LeighElizabeth
New Member
Hi.
Im looking for advice for the best substrate. I have scanned this forum but it has left me unsure so thought id make my own post.
I have a Horsefield tortoise and have had him for 6 years, so he is probably around 7 or 8 years old.
For the majority of his time in my care I have used plain top soil as a substrate. This seems to be fine however I find it dries out pretty quickly and he never seems to want to bury in it.
I bought some blocks of coco coir and was going to buy Orchard Bark to put on top (read this somewhere on the forum) but at the same time a tortoise would not be living on this in real life.
I also always read conflicting advice online- one minute Im reading they need a humid environment and others say he needs a dry one as humidity causes shell rot. So I feel like im stuck between a rock and a hard place with what I should be doing.
I normally use top soil and mist it every morning with a spray bottle but it just dries out so quickly.
What is the best substrate for him??
Thanks for your time x
Im looking for advice for the best substrate. I have scanned this forum but it has left me unsure so thought id make my own post.
I have a Horsefield tortoise and have had him for 6 years, so he is probably around 7 or 8 years old.
For the majority of his time in my care I have used plain top soil as a substrate. This seems to be fine however I find it dries out pretty quickly and he never seems to want to bury in it.
I bought some blocks of coco coir and was going to buy Orchard Bark to put on top (read this somewhere on the forum) but at the same time a tortoise would not be living on this in real life.
I also always read conflicting advice online- one minute Im reading they need a humid environment and others say he needs a dry one as humidity causes shell rot. So I feel like im stuck between a rock and a hard place with what I should be doing.
I normally use top soil and mist it every morning with a spray bottle but it just dries out so quickly.
What is the best substrate for him??
Thanks for your time x