Let's name names

[MysterE]

Looking to find a great substrate for my leopard hatchling. Currently am not using the best (methinks). I live in California, have access to OSH, home depot and any other brNd name garden centers. What do you use and from where? PMs are totally looked at and acceptable- I am a member on many forums for many things and know ads are discouraged. I have read @Tom and his recommendations bit have yet to see a definitive answer.

Any help would be gladly and gratefully accepted!

 

[Tom]

What? My answer to this question isn't definitive?

 

[wellington]

What? My answer to this question isn't definitive?

Nope

 

[wellington]

I like coconut coir bricks bought from the cheapest Internet site I can find at that moment. I also like the cheaper big bulk bags of peat moss from Home Depot. Depending on the tortoise. I have some that like to constantly go in and out of the water dish just to mess it up I'm sure LOL, I will add some forest floor or repti bark to the top to help keep water cleaner. However, this is mostly for my older leopards not my hatchling.

 

[Maitaimommy]

400+ I'm sure

 

[MysterE]

@Tom my confusion arose from your liking of orchid bark, I have seen multiple forms of orchid bark in various chip forms (small, medium, coarse) yet all seem to have different ingredients/adjuncts. This is where my question comes from. No offense intended to you or anyone else, but I am thick headed, wary, and concerned for the sake of my little land-tank. I have only been perusing the site for a while and from what I have seen there have been no actual brands or purchasing points listed except for the ones I should be wary of. Please excuse my ignorance in such areas!


Yours most humbly,
Neil

 

[MysterE]

Also, please excuse my spelling/phone-typing. Just started wearing progressive contacts and my prescription needs dialing in for close-up....hrmph

 

[Maitaimommy]

Hello Neil, glad to have you! Love the profile pic

 

[Maitaimommy]

Please stop apoligizing.... It's ok to be thick headed and wary.
I'm very protective over my Russian and only want the best for him.
Lots of good substrates out there and mixing two or three is a good idea as well

 

[MysterE]

Okay, found a post recommending "pathway bark" from Lowe's. By guess who....? On my way.

 

[Tom]

@Tom my confusion arose from your liking of orchid bark, I have seen multiple forms of orchid bark in various chip forms (small, medium, coarse) yet all seem to have different ingredients/adjuncts. This is where my question comes from. No offense intended to you or anyone else, but I am thick headed, wary, and concerned for the sake of my little land-tank. I have only been perusing the site for a while and from what I have seen there have been no actual brands or purchasing points listed except for the ones I should be wary of. Please excuse my ignorance in such areas!


Yours most humbly,
Neil

While still not definitive, I will elaborate:
I prefer fine grade orchid bark. Orchid bark = fir bark = repti-bark. There should be no other ingredients of any kind. Just fir bark. The medium or coarse grades are much too large for small tortoises. FIne grade works great.

Seems like everyone has a different opinion on this subject and that's okay, as long as it isn't something potentially harmful like cedar or sand. Some of it is just personal preference.

This forum was made just for things like this. For us to discuss differences of opinion, share things we learn, and make tortoise conversation. No need to apologize. Please carry on with the conversation.

 

[Tom]

Okay, found a post recommending "pathway bark" from Lowe's. By guess who....? On my way.

That is a really old thread…

Nowadays I get this stuff from a local garden center:


About $10 for this giant bag.

 

[Maitaimommy]

If you buy cypress mulch or peat moss at HD or Lowes does it need to be organic?

 

[Cowboy_Ken]

If you buy cypress mulch or peat moss does it need to be organic?

It really should be organic. Most definitely if it's to be used in a closed humid chamber.

 

[Cowboy_Ken]

It really should be organic. Most definitely if it's to be used in a closed humid chamber. And in that regard it doesn't matter where you've purchased the bag. Remember though that many "organic ingredients sent what we'd personally choose like chicken/ poultry waste and other, "organic" items.