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i got this repti Bark stuff for X-mas and was wondering if it will work for RT substrate. here is a pic of the product.

Sorry .. Nothing to do with your question but, where did you get that cute figurine?

my mom bought it from Target. i love it

would really be suitable would have to be my answer
Russians love to dig so topsoil and playsand would be the best option also repti bark hold to much humidity.

Isn’t Fir a type of Christmas tree like a Pine (conifer) ??
If I read this right, on the bag (100% fir) it would not be suitible for Torts.

Coldliz I got one at Michaels and its like a hard rubber-plastic toy.

Crazy1, Is fir bark toxic to torts? I read that redwood is. If so then I will take it out of my enclosure. During an interim remodel of Farishta's house I put a mound of repti-bark in, and she seemed to enjoy playing with it (she's big on redecorating), i.e., came home from work the next day and she had it all flattened out and interspersed with tufts of moss, then the next day she piled it all back up into a mound again, then leveled it and moved it closer to the pool, etc., etc.

I left a little bark in the corner for the most recent home remodel just to give her some variety of surfaces to walk on (pics coming soon).....

-Brenda K

I found this info on the Tortoise trust website:
Cedar or Pine chips/shavings
Highly toxic when heated, emit noxious fumes. Serious risk of impaction if ingested. Avoid!
More info can be found here:
http://www.tortoisetrust.org/articles/substrates.html

As you can see they suggest mixed loam compost base mixed with varying amounts of soft (play) sand.
I just mounded some extra dirt mixed with sand 70/30 mix( rest of the pen is 50/50 mix ) in Ajax and Echo’s enclosure and like yours she like to rearrange her own house, she flattens then builds mounds, moves her hides etc. I worry about ingestion and impaction so I do not use wood chips (my personal preference).
I would use a different wood if I were going to put wood chips in at all.

i wasnt sure if it was safe so i asked. thanks.

by the way the figurine was actually from Michaels, not Target

Crazy1 Wrote:I found this info on the Tortoise trust website:
Cedar or Pine chips/shavings
Highly toxic when heated, emit noxious fumes. Serious risk of impaction if ingested. Avoid!
More info can be found here:
http://www.tortoisetrust.org/articles/substrates.html

As you can see they suggest mixed loam compost base mixed with varying amounts of soft (play) sand.
I just mounded some extra dirt mixed with sand 70/30 mix( rest of the pen is 50/50 mix ) in Ajax and Echo’s enclosure and like yours she like to rearrange her own house, she flattens then builds mounds, moves her hides etc. I worry about ingestion and impaction so I do not use wood chips (my personal preference).
I would use a different wood if I were going to put wood chips in at all.

Wow! Glad I asked - thanks!! I'll take out the remaining bark when I work on her enclosure again tomorrow.....

Crazy1 Wrote:I found this info on the Tortoise trust website:
Cedar or Pine chips/shavings
Highly toxic when heated, emit noxious fumes. Serious risk of impaction if ingested. Avoid!
More info can be found here:
http://www.tortoisetrust.org/articles/substrates.html

As you can see they suggest mixed loam compost base mixed with varying amounts of soft (play) sand.
I just mounded some extra dirt mixed with sand 70/30 mix( rest of the pen is 50/50 mix ) in Ajax and Echo’s enclosure and like yours she like to rearrange her own house, she flattens then builds mounds, moves her hides etc. I worry about ingestion and impaction so I do not use wood chips (my personal preference).
I would use a different wood if I were going to put wood chips in at all.

I've read the article too, and I also have a bag of fir bark. I haven't used it yet...but I was wondering if anyone could clarify if FIR bark is usable. I realize that CEDAR and PINE aren't, but is there anything wrong with FIR bark??

I make it a rule if it comes from a conifer, I don't use it. Redwood (a conifer), pine (a conifer), cedar (a conifer),spruce (a conifer), and fir (a conifer). I use hardwood (decidous trees) as bedding. These would be bedding such as aspen or cypress.

Itort Wrote:I make it a rule if it comes from a conifer, I don't use it. Redwood (a conifer), pine (a conifer), cedar (a conifer),spruce (a conifer), and fir (a conifer). I use hardwood (decidous trees) as bedding. These would be bedding such as aspen or cypress.

Thanks!!