Indoor substrate that doesn’t turn into dust

Jarrette

New Member
Joined
Feb 4, 2019
Messages
7
Location (City and/or State)
California
Hello! I have tried several different substrates for my sulcata, he will be moving outdoors full time one day but until then he has a large indoor enclosure (he gets lots of outside time weather permitting) and I would like to keep a nice indoor enclosure for him even after that in case it gets too cold for his outdoor enclosure (will be heated but still, he’s my baby and will be coming in if it is too cold in the future). My problem is it seems all the types of substrate I have used, coco coir, wood chips, paper bedding, all turns to really thick dust pretty quickly as he stomps on it and then his room is covered in dust and I’m dying of allergies! I would love to hear what substrate people use with less of a dust issue or what you do to combat the dust issue for large indoor enclosures? Thanks so much!
 

Maro2Bear

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Joined
May 29, 2014
Messages
14,712
Location (City and/or State)
Glenn Dale, Maryland, USA
Hello! I have tried several different substrates for my sulcata, he will be moving outdoors full time one day but until then he has a large indoor enclosure (he gets lots of outside time weather permitting) and I would like to keep a nice indoor enclosure for him even after that in case it gets too cold for his outdoor enclosure (will be heated but still, he’s my baby and will be coming in if it is too cold in the future). My problem is it seems all the types of substrate I have used, coco coir, wood chips, paper bedding, all turns to really thick dust pretty quickly as he stomps on it and then his room is covered in dust and I’m dying of allergies! I would love to hear what substrate people use with less of a dust issue or what you do to combat the dust issue for large indoor enclosures? Thanks so much!


Greetings. Try cypress mulch from your garden center.
 

Cheryl Hills

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Jan 1, 2016
Messages
2,334
Location (City and/or State)
Youngstown, Ohio
Poor water in your substrate, mix it all in until all of it is damp, then pack it down some. If you keep the substrate moist like this, you will not have as much of a problem. What size or age is your tort? If it is a baby, it should have humidity at 80 to 100 percent and temps no lower then 80 degrees anywhere in the enclosure. Just misting the substrate will not help, it will evaporate right out.
 

Yvonne G

Old Timer
TFO Admin
10 Year Member!
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Jan 23, 2008
Messages
93,405
Location (City and/or State)
Clovis, CA
My favorite is labelled "orchid bark" and it's made from fir bark. I keep it moist and have never experienced "dust."

This tells me you are keeping the substrate too dry.
 

Jarrette

New Member
Joined
Feb 4, 2019
Messages
7
Location (City and/or State)
California
Thanks everyone, I’ll try more misting. He is 4 years old. I’ve had him since he was a hatchling. He was kept very humid and warm as a baby and is in great health. He will be moving outside (mostly) full time soon, just looking for an interim solution for his indoor enclosure when he is in it, usually just nights and sometimes during the winter when it’s too cold outside.
 

Markw84

Well-Known Member
10 Year Member!
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Jan 17, 2012
Messages
5,041
Location (City and/or State)
Sacramento, CA (Central Valley)
Orchard bark is by far the best substrate I have used. It is the least likely to break down and become dusty. It holds moisture well which is important to a sulcata enclosure. I would definitelyOrchid Bark.jpg suggest trying that and reporting on the difference!
 

Yvonne G

Old Timer
TFO Admin
10 Year Member!
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Jan 23, 2008
Messages
93,405
Location (City and/or State)
Clovis, CA
Mark: Where do you find that brand?
 

ayrgrn

Active Member
Joined
Dec 30, 2018
Messages
113
Location (City and/or State)
UK
I think salcatas prefer dry habitats instead of more humid, if you're looking for a soft, soul type substrate then I would suggest mixing topsoil with Coco coir, it's not dusty when dry and can be sprayed with water to increase humidity. If you're looking for more of a bark substrate then I'd go with orchid bark: you can buy this from your local garden centre or pet shop, garden centre more likely to be the cheaper source.

Hope this helps :)
 

TechnoCheese

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Feb 20, 2016
Messages
4,505
Location (City and/or State)
Lewisville, Texas
I think salcatas prefer dry habitats instead of more humid, if you're looking for a soft, soul type substrate then I would suggest mixing topsoil with Coco coir, it's not dusty when dry and can be sprayed with water to increase humidity. If you're looking for more of a bark substrate then I'd go with orchid bark: you can buy this from your local garden centre or pet shop, garden centre more likely to be the cheaper source.

Hope this helps :)

That is untrue. Sulcatas are born during monsoon season in the wild, and spend their time in deep, humid burrows. They require humidity that is 80-100%.
 

ayrgrn

Active Member
Joined
Dec 30, 2018
Messages
113
Location (City and/or State)
UK
That is untrue. Sulcatas are born during monsoon season in the wild, and spend their time in deep, humid burrows. They require humidity that is 80-100%.
Oh my apologies then, I read somewhere that they like dry!
 

SweetGreekTorts

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jun 12, 2018
Messages
980
Location (City and/or State)
Tucson, AZ
I see several places near you that carry EB Stone naturals products. Evergreen Garden Center on Alluvial does. If they don't stock it I'm sure they could order it for you.
I just checked my area. Nobody within a 50-mile radius sells it [emoji17]
 

Yvonne G

Old Timer
TFO Admin
10 Year Member!
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Jan 23, 2008
Messages
93,405
Location (City and/or State)
Clovis, CA
I see several places near you that carry EB Stone naturals products. Evergreen Garden Center on Alluvial does. If they don't stock it I'm sure they could order it for you.
I asked Evergreen to order a couple bags for me. When it arrived, they charged me $5 more a bag than what I paid at OSH (now out of business), and instead of the fine/small, they got me medium. I've been to all of the places that I found online supposed to sell the product, and none of them do. I think I'll try to find contact information for the orchid society and see if they buy it.
 

Tom

The Dog Trainer
10 Year Member!
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Jan 9, 2010
Messages
63,265
Location (City and/or State)
Southern California
Oh my apologies then, I read somewhere that they like dry!
Not your fault. Every book that I know of, most websites, vets, breeders and "experts" all say this, but it is wrong. Its always been wrong, but not everyone has figured this out yet. Many people who have been doing it for years still argue against the new info, even though they've never tried it and don't realize the positive difference it will make.
 

Tom

The Dog Trainer
10 Year Member!
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Jan 9, 2010
Messages
63,265
Location (City and/or State)
Southern California
Hello! I have tried several different substrates for my sulcata, he will be moving outdoors full time one day but until then he has a large indoor enclosure (he gets lots of outside time weather permitting) and I would like to keep a nice indoor enclosure for him even after that in case it gets too cold for his outdoor enclosure (will be heated but still, he’s my baby and will be coming in if it is too cold in the future). My problem is it seems all the types of substrate I have used, coco coir, wood chips, paper bedding, all turns to really thick dust pretty quickly as he stomps on it and then his room is covered in dust and I’m dying of allergies! I would love to hear what substrate people use with less of a dust issue or what you do to combat the dust issue for large indoor enclosures? Thanks so much!
Where in CA are you? We can try to help you find a good source for fine grade orchid bark.

If the substrate is kept properly damp, it will not ever get dusty. They should never be on substrate that is dry enough to be dusty.
 

Markw84

Well-Known Member
10 Year Member!
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Jan 17, 2012
Messages
5,041
Location (City and/or State)
Sacramento, CA (Central Valley)
I asked Evergreen to order a couple bags for me. When it arrived, they charged me $5 more a bag than what I paid at OSH (now out of business), and instead of the fine/small, they got me medium. I've been to all of the places that I found online supposed to sell the product, and none of them do. I think I'll try to find contact information for the orchid society and see if they buy it.
The fine grade orchid bark I referenced is made by EB Stone. A very popular supplier in many parts of the US. The mico bark @Tom uses is also an orchid bark, but a bit more mulched. Still as fine as the "fine" grade, but a bit of a variation is sizes - some pieces are smaller while with the true "fine grade" all the pieces are a very uniform size. E B Stone makes both the one I reference and the one Tom does. The one Tom uses is a 2 cu ft bag and I got 3 bags just this week. $9.95 per bag for 2 cu ft while the fine grade orchid bark is $10 for a 1 cu ft bag. I like the fine grade a bit better, but not sure its worth 2x the price as much as I use.

I got medium grade in an improperly marked bag before and do not like the medium grade either, Yvonne! Perhaps you can check with Evergreen to see if they have the microbark- branded GreenAll but still by EB Stone. It seems to be more popular and carried more than the graded orchid barks.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Tom
Top