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Hi All,

I will be getting my new Leo baby next week and I am trying to get everything ready. The pet store didn't have a great selection of stuff as I had hoped they would. I bought some coconut fiber bricks, Eco Earth brand. Is this OK to use, and if so should it be moist or dry?
Should I mix it with sand?
Thanks!

HI,
I HAVE THE SAME ??? WE JUST STARTED TO USE IT AND DID MIX ONE HALF OF THE ENCLOSURE WITH SAND AND LEFT THE OTHER PLAIN. I HOPE IT IS OK. I HEARD THAT IT CAN BE BAD FOR THEM SO AM NERVOUS NOW AND WONDER IF I SHOULD SWITCH. THIS GUY TOLD ME THAT IT CAN IRRITATE THE EYES EVENTUALLY LEADING TO RI??
SO VERY UNSURE ABOUT SUBSTRATES AND WHAT IS BEST. THEY ALSO SAID THAT THE SOIL SAND MIX CAN BE BAD TOO...SO TOTALLY CONFUSED !!

When indoors, I keep my leo baby on Aspen and make sure that I provide a moist hide. I cut a plastic flower pot in half then drilled a small hole which I put a long, thin bolt through and slid a sponge on that. Then just screw on a nut and washer to attach sponge. Keep the sponge moist. When the pot is in as their hide, the sponge would be above their head. I also put in a bit of sphagnum moss, moistened. The aspen is easy for them to walk on, plus they can dig in it if they want to.

I use to use it all the time until I found that my torts were getting a fungus growth on their plastron. I switched to Cypress mulch for the redfoots and Sphagnum peat moss for the sulcatas and so far no more fungus on any of them.

I know what you mean about the confusion regarding substrate. I have had my sulcata hatchlings less than a month. I wanted to get aspen but the pet store didn't have any so I decided to use Timothy hay first and in the moist area to use moist coconut fiber. I made a hide out of a plastic container with a lid (upside down) and put a thick layer of the moist coco fiber in it. I moisten it more now and then as needed. They do use it. I also put a shallow lid with more moist coco fiber in it in the enclosure for added humidity. In the bottom of their enclosure I put a layer of newspaper on the bottom with a layer of timothy hay on it. I pat it down to compact it a bit, so it's not fluffy. They are doing well so far, eating, drinking, active, gaining weight etc. I clean it out every few days, replacing the hay and paper and coco fiber to keep everything sanitary. I think I will keep using it for now because it's working for them.

I have heard that the coco fiber can get into the eyes and irritate them. I have mixed it with a little sand but I think this will be temporary and then try aspen. We'll see how he/she does.

thx Chucky !!