Fir/Orchid Bark for baby sulcata

[Lenski]

Hi all,

I am doing some research for the best substrate for sulcata. I am leaning towards fir bark from zoomed reptibark since that's less muddy than coco coir. But I have one concern, wouldn't my baby sulcata have trouble walking on it since it's quite uneven? Any other suggestions? Thanks!

 

[Lenski]

Hi all,

I'm Elen and I'm from the Philippines.

I am doing some research for the best substrate for our baby sulcata around 7 months old now. It was gifted to us last August. We first used newspaper as substrate since it was suggested to us. Then, we changed it to garden soil, but our tortoise got sick. And I'm thinking it might be because of fertilizers in the soil. So we changed it back to paper towel and thankfully he got better because I started reading suggestions here in this forum to soak him in baby food. Now, we are leaning towards changing his substrate again to fir bark from zoomed reptibark since that's less muddy than coco coir. But I have one concern, wouldn't my baby sulcata have trouble walking on it since it's quite uneven? Any other suggestions? Thanks!

 

[JoesMum]

What do you think torts walk on in the wild? It's not completely flat.

A soul type substrate is the most natural thing going.

Orchid bark and coco coir are frequently recommended on this forum because they hold moisture and can be dampened to raise humidity.

Have you read the care guides for Sulcatas on here? They will give you the most up to date information on how to care for your tortoise.

Beginner Mistakes
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/

How to raise a healthy Sulcata
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/how-to-raise-a-healthy-sulcata-or-leopard-version-2-0.79895/

 

[JoesMum]

That should be soil-type substrate not soul as typed earlier. Sorry

 

[ZEROPILOT]

Hi all,

I am doing some research for the best substrate for sulcata. I am leaning towards fir bark from zoomed reptibark since that's less muddy than coco coir. But I have one concern, wouldn't my baby sulcata have trouble walking on it since it's quite uneven? Any other suggestions? Thanks!

Suggestion? Yes.
Save a ton of money and buy a big bag of fine orchid bark from the garden center of your nearest hardware/home improvement store. (plain and untreated or colored)
You'll find that most bags that have some sort of an animal plastered on the front cost many times more and is nothing special at all.
Fine orchid bark will lay pretty evenly and your tortoise will love it.

 

[Lenski]

Sorry, I posted two times. I posted on tortoise enclosures first before realizing that since it's my first post, I'll do so in the introductions first. Thanks for all your help. I'll try to find some fine orchid bark. Garden centers/hardware in the Philippines are quite different. I can't seem to find fine orchid bark. But I'll try again. If I find something, I'll post it here for you all to see if it's correct. Thanks again!

 

[Grandpa Turtle 144]

Hi Elen

 

[Yvonne G]

You can pat it down firmly with the palm of your hand and it's not so uneven.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

Sorry, I posted two times. I posted on tortoise enclosures first before realizing that since it's my first post, I'll do so in the introductions first. Thanks for all your help. I'll try to find some fine orchid bark. Garden centers/hardware in the Philippines are quite different. I can't seem to find fine orchid bark. But I'll try again. If I find something, I'll post it here for you all to see if it's correct. Thanks again!

I hadn't realized that you were in the Philippines.
Look for finely shredded "driveway" mulch. Maybe that will help?