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Maro2Bear

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Id say that your tort WOULD NOT learn to drink from a bird cage type dish - Been curious about whether a bird cage watering (like) dish would work, screwed to the side just at or above ground level. Would he put his head over the small edge and drink? Would he learn that this is where the water is?

In the garden center, look for two large terra-cotta plant saucers - put them inside one another buried level in the substrste. In the morning, remove the top one, rinse and place back inside nd fill up. The lower dish provides an easy place to plop the now clean dish down in to. You don’t have to fiddle about with creating a new indentation each time.
 

SulcataSammy

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I have lots of pets, they are my family. If I can’t give them the best life I can I have no business keeping them. I have had every kind of turtle and some tortoises since I was young, for pets. My dream has always been to have a huge tortoise, and Sammy seems to be on the way to fulfilling my dreams. I have two Bassett hounds, one cat, a macaw, a cockatoo and Sammy. Recently lost my 19-year-old potbelly pig. Where her pen used to be, has now been converted into my tortoise area.
 

Maro2Bear

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@SulcataSammy I just wanted to say that I appreciate you being so receptive and open minded about the advice being provided. It really shows you care about your tortoise's best interests :<3: I'm glad you found the forum!

Agree. Always good to look at other ways to “skin a cat”.

Good luck - Sammy is lucky to be spoiled.
 

Gijoux

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Personally, id remove all the paper, get two or three bags of cypress mulch and spread it in there. Personally, I find it very clean to use as a substrate. Has a nice smell, doesn't mold or mildew, doesn't stick to your shoes. You can still keep your slate & terra-cotta dishes as you have.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/GARDEN-PRO-by-Harvest-2-cu-ft-Brown-Cypress-Bark-Blend-Mulch/50329681

I think you might actually find it LESS messy than the paper.

Good luck.

Maybe moderator @Yvonne G will move this all into the Sulcata section. Nothing to really “join” .

Check the specifications on that GARDEN-PRO Cypress bark blend Mulch. It contains Insecticides and Herbicides. Blends are sometimes a problem with addition of barks that may not be the best for our animals.
 

SulcataSammy

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In regard to the red/heat light. All I know is it has no affects on my tortoise. I turn it on over a corner in his pen, only at night. For his entire life, he had been going over and sitting right in the middle of the red light/heat area and sleeping. Sometimes he goes in his shelter, sometimes under the red light.

As far as my substrate adventures. Being that GIJOUX said the Grade-Pro was not good (blend?), and one of you successfully uses what I found locally (the NOFLOAT CYPRESS BLEND), I called the company that makes it, Oak Castle Lawn and Garden. I spoke to a guy who had all the specs and said it is a blend of Cypress and Cedar. No chemicals. He said the cedar was mixed in because it is a natural insect deterrent. Question is...what affect does the cedar have for our tortoises. Once I have a good answer I'll buy the 4-5 bags of mulch needed.
 

SulcataSammy

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Mequon, Wisconsin
Just found an interesting article about cedar bedding.
http://www.anapsid.org/cedar.html

As I continue to read online, it seems like cedar mulch is at the very top of all the DO NOT USE and poisonous charts for use with reptile/pets.

I think I will have to check the different box stores and garden centers and look for just Cypress mulch.
 
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Gijoux

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In regard to the red/heat light. All I know is it has no affects on my tortoise. I turn it on over a corner in his pen, only at night. For his entire life, he had been going over and sitting right in the middle of the red light/heat area and sleeping. Sometimes he goes in his shelter, sometimes under the red light.

As far as my substrate adventures. Being that GIJOUX said the Grade-Pro was not good (blend?), and one of you successfully uses what I found locally (the NOFLOAT CYPRESS BLEND), I called the company that makes it, Oak Castle Lawn and Garden. I spoke to a guy who had all the specs and said it is a blend of Cypress and Cedar. No chemicals. He said the cedar was mixed in because it is a natural insect deterrent. Question is...what affect does the cedar have for our tortoises. Once I have a good answer I'll buy the 4-5 bags of mulch needed.

I wouldn't use a substrate containing Cedar. I layer my substrate with First Coco Coir 1 1/2", 100% then Cypress mulch 1 1/2" and topped off with Orchid Bark (Fine or Small grade) another 1 1/2".
 

Gijoux

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I wouldn't use a substrate containing Cedar. I layer my substrate with First Coco Coir 1 1/2", 100% then Cypress mulch 1 1/2" and topped off with Orchid Bark (Fine or Small grade) another 1 1/2".
This is for babies. Larger Torts the regular size Orchid Bark is great all alone as is 100% Cypress.
 

SulcataSammy

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Thanks for checking back. I’ve had a lot of things going on around here, including trying to get a new roof on my house. They’ve been working between cold and precip. I am going to physically have to go to the box stores and garden centers and look at the bags. That’s going to be a Day or two project. None of them are close.
 

Blackdog1714

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I understand. On the West Coast bags of Fir Bark are priced like regular mulch. On the East Coast I can get a 2 Cubic foot bag shipped for $56.
 

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