Substrates

[TaylorWRP]

Not sure if this is the correct place to post I figured it would of worked very well due to the fact that it is regarding different opinions and also a wide-variety of substrates that work for some and not others.

I currently am using top soil for my tortoise. I have noticed people (also hermann or horsefield keepers) using timothy or meadow hay as a substrate that is short-cut not long-strands (which is used in the hides). My question is:

What substrates are we able to use without causing problems to our tortoise?

[Xero]

Best thing is top soil, how ever you cant mix it with stuff like hay, playing sand etc although almost everyone will agree top soil is the best thing..

[shellonia]

Most would say topsoil though you need to be careful where you get it as some is full of stones and other bits! Wickes is favoured by a lot of people.

[TaylorWRP]

I would agree, it just confuses me is all. I use top soil that is steralized and has no stones or anything like that. I do have hay in the hide though..but thats all.

[Xero]

well you use the same as me then, i sometimes add abit of sand but not very much

[BirdieF18]

I am using top soil and my horsfield loves it

[Pussygalore]

if you have a blocked in 'house' for nights then redigrass or hay can be used in there as long as it isn't sprayed with water, it goes mouldy. My young sully has a wooden 'house' sectioned of part of her table and has both readigrass and hay in there she loves it, its fluffed up and 'mucked' out daily as thats the only place she will toilet but I'm carefull to keep it dry and its replaced with fresh regulary, its also well away from any light

[EJ]

I don't think there are any 'best' substrates. Most you can think of are perfectly safe.

I've used sand, sand/soil, soil, pine bark mulch, cyprus mulch, Orchid bark, coconut hull, aspen bedding, bermuda hay, grass clippings and crushed oyster shell. I try different beddings for each type of tortoise to see what they do best on. Availability of a substrate also plays a role.

Soil seems to make the most mess for me. Right now I'm mainly using aspen bedding but will probably switch to cyprus mulch or Orchid bark for some species.

Originally Posted by TaylorWRP

Not sure if this is the correct place to post I figured it would of worked very well due to the fact that it is regarding different opinions and also a wide-variety of substrates that work for some and not others.

I currently am using top soil for my tortoise. I have noticed people (also hermann or horsefield keepers) using timothy or meadow hay as a substrate that is short-cut not long-strands (which is used in the hides). My question is:

What substrates are we able to use without causing problems to our tortoise?

[TaylorWRP]

Yes, I must admit that soil is awfully messy for tortoises. My horsefield is picky by the sounds of it I have a slight issue with her, she appears not to settle on soil. She is either under her basking light (which is a slate) or she is in her hide where the hay is. I got her from a breeder who had her on wood-chips, so maybe she is taking her time in settling to soil. I was debating whether or not to change her over to some kind of bark or hay. If she steps onto soil she is quick and runs for something that is not soil. It is rare I catch her sitting on soil. Anyone got any ideas what I could do regarding this?

Originally Posted by EJ

I don't think there are any 'best' substrates. Most you can think of are perfectly safe.

I've used sand, sand/soil, soil, pine bark mulch, cyprus mulch, Orchid bark, coconut hull, aspen bedding, bermuda hay, grass clippings and crushed oyster shell. I try different beddings for each type of tortoise to see what they do best on. Availability of a substrate also plays a role.

Soil seems to make the most mess for me. Right now I'm mainly using aspen bedding but will probably switch to cyprus mulch or Orchid bark for some species.

[EJ]

What kind and how big where the wood chips? What was 'wrong' with using what the tortoise was used to?

Originally Posted by TaylorWRP

Yes, I must admit that soil is awfully messy for tortoises. My horsefield is picky by the sounds of it I have a slight issue with her, she appears not to settle on soil. She is either under her basking light (which is a slate) or she is in her hide where the hay is. I got her from a breeder who had her on wood-chips, so maybe she is taking her time in settling to soil. I was debating whether or not to change her over to some kind of bark or hay. If she steps onto soil she is quick and runs for something that is not soil. It is rare I catch her sitting on soil. Anyone got any ideas what I could do regarding this?