The 2-inch layer at the bottom of the enclosure is entirely for moisture retention and slow-release. She does not dig down that far so it will not be getting Disturbed unless I disturb it. And as far as the rinsing and baking of the substrate goes that is a preference for me because of dust...
You cannot see it or able to tell in the picture but...
I chose Square rather than round dowels so they can't roll around. These sticks are glued to the top edge of the enclosure with Gorilla Glue. Trust me they are not going to move because when the enclosure is completely empty I can literally...
Oops somehow it downloaded the picture twice. But I also forgot to add that the sticks across the top of the enclosure is what the 48 inch UVB light strip rests on but I removed it to take the picture. And the heat lamp is off while she's under.
so here is a picture of the enclosure after I changed out the substrate. I took the temperature of Tulow herself as well as the substrate around her to match the water temperature of the water I let her soak in while I was redoing the enclosure. So what I ended up doing was putting a 2in layer...
So Yvonne Tom, you don't think I need to pick the wood sticks/ splinters out before I put it in the enclosure? You have never had a problem with these causing damage to your tortoises eyes or getting caught in their nostril?
Thank you for responding so quickly. I like to bake my substrates because I also have tarantulas and I have had it up to my eyeballs with those darn little black flies that seemed to have laid eggs and then they hatch once they get moist. By the way, my girl is 15 year old Russian and her name...
My indoor enclosure is a 2 foot by 4 foot Sterilite Christmas tree storage bin. I have two of them fit together so in the winter when she is burrowed under I can collapse it down to 2 foot by 4 foot and the more active months I can extend it to a 2-foot by about 7 1/2 foot. I am doing research...