substrate

Hi everyone i'm new around here but i wish to become more involved day by day. by the end of the month ill get my little western Herman turtle, rn he/she is like 4.5cm, she's beeing soaked costantly and feed right waiting for me to pick her up. I'm trying to gather the most amount of usefull...

Hey! I'm a certified forum lurker, but finally decided to actually ask the questions I need answers to myself! I've never cared for a tortoise (or any reptile, for that matter) before about 3 weeks ago, when I took over the care of my Oxford College's tortoise. Don't ask-- it's a university...

I’ve just recently bought some coco coir for my hermann tort, and was wondering how often I have to clean the enclosure and give it fresh substrate? Would once a month be okay? Natalie x

Hey y’all, I feel like I’ve posted 1,000 times in the last 48 hours, but here I am again, thirsting for advice. So, I’ve finished my Russian’s 12.5’x9’ outdoor enclosure and am now moving to upgrade her indoor enclosure. I’m doing an 8’x4’x2’ with 12” of substrate. Since the Arcadia bulb needs...

Since Monday this week I have been able to take Edward outside a few hours a day to soak up some natural sun. Since his semi-temporary outdoor enclosure is not ready yet, I have been keeping him in a cold frame that is staked on to our lawn. The temps in the cold frame have been ranging from 20C...

I know this subject has been beaten into the ground on this sub already, but I’m really struggling to find a recent thread that has links that work. I’ve checked my local home improvement stores, gardening stores and big box stores. I can’t find anything that isn’t with dyes or mixed with pine...

(Warning Graphic Tortise Content) My 3M Desert Tort Bentley, died from eating his substrate. I have yet to come across posts or content, warning people with the negative side effects and danger, of keeping babies on wood chip or any substrate. He hate so much of it, his stomach and intestine...

Hi all I am currently struggling with my baby Hermanns vivarium especially with the humidity. The humidity is way too low. I am thinking it is the substrate I am using so I ordered some coco coir to mix in with the one I am using currently but I need to make sure my Viv (wooden ) doesn’t rot...

i am looking for a good substrate coco coir is not available in my area

Hello! I was doing enclosure maintenance on my Leopard Tortoise enclosure this evening and noticed these tiny worms in the substrate under the Orchid bark. They look almost iridescent with a dark line/vein going through their bodies. I have a lens that amplifies photos for my phone so I was able...

Firstly, thank you in advance for reading my post, I know it's long! Just a bit of background before I ask my questions. My family has had our marginated girl, Nelly, for about 44 years and she was fully grown when they got her. She was given to my mum when she was a young child so Nelly is...

Hello guys it's me again. I just purchased a new substrate from Exo Terra, The plantation soil. It's made of coconut fiber which is not recommended in Mr.Tom's care sheet (the care sheet suggests coconut coir). It looks quite okay except I don't know if it can completely be replaceable or not...

Hello all, I am moving soon (with pretty short notice), and I have two Russian tortoises, each in their own indoor enclosures. The enclosures are clearly quite heavy due to all the substrate in them. My thought was to take the opportunity to refresh the substrate, getting rid of the old...

Hello, I've noticed there are some white marks on my Russsian tortoise's orchid bark and I'm not sure if I should be concerned? It can look a bit fuzzy, and it seems to be mostly around/under his water dish, although there was also already some in a brand-new bag of bark. The bark isn't wet but...

Hey All, New here and I have my first tortoise, a little Hermann's (I believe an Eastern) - currently I am using ProRep Tortoise Life Mediterranean but it gets really dry really quick, I have read that Top Soil with play sand and coconut coir is good for helping keeping it a little more...

Hello guys. I usually soak my tortoises foods before putting them into their enclosure so they get hydrated. I use this organic forest floor bedding and my tortoises actually like it a lot but when I put their soaked food into the enclosure the bedding sticks to the food. Do you guys have any...

Hi guys, I recently bought a bunch of sterilised top soil for my Russian tortoise. I'm just a bit confused about the humidity as everywhere recommends 40%-50% however my humidity ratings indicate 80-90% (when the sensor is submerged in the soil). Is it only the air around the tortoise that...

Hello everyone! Hear I am with more questions. Next week is the week I cleaning Sheldon’s enclosure. Ive been using only cypress mulch but have read to use organic non fertilized top soil. As a gardner of exotic plants I’m not afraid to try different things to see what works. But as a new...

I am transferring my Russian Tortoise “Rex” to a new enclosure. I am going to use coconut husk fibers substrate in the below habitat. Should I put the substrate through out the entire habitat or just inside or just outside his cave. He loves to burrow. He is kept inside because it gets cold and...

TLDR: I replaced the substrate and my box turtle hasn’t settled down…keeps making a mess and walking everywhere ..same substrate I’ve always used I just added more than usual so she could burrow and added potted sedans…I can’t tell if she’s just very stimulated or stressed out I have a baby box...