Arizona desert tortoise substrate

[aztortoisemullett]

I'm building an out door enclosure out of a kiddie pool for the time being until I move into my new place. I live in Arizona so I have access to plenty of natural dirt but I've read that you should mix in peat moss so it's not too dry for her. Can anyone confirm? Just want to double check!

 

[Yvonne G]

I wouldn't use peat moss, but rather coco coir. Make sure you don't cook the tortoise by having the pool sitting in direct sunlight all day long. You might put a piece of plywood over one end of the pool.

 

[aztortoisemullett]

Thank you! And I have a few shelters as well as a piece of plywood so that she doesn't get TOO much of this intense sun.

 

[aztortoisemullett]

As far as keeping the enclosure moist in this dry state, I've been watering the enclosure every day, is this correct or is there a better way to accomplish this?

 

[Yvonne G]

Watering when it needs it is just fine. Some of us use a misting system to cool the air too.