We started out with wood chips too, but later some chips developed ticks. As an alternative, we lined the bottom of the enclosure with some plexiglass and used a long sheet of paper towels for the water and food dishes. Last we covered the tortoise at a night with hand towels and they feel secure. The hand towels are washed if soiled, however if you soaked the tortoise in warm water twice a day, they become toilet trained in the bowl. Once rinsed after soaking, they are allowed to roam in a secure area of the house.
