Found a Sulcata/Herman Question on Craigslist

[janiedough]

Sulcata Question (Roseburg)
Date: 2009-08-12, 12:13PM PDT
Reply to: [email protected] [Errors when replying to ads?]

Anyone out there with a Sulcata Tortiose can you tell me what substrate you use for indoors. I was using Reptilite calcium substrate and I think that's what made my little Hermen sick. I had to take him to the vet this morning and put him on antibiotics for respatory problems he was makeing naseley poping noise off and on. I read on some web site's not to use the sand to use bed a beast or eco earth and mix it with organic top soil. Well I can't find top soil but I did find organic potting soil mix it does have naturel ferterlizer in it and I don't know if thats ok, the vet said don't use eco earth stuff because most of the tortiose's she see's is because it has got stuck in there arm pits and caused infections that were pretty bad, She recomened that fake grass , I worry he could injest this. Anyway I'm not sure what to use any help from someone that has used a substrate for awhile and has done well would be great. And if you know of a web site where I can order a Sulcata Tortiose grass seed mix I would love to do that for him. Thanks Sue

* Location: Roseburg
* it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests





I e-mailed Sue and told her to join us on here, and I told her aspen bedding. I also told her to check her temps, but I don't know if she has a herman or a sulcata.

 

[janiedough]

hey guys I really need yall to help this lady!

 

[Greg T]

I know some people like to use aspen for indoor enclosures. I set mine up with a 60/40 mix of soil and sand and it worked well. I'd be afraid they would try to eat fake grass (like astroturf) so I'd stick with real stuff. You can use regular dirt from outside if it hasn't been fertilized, or find topsoil at places like Home Depot where I found mine along with a bag of playground sand.

Hope this helps some.

 

[janiedough]

thanks but I was hoping some people on here would e-mail her and tell her that.

i just dont know enough of what I am talking about.

 

[chandler]

Sue should probably also keep an eye on the temperature. Her captive habitat should have a substrate deep enough for the turtle to burrow in, water bowl large enough for the turtle to climb in and out of easily and turn around in. Hiding places at both ends of the enclosure to allow for heat regulation.