Tom D in CT
New Member
- Joined
- Dec 26, 2014
- Messages
- 3
Hi all,
I'm new to this forum, and have turned here after finding contradictory suggestions & recommendations everywhere!! I need some straight talk from the experts, please!
We have had a wonderful Russian - Catalina - for 11 years. For the last 6 of those years, she's had nothing but coconut bark as a substrate. She's an indoor-only tort, as we live in Connecticut, and outdoor living is not an option. We have a custom-built terrarium-type enclosure for her, with regulated heat, temp, lighting, etc. She's been great, and has thrived for the entire time that we've had her. We've used the coconut bark because it was explicitly told to us that she needs low humidity, and this coconut bark is a dry, low humidity substrate.
The manufacturer has stopped making coconut bark - and they were the only manufacturer who made it! So unfortunately we have to switch to something else. Because she's been in such a dry, non-humid environment for so long, is there any risk if we switch her to a mix of coconut coir and Repti-bark? Will that mix maintain the same low levels of humidity that she is accustomed to?
We're hypersensitive to the fact that any changes to her environment could impact her negatively...and don't know what to do? Can anyone talk us down from the ledge??? Much appreciated!!
Tom
I'm new to this forum, and have turned here after finding contradictory suggestions & recommendations everywhere!! I need some straight talk from the experts, please!
We have had a wonderful Russian - Catalina - for 11 years. For the last 6 of those years, she's had nothing but coconut bark as a substrate. She's an indoor-only tort, as we live in Connecticut, and outdoor living is not an option. We have a custom-built terrarium-type enclosure for her, with regulated heat, temp, lighting, etc. She's been great, and has thrived for the entire time that we've had her. We've used the coconut bark because it was explicitly told to us that she needs low humidity, and this coconut bark is a dry, low humidity substrate.
The manufacturer has stopped making coconut bark - and they were the only manufacturer who made it! So unfortunately we have to switch to something else. Because she's been in such a dry, non-humid environment for so long, is there any risk if we switch her to a mix of coconut coir and Repti-bark? Will that mix maintain the same low levels of humidity that she is accustomed to?
We're hypersensitive to the fact that any changes to her environment could impact her negatively...and don't know what to do? Can anyone talk us down from the ledge??? Much appreciated!!
Tom