Bedding - marginated tortoise

MarginatedChar

New Member
Joined
Oct 4, 2018
Messages
2
Location (City and/or State)
Suffolk
Hi all,

I have just recently got a baby Marginated Tortoise. The breeder sent it with Aspen bedding - is this suitable?

If not, any recommendations? I’m in the UK.

Thanks,

Charlotte.
 

Minority2

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 30, 2018
Messages
1,052
Location (City and/or State)
Tortoise Hell
Hi all,

I have just recently got a baby Marginated Tortoise. The breeder sent it with Aspen bedding - is this suitable?

If not, any recommendations? I’m in the UK.

Thanks,

Charlotte.

Aspen bedding is not as good as other substrate choices. It's very dry, it gets dusty, and it will mold.

Young Marginated tortoises require medium to high humidity levels of 60-70%. They also need a good level of substrate (4+ inches) for burrowing.

Coco coir and fine grade orchid/fir bark are highly recommended substrate choices. Either of these would be a good choice. Though for young and small burrowing tortoises, the feel and insulating qualities of coco coir would be hard to beat. Just be sure to keep the substrate damp so that it doesn't get too dusty.
 

Cathie G

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5 Year Member
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Aug 9, 2018
Messages
14,904
Location (City and/or State)
Lancaster
Hi all,

I have just recently got a baby Marginated Tortoise. The breeder sent it with Aspen bedding - is this suitable?

If not, any recommendations? I’m in the UK.

Thanks,

Charlotte.
When I tried it I got a really tiny splinter in my finger I couldn't even see with a magnifying glass. What if it had poked my tortoise in the eye? I didn't even use it for mulch...I might use it to start a fire for barbecue
 

King Arthur

Active Member
Tortoise Club
Joined
Jan 7, 2019
Messages
116
Location (City and/or State)
Bay Area, California
Hi, not sure I'm posting this question in the right place but I'm reading top soil as the only substrate (no sand mix) now I use aspen with coco fir mostly, but looking for best substrate. What do you think ?
 

Cathie G

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Aug 9, 2018
Messages
14,904
Location (City and/or State)
Lancaster
Hi, not sure I'm posting this question in the right place but I'm reading top soil as the only substrate (no sand mix) now I use aspen with coco fir mostly, but looking for best substrate. What do you think ?
If no one gets in contact then repost to tortoise forum.org. I found you on a thread that I have on tortoise forum. The older members can give you really good advice
 

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