How do your tortoise tables support the weight of soil?

[dew]

The tortoise table I am planning on building will hold ~1 cubic yard of soil, this equates to 2000 lbs. How do your tables support this?? The soil will have a 12 inch depth.

 

[Tom]

The tortoise table I am planning on building will hold ~1 cubic yard of soil, this equates to 2000 lbs. How do your tables support this?? The soil will have a 12 inch depth.

Soil should not be used as tortoise substrate, and there is no reason to go 12 inches deep in a table.

I use raised garden beds outdoors with soil and dirt mixed in them to grow food for the torts. If properly built with 2x4 framing and the correct support, they hold up just fine even when full of wet dirt.

 

[dew]

Soil should not be used as tortoise substrate, and there is no reason to go 12 inches deep in a table.

I use raised garden beds outdoors with soil and dirt mixed in them to grow food for the torts. If properly built with 2x4 framing and the correct support, they hold up just fine even when full of wet dirt.

So what substrate and depth should be used?

 

[MenagerieGrl]

Um, I think you said it with "Soil", Many folks, depending on the species, would be using Orchid Bark or Coir. . .and 12" deep. . . why so deep?

 

[dew]

Um, I think you said it with "Soil", Many folks, depending on the species, would be using Orchid Bark or Coir. . .and 12" deep. . . why so deep?

I've heard that 8-12" is acceptable for russians

 

[Tom]

So what substrate and depth should be used?

What species? What size tortoise?

 

[dew]

What species? What size tortoise?

Russian adult

 

[MenagerieGrl]

Honestly, I would think 3 to 6 inches... would be suitable...

 

[Tom]

Russian adult

3-4 inches of damp fine grade orchid bark will work best.

 

[dew]

Honestly, I would think 3 to 6 inches... would be suitable...

Russians like to dig so I think 4 is minimum

 

[dew]

3-4 inches of damp fine grade orchid bark will work best.

Do you have anywhere you buy it from? All orchid bark I see is in very small packages and quite pricey.

 

[Tom]

Do you have anywhere you buy it from? All orchid bark I see is in very small packages and quite pricey.

Its easy to find in bulk at garden centers here. On your side of the country you might have to buy it from Chewy.com or Petco.com (called repti-bark) if you ca't find it at local garden centers in bulk.

 

[William Lee Kohler]

I've bought this from Chewy where I get my cat food. Online.