

 

[Sheldon the russian tortoise]

Oh im in river oaks i work out at Franco's daily

 

[NickWag]

Wow! Small world!

 

[Sheldon the russian tortoise]

Yep
It is