Changing Substrates

[W Shaw]

Quick question on the process of switching substrate types. Can it be done all in one move, or is it less stressful to make a gradual change, mixing in a bit more of the new type with each change?

 

[jaizei]

Usually all at once. What are you going from to?

 

[Yvonne G]

I think it's better to do it all at once. In fact my christmas tree storage bin has so many little springtails in it it's embarrassing when people come over. The bugs are walking all over the little baby tortoises and their food, etc. So I'm going to put the babies in their soak tomorrow morning and take the bin outside and dump the whole mess in a flower bed. I take care to place all the "furniture" back in the same spot so it still feels like home to them.

 

[W Shaw]

Usually all at once. What are you going from to?

He's in aspen now. He and his vet both like it, but I have some humidity concerns. I'm thinking about either going entirely to orchid bark, or letting him keep the aspen he likes in one end, but swapping in sphagnum in the other end.

 

[W Shaw]

I think it's better to do it all at once. In fact my christmas tree storage bin has so many little springtails in it it's embarrassing when people come over. The bugs are walking all over the little baby tortoises and their food, etc. So I'm going to put the babies in their soak tomorrow morning and take the bin outside and dump the whole mess in a flower bed.

Eek. What kind of substrate did those little rascals come in with? They're pretty adorable, but I can see why you wouldn't want them annoying the tortoises. I just bought a humidifier and I'll be setting it up today. I had no issues until I had to turn the heat on in the apartment, so maybe just humidifying the air will do it, but if if doesn't then I'll have to try a different substrate for the winter. Tom likes bark, so that's probably where I'm headed. I just don't want anything too chunky, because Ronan likes to burrow, and then in the morning, he just sort of rises halfway out of it, so he has a little soft nest. I don't want him to be stuck in hard chunky stuff that won't make a soft nest.

 

[Yvonne G]

They just seem to develop over time. I think they might originally be on the plants I use.

 

[Tom]

I switch out substrates all at once.

Springtails and other substrate bugs come from the surrounding environment. Some people assume they come with the substrate, but they don't. If you take sterile potting soil and wet it, heat it and add a food source in any normal home you will have a colony of substrate flies in a couple of weeks. They just show up ad move in. The things that make the environment good for the tortoise, also make it good for them.

Be sure to get the fine grade orchid bark. The big chunky stuff is hard for them to walk on.

 

[W Shaw]

I switch out substrates all at once.

Springtails and other substrate bugs come from the surrounding environment. Some people assume they come with the substrate, but they don't. If you take sterile potting soil and wet it, heat it and add a food source in any normal home you will have a colony of substrate flies in a couple of weeks. They just show up and move in. The things that make the environment good for the tortoise, also make it good for them.

Be sure to get the fine grade orchid bark. The big chunky stuff is hard for them to walk on.

Thanks! I'll watch out for that. I want to make sure Ronan can still burrow the way he likes to, and make his little morning nests.