What to use ??

sindeath

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Mar 25, 2017
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Hi I have been a worried owner as every where I look I get told to use top soil as a subterranean so I made the change as when I got my one it had straw pellet I did weeks of research to buy the best for him/her only for a bad reaction so rushed him/her to my closest specialist vet only to find out where has never had soil before he/she had a reaction to it they have done lots of tests but have said to not use soil as will keep reacting to it what would all you lovely people suggest ? as I want the best life for my shell baby
 

Patty P

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I have an Eastern's Hermann and I use organic topsoil with a little cypress mulch mixed in. Humidity holds well in this substrate and Tucker finds it nice to burrow in.:tort:
 

JoesMum

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Other popular substrates are fine grade orchid bark and coco coir. Both can be bought from garden centres or Amazon.

The substrate needs to be evenly damp throughout. Dry substrates frequently cause issues. Damp substrate combined with the warm temperatures create the right humidity for healthy growth as ling as your enclosure is covered as it should be for a young tort.

It must not contain fertilisers or white bits such as vermiculite or calcium.
 

Yvonne G

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Hi I have been a worried owner as every where I look I get told to use top soil as a subterranean so I made the change as when I got my one it had straw pellet I did weeks of research to buy the best for him/her only for a bad reaction so rushed him/her to my closest specialist vet only to find out where has never had soil before he/she had a reaction to it they have done lots of tests but have said to not use soil as will keep reacting to it what would all you lovely people suggest ? as I want the best life for my shell baby

I don't think you got that information from us. I don't ever see any of our members saying to use top soil. Mostly what we encourage use of is coco coir or fir bark.
 

Patty P

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I don't think you got that information from us. I don't ever see any of our members saying to use top soil. Mostly what we encourage use of is coco coir or fir bark.
I use organic topsoil mixed with coco coir. Again, I am following Chris Leone's instructions (for hatchling and baby Hermann's) from HermanniHaven to a T. I stalk his website!!! (I refer to it as the Hermann Tortoise Bible)
 

ryanellis

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Everyone on tortoise advice Facebook say to use top soil this was a picture they sent me for safe top soil but I hate it my tortoise viv gets so dirty and there water get mud in it my tortoise liked Premium Beech Chips Coarse I used that's for 2years had no problems but when i started using top soil it bloody annoying what should I do




This is the top soil they said is safe to use for tortoise

ImageUploadedByTortoise Forum1491354451.617931.jpg
 

Aaron K.

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I don't think you got that information from us. I don't ever see any of our members saying to use top soil. Mostly what we encourage use of is coco coir or fir bark.

Yvonne, is pine bark and fir bark mulch the same thing? Is it suitable for Redfoots?
 

Tom

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Hi I have been a worried owner as every where I look I get told to use top soil as a subterranean so I made the change as when I got my one it had straw pellet I did weeks of research to buy the best for him/her only for a bad reaction so rushed him/her to my closest specialist vet only to find out where has never had soil before he/she had a reaction to it they have done lots of tests but have said to not use soil as will keep reacting to it what would all you lovely people suggest ? as I want the best life for my shell baby

What species and size have you got?
 
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