Many substrates are recommended here on TFO. Peat moss is one of them sometimes. I just got home from visiting a friend who keeps and breeds several species of tortoises. He uses coco coir as substrate for his hold backs and babies in their indoor enclosures, but he decided to try using peat instead. Not the long fibered type, but the type that is like dirt or coco coir in consistency. Turns out it is a bad idea.
For the first time, I saw shell rot in a young leopard tortoise and on a radiata as well. They've never had shell rot before, and they were able to clear it up immediately by swapping back to coco coir and treating the fungus.
Live and learn. I didn't think peat was bad for them to be on, but it turns out I was wrong.
I don't care for coco coir under leopards because I find it too messy, but it is not unsafe. I prefer fine grade orchid bark. Likewise, I don't care for cypress mulch, but I've never seen it cause a problem.
For the first time, I saw shell rot in a young leopard tortoise and on a radiata as well. They've never had shell rot before, and they were able to clear it up immediately by swapping back to coco coir and treating the fungus.
Live and learn. I didn't think peat was bad for them to be on, but it turns out I was wrong.
I don't care for coco coir under leopards because I find it too messy, but it is not unsafe. I prefer fine grade orchid bark. Likewise, I don't care for cypress mulch, but I've never seen it cause a problem.