Advice welcome - best substrate for Hermann's tortoise brumation

[stokesy]

Hi folks, I have two spur thighed tortoise which I keep in separate enclosures. This year I was given a Hermann's tortoise, approximately 10 years old. I will hibernate it this winter. It won't settle in the insulated enclosure I built outside, refusing to dig down in the composted soil/sand mix I have put in it. Unless there is a way to encourage it to accept this setup (suggestions welcome!) I have decided to fridge hibernate it.

I'm wondering what is the best substrate if I go this route? Should I fill a plastic container with the same soil/sand mix, or is fir woodchip preferable for it to dig down into? Also, should I moisten this during brumation? Thanks for your help.

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

Hello!
You can check this thread (just in case you haven't seen it before): https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/toms-brumation-thread.201823/

And if I remember, Tom recommended orchid bark (actually it's a fir bark) as brumation substrate. You can moisten it a little on start. And if I remember, there is no need to add moisture during brumation time. Woodchips is not the same as bark, by the way.

Using composted soil with sand is not a good idea, I think. Soil is good to support new life growth (especially when it's high in organic) and I suppose you don't really want to grow anything in the brumation container.

 

[stokesy]

Hello!
You can check this thread (just in case you haven't seen it before): https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/toms-brumation-thread.201823/

And if I remember, Tom recommended orchid bark (actually it's a fir bark) as brumation substrate. You can moisten it a little on start. And if I remember, there is no need to add moisture during brumation time. Woodchips is not the same as bark, by the way.

Using composted soil with sand is not a good idea, I think. Soil is good to support new life growth (especially when it's high in organic) and I suppose you don't really want to grow anything in the brumation container.

Hi Alex, thank you - that's great! I got some of that bark yesterday, will use that. I appreciate the reply

 

[Tom]

Hi folks, I have two spur thighed tortoise which I keep in separate enclosures. This year I was given a Hermann's tortoise, approximately 10 years old. I will hibernate it this winter. It won't settle in the insulated enclosure I built outside, refusing to dig down in the composted soil/sand mix I have put in it. Unless there is a way to encourage it to accept this setup (suggestions welcome!) I have decided to fridge hibernate it.

I'm wondering what is the best substrate if I go this route? Should I fill a plastic container with the same soil/sand mix, or is fir woodchip preferable for it to dig down into? Also, should I moisten this during brumation? Thanks for your help.

As Alex said, I use orchid bark, aka: fir bark.

Soil and sand should never be used for tortoises. That is old outdated incorrect info. Here is all the correct info for you:

Info For New People. Please Read This First.

Hello and welcome to tortoiseforum.org! We are all glad you are here! There is no other forum like this anywhere. We have tens of thousands of members from all over the world ranging from kids with their first tortoise to people who have been breeding and keeping high end tortoises since the...

tortoiseforum.org

 

[stokesy]

Thanks Tom - the tortoise has bedded down now in the Reptibark, thankfully. Have a great day there