Substrate

[Bradley price]

Is habistat tortoise bedding good or bad?

 

[JoesMum]

No. It has white pieces in it. Why would you put calcium in the substrate? The last thing you want is for the tortoise to eat it!

Get plain fine grade orchid bark or coco coir from a garden centre or DIY store and use that. It’s cheaper to buy things without a tortoise on the packet and there are no dangerous additives.

Coco coir can be bought in bricks that you soak in water to decompress.

These coco coir bricks are on Amazon
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07FW653X2/?tag=

 

[Bradley price]

Swell Premium Orchid Bark Fine

Fine, woody substrate that is perfect for any rainforest setups Retains moisture and can be used to raise humidity Great for forest dwelling species and amphibians

www.reptiles.swelluk.com

Is this also ok

 

[JoesMum]

The bits look a bit large. You want something that is more like potting compost and mixes with water easily (you tip it in from a jug and mix it with your hands) until all of it is evenly damp.

With tortoises, surface spraying isn’t enough.

 

[Tom]

Swell Premium Orchid Bark Fine

Fine, woody substrate that is perfect for any rainforest setups Retains moisture and can be used to raise humidity Great for forest dwelling species and amphibians

www.reptiles.swelluk.com

Is this also ok

Looks good to me.

 

[Bradley price]

would I need to do anything to this like moisten it or something else. Or can I just put it straight in my enclosure?

 

[JoesMum]

Substrate needs to be damp to raise humidity. Tip water in from a jug and mix it with your hands until all of it is evenly damp right to the bottom and into the corners. Take it steady, you want damp not wet and muddy.