ChloeCrull
Active Member
Hello, everyone!
I just spent about an hour replacing my grounded walnut substrate with coconut fiber. I was informed that the grounded walnut particles can get caught in the little "armpits" of tortoises and irritate their skin. There is also quite a large amount of dust that is produced from the grounded walnut. This is what I was originally using (big mistake!).
Now, I am using coconut fiber.
My tortoises seem to react better to the new coconut fiber. They always burrow and rummage around in it.
Now for the enclosure update!
This was my original (and messy) enclosure for my tortoises. One side was grounded walnut (ew!) and the other side was coconut fiber (much better!).
This used to be the grounded walnut portion of the habitat.
And this was the (old) coconut fiber portion of the habitat.
*Note: Those are not the "fruity pebbles" in the food dish. I added a few pieces of chopped-up carrots into their dish as a little treat.*
So, I just (finally!) finished scooping out the old grounded walnut and replacing it with fresh coconut fiber. This is the process:
Step 1: Shovel out the grounded walnut. I used a gardening trowel as a shovel and an oversized (it is not normally in the cage) reptile food bowl as a little "bucket." The paint mixer (the little ruler) helped me slide the grounded walnut into little piles and grab it out of corners.
Step 2: Empty the new bag of substrate (coconut fiber) into the enclosure. Yikes; that's a big mountain!
Step 3: Smooth out the pile of substrate and allow a few inches of depth for burrowing.
Step 4: Incorporate award-worthy decoration skills. I placed flat stones in front of the water dish to reduce molding when water is spilled.
Step 5: Incorporate more award-worthy decoration skills to add some cuttlebones, more flat stones, and a few rocks (woops, forgot to take a picture showing the garden rocks!).
Step 6: Spot-clean the other side of the enclosure.
Step 7: Forget to move the tortoise decoration on top of the enclosure. Continue to confuse your curious female Russian.
Step 8: Receive annoyed look of hatred for confusing your tortoise with an attractive, fake male tortoise who is obviously good with kids.
Well, that's my story! I hope it made you laugh.
Also, I just threw away my old succulents. Do any of you have any favorite succulents you place around the habitat for your little guys (especially Russians)? I usually get mine from Lowe's or Home Depot, etc.
Thanks
I just spent about an hour replacing my grounded walnut substrate with coconut fiber. I was informed that the grounded walnut particles can get caught in the little "armpits" of tortoises and irritate their skin. There is also quite a large amount of dust that is produced from the grounded walnut. This is what I was originally using (big mistake!).
Now, I am using coconut fiber.
My tortoises seem to react better to the new coconut fiber. They always burrow and rummage around in it.
***
Now for the enclosure update!
This was my original (and messy) enclosure for my tortoises. One side was grounded walnut (ew!) and the other side was coconut fiber (much better!).
This used to be the grounded walnut portion of the habitat.
And this was the (old) coconut fiber portion of the habitat.
*Note: Those are not the "fruity pebbles" in the food dish. I added a few pieces of chopped-up carrots into their dish as a little treat.*
So, I just (finally!) finished scooping out the old grounded walnut and replacing it with fresh coconut fiber. This is the process:
Step 1: Shovel out the grounded walnut. I used a gardening trowel as a shovel and an oversized (it is not normally in the cage) reptile food bowl as a little "bucket." The paint mixer (the little ruler) helped me slide the grounded walnut into little piles and grab it out of corners.
Step 2: Empty the new bag of substrate (coconut fiber) into the enclosure. Yikes; that's a big mountain!
Step 3: Smooth out the pile of substrate and allow a few inches of depth for burrowing.
Step 4: Incorporate award-worthy decoration skills. I placed flat stones in front of the water dish to reduce molding when water is spilled.
Step 5: Incorporate more award-worthy decoration skills to add some cuttlebones, more flat stones, and a few rocks (woops, forgot to take a picture showing the garden rocks!).
Step 6: Spot-clean the other side of the enclosure.
Step 7: Forget to move the tortoise decoration on top of the enclosure. Continue to confuse your curious female Russian.
Step 8: Receive annoyed look of hatred for confusing your tortoise with an attractive, fake male tortoise who is obviously good with kids.
Well, that's my story! I hope it made you laugh.
Also, I just threw away my old succulents. Do any of you have any favorite succulents you place around the habitat for your little guys (especially Russians)? I usually get mine from Lowe's or Home Depot, etc.
Thanks