Suitable Substrate For Stars?

[Le Ee]

Could anyone recommend a good substrate for star torts? I've been looking for a good one but for now I've been using corn cob bedding which I've heard isn't recommended, and some people have told me to use soil mixtures but here in Malaysia a lot come with fertilizers and chemicals, and the pets stores don't have much for tortoises. Help? thanks!

 

[G-stars]

Corn cob is not a good substrate eat all. You could use plain dirt/soil. I'm not sure what you have available in your country.

 

[Jodie]

Dirt is definitely best. Here we have coco Coir, sometimes called plantation soil. A lot of people use orchid bark. I also have no idea what is available to you though, and I don't have Stars. Mostly just wanted to bump your thread.

 

[Angel_malaysia]

I'm in Malaysia... I've recently started using Timothy hay, they seem to like it I have two stars

 

[russian/sulcata/tortoise]

I'm in Malaysia... I've recently started using Timothy hay, they seem to like it I have two stars

hay is not a good substrate its to dry. tortoises need humidity and moisture in there enclosures.

 

[elainelim]

Coco peat, you can get them from Ace hardware or nursery shops. Some exotic pet stores also carry bricks of cococoir. Please dont use corn cob. They can cause impaction if digested.

 

[Le Ee]

Dirt is definitely best. Here we have coco Coir, sometimes called plantation soil. A lot of people use orchid bark. I also have no idea what is available to you though, and I don't have Stars. Mostly just wanted to bump your thread.

Thanks for your help! I'll try and see what's available

 

[Le Ee]

Coco peat, you can get them from Ace hardware or nursery shops. Some exotic pet stores also carry bricks of cococoir. Please dont use corn cob. They can cause impaction if digested.

Thanks! Gonna look for it for my star during the weekend

 

[Le Ee]

Dirt is definitely best. Here we have coco Coir, sometimes called plantation soil. A lot of people use orchid bark. I also have no idea what is available to you though, and I don't have Stars. Mostly just wanted to bump your thread.

just a quick question, would that be a little too humid for the stars? I'm not very sure because here in Malaysia the humidity is usually around 80% , so I'm afraid by using a somewhat "moisture retaining" substrate it may lead to complications (?) thanks again for all the help

 

[elainelim]

just a quick question, would that be a little too humid for the stars? I'm not very sure because here in Malaysia the humidity is usually around 80% , so I'm afraid by using a somewhat "moisture retaining" substrate it may lead to complications (?) thanks again for all the help

You dont have to completely make it moist for coco peat. Less water. You can also get repti bark.

 

[russian/sulcata/tortoise]

just a quick question, would that be a little too humid for the stars? I'm not very sure because here in Malaysia the humidity is usually around 80% , so I'm afraid by using a somewhat "moisture retaining" substrate it may lead to complications (?) thanks again for all the help

if the temps are right there is no such thing as to much humidity for tortoises.

 

[Jodie]

just a quick question, would that be a little too humid for the stars? I'm not very sure because here in Malaysia the humidity is usually around 80% , so I'm afraid by using a somewhat "moisture retaining" substrate it may lead to complications (?) thanks again for all the help

I am not sure. I don't have stars. If they are prone to shell rot, you could put moss on top so they are not on wet substrate maybe?