NoLimitz07
New Member
Could I add an area of this to the enclosure?
You should be aware that tortoises sometimes just decide to purposely eat their substrates for no apparent reason. I had a beautiful female Star Tortoise die from intestinal impaction from eating Aspen shavings which I thought would never happen. My sulcatas used to routinely eat their oat star substrate if I didn't fee the enough other food items. If Yvonne thinks the walnut shells are toxic, I would avoid using them or at the very least make sure they are not before using them.I was planning on doing different zones in the enclosure. One side with the food has the mulch and then some live grass in the middle and on the other side this. I wouldnt put the food near the side with this.
Walnut shells are not suitable as a tortoise substrate because you can't keep them damp. They are also dusty and an impaction risk. I've never hear they are toxic, but that doesn't mean they aren't.What can I use to give that desert feel? Right now Im using the organic top soil with mulch. I am going to switch to the orchid bark.
The desert feel is from watching youtube videos of the sulcata out in Arizona in the sand there. I was wanting something more easy for burrowing. The soil I bought was on the recommended list for sulcata substrates. For growing the grass I was planning on getting a daylight t5 bulb and should be able to grow it under that light. Thanks for your responses. I will be picking up the Orchid bark this weekend.