Is sand ok for a back layer in my tortoise enclosure?

Milkduds

New Member
Joined
Sep 14, 2020
Messages
26
Location (City and/or State)
Michigan
Hey everyone I was looking for a way to give more moister in my Travancore hybrid tortoise enclosure I was thinking to add an inch of sand to the bottom of the tortoise enclosure and then put reptile bark around one to two inches over the top . Would this be ok ??
 

Tom

The Dog Trainer
10 Year Member!
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Jan 9, 2010
Messages
63,269
Location (City and/or State)
Southern California
No. Sand is an impaction risk and possible skin and eye irritant. It should never be used. It won't stay buried, and it won't help with humidity anyway.

A four inch layer of orchid bark is the best way to add humidity. If you are having trouble maintaining humidity with damp orchid bark, then there is too much ventilation in your enclosure.
 

Yossarian

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Nov 21, 2015
Messages
813
Location (City and/or State)
Wales
Another serious issue with sand is how abrasive it is, your tort will get a fine coating of sand on the walls, and then as they pace around, any regular contact points on their shell basically get sanded away like it was with sand paper.
 

New Posts

Top