Substrate & Dust

[Coolsox]

My torts throw up an incredible amount of dust from their topsoil as they do there day to day thing.

How do you avoid this? The only think I can think of is keeping the substrate damp, but wouldn't this be bad?

Any suggestions?

[Miller07]

As long as it's not too wet I think it should be fine.
Most spray theirs with a squirty bottle or use a wee watering can every few days
Hope this helps x

[kreacher]

Yeah I use a garden spray bottle thing for kreacher, just a bit in the morning, doesn't get it soaking wet just a bit damp

[Alan1]

It is a problem so options are higher sides (obviously doesn't eliminate it though) and spraying the soil. It's a good idea to spray the soil anyway to provide a bit of humidity but even then it dries out in no time.

I have a £3 pressure sprayer from Asda gardening section, you pump it up and down from the top then just pull the trigger, it holds about 3 litres. Out in the garden they encounter more dampness than that so it isn't a problem really. Hermanns are okay with a bit of dampness, other 'makes' are less okay but while damp isn't bad, damp + cold or wet + cold is bad. Horsfields are prone to shell rot in continuous over-damp conditions.

BTW, for anyone making their own table, flooring is good (and relatively cheap) for the sides as you can add to it in height if need be as long as you don't break the tongue or groove

[Coolsox]

Thanks all, i'll try giving it a light spraying. At the moment every square inch of my conservatory is covered with fine brown dust. Not sure the cacti will appreciate it!!

[yuna1971]

I lightly water my substrate but tend to keep the light watering around the basking spot. I leave the middle bit dry and bit dusty for Lily in case he chooses to sit there. I then water a wee circle around this - so that if he wants to sit on the damp-like parts, he can and gain a bit of humidity as well. I find he will prefer the warm/humid damp 'circle' than the dry dusty bit. He sniffs it and tends to stick his tail in it.
Of course, its not sogging wet and only when the basking area has really kicked in heat wise. But Lily loves it. It just gives him 2 different areas. A little mimicking of that 'just rained' smell perhaps....(I sort of like the smell too.....!)xx
As has been said, spraying is a bit feeble really as it drys out in about 2 seconds....

[TortBabe]

I have taken to watering my enclosures daily with a kiddie watering can
My central heating is on full blast now and I find I need to do this otherwise it is very dry. My guys seem to have no ill effects from me doing this