Substrate for a Large Indoor Enclosure

[aclesi11]

Hello everyone,

I recently upgraded by baby sulcata's indoor enclosure from a large storage bin to a 6 foot by 2 foot wooden enclosure. I have laid down the tarp and am now ready to fill it with substrate.

In his previous enclosure, I used coconut coir as well as moist sphagnum moss in his humidity hide. I would also keep the coconut coir fairly moist.

It looks like it will cost a fortune to fill such a large enclosure with coconut coir. What is a cheap substrate i can use to fill his new enclosure?

I have heard that cypress mulch is cheap. If I use cypress mulch, will this be too dry for a baby sulcata? Or is it okay as long as he still has a humidity box with moist sphagnum moss?

Thanks!

 

[jacktaylor900]

Get some organic top soil from your local garden center. And it will also be good for humidity burrowing and live plants. I filled my Greeks 12 by 6 with 4 bags of 50 quart top soil for about 15$

 

[Levi the Leopard]

My local hardware stores/garden centers sell the coir pretty cheap. If I remember correctly it's 9cu ft or so for $10 or $12.
Or just use plain, untreated top soil that has no additives in it. For $2 I buy a 2cu ft bag.

Sent from my TFOapp

 

[aclesi11]

Also, what is the proper maintenance on a tortoise enclosure? Daily, I remove any uneaten food and poop from the substrate. How often should it be changed?

 

[lkwagner]

Cypress mulch?

 

[Levi the Leopard]

Re: RE: Substrate for a Large Indoor Enclosure

Also, what is the proper maintenance on a tortoise enclosure? Daily, I remove any uneaten food and poop from the substrate. How often should it be changed?

I just replaced mine for the first time in a whole year. Doing the daily maintenance is great, too.

Sent from my TFOapp

 

[ascott]

http://www.lowes.com/pd_26986-1803-0082_0__?productId=3029472

This comes in a rather large helping and it is like 10. or 11. bucks..it works really well ...

 

[Tom]

Most garden center sell big huge blocks of the dehydrated coir for about $12.

However, I like to use fine grade orchid bark for larger sulcatas. I get mine at Lowes for about $4-5 per 2.0 cubic foot bag. You'd only need one bag for that size enclosure.

I spot clean my enclosures and only replace the substrate when I am going to move a new group of tortoises into that enclosure.

 

[aclesi11]

http://www.lowes.com/pd_26986-1803-0082_0__?productId=3029472

This comes in a rather large helping and it is like 10. or 11. bucks..it works really well ...

I decide to go with this for my new enclosure. I am really pleased with it as far as retaining moisture etc, but it has added a really strong earthy odor to my house. Have you also experienced this? Do you think the smell will eventually dissipate?
I never had this problem with using coconut coir in my last enclosure.