Mixing substrates

hollyandT

Member
Joined
Jan 22, 2019
Messages
56
Location (City and/or State)
Hull
So I’ve just made T a larger enclosure and to fill it I’ve got 6 bricks of coco and coir but it’s going to take a lot more which might be a little too pricey

I thought I could maybe mix it with other things and I remember reading something about Timothy hay so I bought 2 bags of it and I’ve just seen that it’s no good for substrate and is mostly used as food but if it’s mixed with soil, coco and coir would it still be rubbish or ok as it would mostly be soil in the enclosure

It was only £4 so I won’t be too bothered if I shouldn’t use it I’ll just save it and mix it with his fresh weeds
 

Blackdog1714

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Jul 30, 2018
Messages
4,666
Location (City and/or State)
Richmond, VA
You can put Cypress mulch over top and it would be cleaner. Not sure if it would be at a garden center or store over their. I just now on Amazon it can go for $40 for a bag I can get at Home Deport for $4 with tax. Other option is just good old fashioned plan dirt with no fillers- kinda just dig some from a part of your yard that hasn't been fertilized. I know my russian loves to dig into the dirt in his outdoor enclosure. The hay molds when wet so you are ahead of the game on that Good Luck and don't be afriad to ask that is what TFO is for.
 

Kapidolo Farms

Well-Known Member
10 Year Member!
Tortoise Club
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Nov 7, 2012
Messages
5,173
Location (City and/or State)
South of Southern California, but not Mexico
I mix substrates simply by not always replacing like for like. I might start with coco husk chunks and remove some that is soiled (poop) and over time replace the lost volume with orchid bark or cypress. All three of these can be inexpensive depending on where you live and not buying the product with the iguana image, but the same product with a lesser specialty packaging scheme.
 

hollyandT

Member
Joined
Jan 22, 2019
Messages
56
Location (City and/or State)
Hull
You can put Cypress mulch over top and it would be cleaner. Not sure if it would be at a garden center or store over their. I just now on Amazon it can go for $40 for a bag I can get at Home Deport for $4 with tax. Other option is just good old fashioned plan dirt with no fillers- kinda just dig some from a part of your yard that hasn't been fertilized. I know my russian loves to dig into the dirt in his outdoor enclosure. The hay molds when wet so you are ahead of the game on that Good Luck and don't be afriad to ask that is what TFO is for.

Ah thank you! And yes I’ll have to have a browse around a garden centre or look around different places to see what I can find!
 

hollyandT

Member
Joined
Jan 22, 2019
Messages
56
Location (City and/or State)
Hull
I mix substrates simply by not always replacing like for like. I might start with coco husk chunks and remove some that is soiled (poop) and over time replace the lost volume with orchid bark or cypress. All three of these can be inexpensive depending on where you live and not buying the product with the iguana image, but the same product with a lesser specialty packaging scheme.

I like this method a lot :) I use it for my chicken coop except the litter is deep enough for the poop to biodegrade and I just add more I’ll only have to clean it out every 6 months or so :)
 
Top