Hi guys, im Alec. I have been wondering what all of you use for your substrate. I use rabbit pellets personally because they are easy to clean & pretty cheap. What do you guys use?
What is a better substrate for a tortoise.
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alben909 said:Hi guys, im Alec. I have been wondering what all of you use for your substrate. I use rabbit pellets personally because they are easy to clean & pretty cheap. What do you guys use?
Hi Alec,
We use cypress mulch for our star.
I never thought of that.
I use cocoa husk. It retains water well and it does not mold.
I like to use a top soil and cypress mulch mix, half and half. My Hermann's loves it
AWESOME GUYS
1. Avoid any substrate that molds, dries out the tortoise, or causes other problems. This would include, unfortunately, food pellets and things like hay or sand.
2. The only two substrates I would use anymore after experimentation are:
- Cypress or other hardwood bark or shreds mulch (Orchid bark/fine-milled Douglas fir is my 2nd choice here). Make sure it does not have dyes or colorants, a pine or cedar smell, or rubber chunks.
- Bioactive Substrate System, a mini-compost pile that simulates the natural action of real 'wild' soil.
2. The only two substrates I would use anymore after experimentation are:
- Cypress or other hardwood bark or shreds mulch (Orchid bark/fine-milled Douglas fir is my 2nd choice here). Make sure it does not have dyes or colorants, a pine or cedar smell, or rubber chunks.
- Bioactive Substrate System, a mini-compost pile that simulates the natural action of real 'wild' soil.
Cypress mulch. +1
Oh ok thanks guys
we use 2/3 orchid bark (Forest mix) for our stars and 1/3 a rough tile. We find that they walk faster on tile and they seem a bit unstable on the orchid bark. We might be changing that into something more solid for them. We're also read where unstable substrate may not be good for their joints?? Any ideas?
Hmm i dont know.
Hey guys just got bored
Different stuff works better for different applications here are my favorites in no particular order:
Orchid bark
coco coir, or chips for bigger torts
plain soil
dirt from the yard, if you have the right type
cypress mulch, but I'm recommending this less because apparently the South's cypress forests are being depleted too fast
sphagnum peat moss
long fibered peat moss
Here are some that I would never use:
sand in any amount or mixture
pellets, like rabbit pellets or compressed grass pellets
soils with additives
tiles or linoleum or any thing else that would be slick
newspaper
aspen shavings or any other type of dry wood shavings
Orchid bark
coco coir, or chips for bigger torts
plain soil
dirt from the yard, if you have the right type
cypress mulch, but I'm recommending this less because apparently the South's cypress forests are being depleted too fast
sphagnum peat moss
long fibered peat moss
Here are some that I would never use:
sand in any amount or mixture
pellets, like rabbit pellets or compressed grass pellets
soils with additives
tiles or linoleum or any thing else that would be slick
newspaper
aspen shavings or any other type of dry wood shavings
I have tried just about everything out there it seems and in the end what works best for me, is the coir bricks and a low percentage of sand. If your tortoise is healthy, some sand in the mixture is just fine. Sand is also found in most people's soil. This combo holds the moisture best for me, allows easier and safer ability for the tortoise to dig in it, is easy to find every where I think, and is the easy to see when it is starting to dry out.
I don't really like the mulch, but do use it on the bigger tortoises. I find I have trouble keeping things humid enough with it, I fear the sharp points puncturing intestinal tracts if digested, and as far as digging into it, yuck.
I don't really like the mulch, but do use it on the bigger tortoises. I find I have trouble keeping things humid enough with it, I fear the sharp points puncturing intestinal tracts if digested, and as far as digging into it, yuck.
Ok thanks guys
M
Maggie Cummings
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I use cypress mulch, rabbit pellets are the worst you can use.
i use coco coir.
Dirt.. mine live outside.
Cypress/topsoil for the sulcata, and coconut coir for the redfoot.
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