Wondering about best outdoor substrate.

[Debbie Phillips]

New to site, I have 4 box turtles, 1 three toe, and 3 western box. All rescued. Outdoor summer resort.

 

[Yvonne G]

I'm counting wrong??

Looks like two ornata ornata, one three toe and two luteola (no longer called luteola, but I refuse to give it up).

My favorite indoor substrate is fine grade orchid bark. Outside they live on the natural soil plus lots of leaves.

 

[MichaelL]

Lol yeah, I thought 4 ornates and a three toed. But pretty cool.

 

[Debbie Phillips]

I'm counting wrong??

Looks like two ornata ornata, one three toe and two luteola (no longer called luteola, but I refuse to give it up).

My favorite indoor substrate is fine grade orchid bark. Outside they live on the natural soil plus lots of leaves.

We lost one two years ago. I need to update photo. Thanks for the advice. I've been using grass clippings primarily but realizing that isn't the best way...

 

[Debbie Phillips]

Lol yeah, I thought 4 ornates and a three toed. But pretty cool.

Need to update the photo sorry ...we lost one two years ago to rats! Bad bad situation!

 

[ZEROPILOT]

I'm counting wrong??

Looks like two ornata ornata, one three toe and two luteola (no longer called luteola, but I refuse to give it up).

My favorite indoor substrate is fine grade orchid bark. Outside they live on the natural soil plus lots of leaves.

+1
They like to hide in leaf litter.
Make it resemble the ground if you were walking through the woods

 

[LasTortugasNinja]

Leaf litter and long shaves of tree bark (find them all the time in the woods). Recommend soaking the tree bark strips in a vinegar solution before putting it in the enclosure to "cook" any pests hiding in it.

For substrate, as others have said, the regular good ol' dirt is fine. If you are building a planter-style tall enclosure outside, make sure to have holes at the bottom to allow a little bit of drainage. Add a base of large river rocks for drainage, then fill with organic top soil. Plant hardy organic ornamental grasses and maybe a zucchini plant or two, and then place clean leaf litter all over enclosure. Easy peasy.

 

[Debbie Phillips]

Leaf litter and long shaves of tree bark (find them all the time in the woods). Recommend soaking the tree bark strips in a vinegar solution before putting it in the enclosure to "cook" any pests hiding in it.

For substrate, as others have said, the regular good ol' dirt is fine. If you are building a planter-style tall enclosure outside, make sure to have holes at the bottom to allow a little bit of drainage. Add a base of large river rocks for drainage, then fill with organic top soil. Plant hardy organic ornamental grasses and maybe a zucchini plant or two, and then place clean leaf litter all over enclosure. Easy peasy.

YOu can see photo of our turtle area above. Thanks!