Better Substrate - Coir Fibre or Coir Peat?

Many experienced Aldabra keepers have recommended Coconut Coir as a very good substrate. But which is better of the two forms - Coir Fibre or Coir Peat?

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Photos of Coir Fibre and Coir Peat

I wouldn't use either of those under an Aldabra of any size. What size tortoise are we talking about? A hatchling or a large adult?

Maybe I am mistaken, but the MOST experienced keeper in north America is Greg, aka Aldabraman, and I believe he uses neither. I think he has them on growing grass or cypress mulch, based on any of the bazillion images he posts.

I am posting photos of the tortoise. Its hatch date is not known but its weight is 225 grams and its shell length is over 4 inches (shell diameter is about 5 inches) .

In fact, I read your Sulcata Care Sheet which recommended coir as one of the recommended substrates.

Please advise a suitable substrate for this tortoise and also kindly share your opinion about what could be the approximate age of this tortoise on the basis of its weight, size etc. Thank you.

Coir is too messy. Fine grade orchid bark works best. If you can't find the, then cypress mulch will work.

Outdoors, dirt or grass.

No way to know the age by looking.

Thank you for the response. Orchid Bark and Cypress mulch are not readily available in India. Is coir harmful for Aldabras? I am curious because you mentioned coir as one of the recommended substrates in your Sulcata care sheet.

Coir is not harmful its just too messy. I used to use it, but I stopped because... its too messy.

Thank you once again. Did you use coir fiber or coir peat?

I used both.

Man this is a beautiful baby! Since you spend thousands of dollars to get him. I would recommend you spend some more money build a cement/concrete enclosure with heat and sprinkler system. Cost you no more then 200 bucks.

Thank you. I am posting a video of the Aldabra walking on Coir Fibre. Please advice whether in your valuable opinion, it could damage its foot or cause walking disorders and if so would you recommend changing the existing coir fibre substrate to coir peat?

I would defiantly use the peat rather than that fibre stuff, it looks like the tortoise could get tangled.

Thank you for the response. My concern with Coir Peat is that the tortoise may eat it and it may be detrimental to its health. As regards, coir fibre, it wont be able to eat it. Please share your views on the same.

I see your point there. Coir is really messy as Tom has said and it often gets dragged into the water and stuck to the food. I’ve never seen the coco fibre like that before but I don’t like the look of it.

Can you not get hold of any orchid bark type substrate it’s so much better.

Let’s tag @ALDABRAMAN and see what he suggests. He is the expert in that species and hopefully he will see this message.

~ If we put ours in at night, we have always used cypress much or natural bedding. This member has posted this exact same question in multiple venues, he has many opinions and options by now.

Can you please share a link of the source from where you buy Fine Grade Orchid Bark so that I may try to import it. Thank you.

I buy it at my local garden center. Here is the bag:

https://www.amazon.in/s?k=orchid+bark+chips&sprefix=orchid+bar&ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_10

What about looking on amazon?

Thank you for the suggestion. I am unable to find Orchard Bark on it. It is mostly pine bark and other mixes. If you see a specific product listing, please share. I will be highly obliged.