Cypress mulch talk, again

[Bekki2782]

Hello group, I'm relatively new to the tortoise world and as many people know the information out there varies GREATLY. I trust this group and I've read many of the past threads about cypress mulch here. Wanted to just confirm people here are OK with some mulch (forest floor specifically) in a yearling leopard tortoise enclosure(also has coir, soil). My leopard Facebook page says to not to use it but then people other places do use it and often.
Thoughts? I mistakenly bought quite a bit of it so I wanted to use it...IF it's safe only. Otherwise oh well money lost. Not important compared to my torts health. Tort pic because...its cute.

 

[Tom]

First, don't take advice from those nuts running the FB groups. I've heard nothing but bad, and then they ban anyone who tries to talk some sense to them.

Cypress mulch is not my favorite but its fine to use and safe. Coco coir too. Safe, but messy.

Soil should not be used. It is made from composted yard waste and there is no way to know if it has toxic components, or not.

Here is a whole bunch more info on this and all other aspects of leopard care:

The Best Way To Raise A Sulcata, Leopard, Or Star Tortoise

I chose the title of this care sheet very carefully. Are there other ways to raise babies? 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. Babies hatch during the...

tortoiseforum.org

 

[Bekki2782]

Thank you so much! The info on FB and here is so conflicting but I really have confidence in this group so I figured it was worth an ask. Thank you a million you've been so helpful. I'm in the vet industry and I'm aware of all the wrong info that circulates FB about cats and dogs so it only makes sense the same can be said for other pets. Much appreciated thanks for taking the time to get back to me! ?

First, don't take advice from those nuts running the FB groups. I've heard nothing but bad, and then they ban anyone who tries to talk some sense to them.

Cypress mulch is not my favorite but its fine to use and safe. Coco coir too. Safe, but messy.

Soil should not be used. It is made from composted yard waste and there is no way to know if it has toxic components, or not.

Here is a whole bunch more info on this and all other aspects of leopard care:

The Best Way To Raise A Sulcata, Leopard, Or Star Tortoise

I chose the title of this care sheet very carefully. Are there other ways to raise babies? 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. Babies hatch during the...

tortoiseforum.org

 

[Toddrickfl1]

Stay far far away from the Facebook groups and "Cypress mulch is toxic" crowd.

 

[turtlesteve]

I’ll second Tom’s comment. It’s fine, I used it for several years without issue.

Right now my preferred choice is pine bark fines because the texture is nicer (easier for small tortoises to dig). Same stuff as orchid bark but with more size variation and much cheaper.

 

[Chubbs the tegu]

Ive used cypress mulch religiously and have never had a prob

 

[Tom]

Ive used cypress mulch religiously and have never had a prob

What do you do with it in your religion?

 

[Chubbs the tegu]

What do you do with it in your religion?

I light it on fire and sacrifice goats

 

[Tom]

I light it on fire and sacrifice goats

What???

No chickens?

 

[Chubbs the tegu]

What???

No chickens?

Chickens are to cute.. i just eat them. And use the bones to feed to my tortoise

 

[Chubbs the tegu]

Speaking of chickens .. how are ur eggs doing?

 

[iAmCentrochelys sulcata]

it’s safe, people have different opinions some raise them in Mulch some in soil, ect.
i really wanna see that so called Tortoise group in FB. i don’t know how to work FB, i’m to young! lol

 

[Bekki2782]

Chickens are to cute.. i just eat them. And use the bones to feed to my tortoise

Guys, we dont talk about eating or sacrificing chickens in my presence. Just because I'm on a tortoise forum right now doesnt mean I'm not a bat s*** crazy chicken lady. ??

 

[Bekki2782]

it’s safe, people have different opinions some raise them in Mulch some in soil, ect.
i really wanna see that so called Tortoise group in FB. i don’t know how to work FB, i’m to young! lol

It's like Leopard Toroise World Wide or something similar. Really a pretty good group and support system, nice people and some helpful info. But also maybe some incorrect and very strong opinions not necessarily backed by science, like the mulch thing.

 

[Bekki2782]

Stay far far away from the Facebook groups and "Cypress mulch is toxic" crowd.

I'm finally figuring that out lol. Glad you all set me straight, it didnt sound right......

 

[Bekki2782]

I’ll second Tom’s comment. It’s fine, I used it for several years without issue.

Right now my preferred choice is pine bark fines because the texture is nicer (easier for small tortoises to dig). Same stuff as orchid bark but with more size variation and much cheaper.

Perfect I'll give that stuff a try too! I did buy orchid bark, a bunch, after reading the whole "mulch is terrible and you're a disgusting human being if you use it" bit on Facebook. So, I'll try that next. I'm loading up their house with mulch and coir now and see how they like it. It's still nice and soft and squishy. Wayyyyy better than the alfalfa hay the "breeder" told me to use. Which I ofcourse did not do.

 

[turtlesteve]

If you have a Lowe’s nearby this is what I
use:

 

[Chubbs the tegu]

Guys, we dont talk about eating or sacrificing chickens in my presence. Just because I'm on a tortoise forum right now doesnt mean I'm not a bat s*** crazy chicken lady. ??

num num

 

[Chubbs the tegu]

Bbq sauce lol

 

[Toddrickfl1]

It's like Leopard Toroise World Wide or something similar. Really a pretty good group and support system, nice people and some helpful info. But also maybe some incorrect and very strong opinions not necessarily backed by science, like the mulch thing.

All of the world wide groups are run by the same bunch of cuckoos