Substrate Question

PatC

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My red foot is about 3 1/2 months old. I have him on cypress mulch but worry about him ingesting some since he drags his food from his dish and eats it. He is in an inside box all the time (Zoomed) except for morning outings. I would appreciate hearing from some of you.
 

Tom

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The substrate should be safe, but the ZooMed tortoise house is not a good way to go. Its impossible to maintain the correct conditions with that open top, its too small, and the damp substrate necessary for your species will cause it to leak and rot. You need a large closed chamber.
 

PatC

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The substrate should be safe, but the ZooMed tortoise house is not a good way to go. Its impossible to maintain the correct conditions with that open top, its too small, and the damp substrate necessary for your species will cause it to leak and rot. You need a large closed chamber.

Thanks Tom. I have been covering half of the open area with wax paper to increase moisture. I use a misting machine that runs 13 hours a day while the heat lamp is on to keep the humidity up. It usually runs around 80%. I have checked it with two different hygrometer/ thermometers.
 

Toddrickfl1

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I've never had a problem with them eating the substrate. I recently switched to orchid bark and I like it better than the Cypress mulch.
 

MysticCaribou

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I've never had a problem with them eating the substrate. I recently switched to orchid bark and I like it better than the Cypress mulch.

Could you possibly take a photo of the orchid bark you use, as there are so many different ones available. I appreciate it! Thanks in advance.
 

Redstrike

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I go to Lowe's/Home Depot/Agway and find bags of mulch. The cost is low and the volume is right (I have 4 redfoots in a 13 x 4 foot enclosure, it takes a good amount).

I don't buy any mulches with dyes. I don't use pine/cedar.

I use Hardwood mulch or Cypress mulch. Not all stores carry either so it can be frustrating. I've also used 5 kg bales of coconut coir in the past and topsoil. They are a bit more messy but work just as well.
 

mttrhll

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This is sort of a follow up re: substrate... how often do you guys change out / clean your substrate. I'm reading a book that says once a month and it seems to be referencing the use of cypress and sphagnum moss. That seems too frequent for large indoor enclosures. I was thinking of trying to use pea gravel as a base then cypress + sphagnum for the top layer and then keep the bottom layer wet so that it could be biaoactive... and maybe adding some rolly-pollys. Do people change their bioactive substrate or just add to it as it degrades?
 

Redstrike

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This is sort of a follow up re: substrate... how often do you guys change out / clean your substrate. I'm reading a book that says once a month and it seems to be referencing the use of cypress and sphagnum moss. That seems too frequent for large indoor enclosures. I was thinking of trying to use pea gravel as a base then cypress + sphagnum for the top layer and then keep the bottom layer wet so that it could be biaoactive... and maybe adding some rolly-pollys. Do people change their bioactive substrate or just add to it as it degrades?

Time of year dependent for me.

In winter, my four are inside for 6+ months. I try to cycle substrate out every 3 months then. Helps keep the parasite load/disease/wastes etc. to a minimum.

In summer, they spend a greater amount of time outdoors. So I swap substrate out right before they are in for the winter.
 

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