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- Nov 16, 2012
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Mealworms seem to reproduce quickly but you can add more if you wish.
Team Gomberg said:Edna,
what type of tort/turtle do you keep with bio active substrate?
what do you keep in there other than nightcrawlers?
thanks
Millerlite said:I need to find some pill bugs. Going to start with 20 night crawlers in my tortoise enclosure and idk how many mealworms.
stasisdc5 said:my set up consists of a 1" layer of lava rock. then 4-5" inches of a mixture of garden soil, play sand, and top soil.
I also set up a tube in one corner of my tank that sticks out of the substrate and leads down into the lava rock.
I would then attach a funnel to the tube to pour water through the tube. the water line should be right below where the substrate and lava rock meet. water will keep the bottom layer of the substrate moist.
interesting... thanks for sharing that idea
what type of tortoise do you keep in this set up?
how long have you had the worms and pill bugs in the substrate? do you find them to be beneficial??
MasterOogway said:How do you keep the tank warm? Do you just use heating lights from above? I have a baby leopard tortoise that is tiny. I am ready to go for this set up but I am afraid of keeping him warm since he needs to stay warm being so young. I found a tank that is 72''Lx 19''W x 23" high I like that it is high to add the dirt. I just don't know if this set up would work for a baby Leo. The tank does come with a plexiglass lid with holes & a circle cut out for the light to help with humidity . Also will the uv lights help the plants to? I dont have a green thumb
Thalatte said:MasterOogway said:How do you keep the tank warm? Do you just use heating lights from above? I have a baby leopard tortoise that is tiny. I am ready to go for this set up but I am afraid of keeping him warm since he needs to stay warm being so young. I found a tank that is 72''Lx 19''W x 23" high I like that it is high to add the dirt. I just don't know if this set up would work for a baby Leo. The tank does come with a plexiglass lid with holes & a circle cut out for the light to help with humidity . Also will the uv lights help the plants to? I dont have a green thumb
Yep all I use is the lights. With the right types of lights and wattage he will be warm enough. That cage does sound awesome you need to snatch it up. Also 6-10 inches of substrate is plenty. Yes the UVB will help plants grow and it allows you to use outdoor species of plants which is great.
I don't have a green thumb either but so far the only plants I have been able to grow are the ones in my cages. Even the "delicate" plants are thriving.
I keep box turtles, wood turtle, desert tortoise, (other reptiles) bearded dragons, Chinese water dragon, and fire belly toads on bios give substrate. I am working on converting the sulcatas over but I am trying for a more "Saharan" look so its hard to find the right dirt.
stasisdc5 said:my set up consists of a 1" layer of lava rock. then 4-5" inches of a mixture of garden soil, play sand, and top soil.
I also set up a tube in one corner of my tank that sticks out of the substrate and leads down into the lava rock.
I would then attach a funnel to the tube to pour water through the tube. the water line should be right below where the substrate and lava rock meet. water will keep the bottom layer of the substrate moist.
I bought red worms from a bait shop and searched under rocks and logs in my parent's yard for pill bugs.
Thalatte said:Most substrates including coco fiber have teeny tiny whit bugs in them, some people call them gnats though they are really wood mites. They aren't harmful to animals just annoying.
I don't think it will work with coco fiber by I have never tried it. I use sphagnum peat moss. It has the same consistency as dirt but its organic and you can plant things in it.
4in is a good minimum depth just so that it retains humidity, but you can do less if you want. I see no reason to though. My baby box turtles have about 6-7 in of substrate and they like it for burrowing.
I don't really count this as a risk but some don't use bioactive substrate with strict herbivores as they are afraid they will ingest the bugs. But it is no different than if they were wild so I don't see the problem.
Worms will take care of plant matter but adding bugs means the feces and dead bugs will be taken care of as well.
Oh and if you are using the stringy moss that definitely won't work for worms.
Gnats: adding the bugs keeps the gnat population down so its a pro.