I’ve researched until I’m numb, I have a good idea of what I want to get in substrate. Reading reviews online 90% of the suppliers are reported to have mold, bugs, holes in bags on their products. Amazon seems bad with ripped bags, ants, mold. Slim to no reviews for the local hardware stores. Same type of reviews on major online pet supply chains. Where can you get substrates that have been stored properly at the vendor? That are free of mold, pests and holes in the bags. Do you have to go hand pick your bags at the hardware store or pet supply store? Ugh.
Shopping for properly stored substrate
I have
n't had that problem at chewy.com
n't had that problem at chewy.com
If you are worried about hitchhikers ~
Take big flat cookie-sheet-type pans, spread the bark out to an inch or so deep, set your oven on a low temp, like 250F, and let it sit in there for a couple hours. Be sure to check on it every half hour or twenty minutes to make sure it doesn't burn. And it might be good to stir it a little, but not necessary. I'd line the pans with foil for easy clean-up.
Take big flat cookie-sheet-type pans, spread the bark out to an inch or so deep, set your oven on a low temp, like 250F, and let it sit in there for a couple hours. Be sure to check on it every half hour or twenty minutes to make sure it doesn't burn. And it might be good to stir it a little, but not necessary. I'd line the pans with foil for easy clean-up.
The correct type of substrate does not mold.
Bugs come from the surrounding environment and colonize the warm moist environment that we create for our tortoises. These bug are harmless detrivores working to keep the enclosure clean, and when people make "bio-active" enclosures they pay money to buy these bugs and introduce them on purpose. These bugs are not coming from a bag of substrate, tears and holes in the bag, or not.
There is nothing for ants in one of these bags, so that is not an issue.
There is a lot of bad advice and bad info on the internet. I'm glad you found us. Check this thread out for all the current info, including which substrates to use:
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Thank you this sounds doable
I have had very good luck using a product from Joshsfrogs.com called Coco Cradle. It's a finely ground, clean coconut product that holds moisture well once thoroughly moistened. I use it for my red-footed tortoises and it helps keep the humidity at good levels. I re-moisten two or three times per week. I suppose you could mix it with clean soil or peat, but I use it straight.
