Best substrate for box turtles

[Rachel1998]

I bought jungle mix from petsmart but it has little wood chips in it that stick to my turtle Rambos skin so i'm just wondering what everyone has found works best with box turtles I was thinking about doing a mix of the coconut fiber top soil but just wanted some opinions first
thanks!

 

[EricL]

Coco coir and peat moss mixture seems to work best for me. It dirtys up the water bowl quickly, however they seem to enjoy it.

 

[PJay]

Coco coir, peat moss and sphagnum moss all work well individually and in combination.

 

[Terri123]

OMG this is EXACTLY what I want to know!! My box turtle, Toby, hates the wood chips! I just posted a threat, asking the best substrate...

 

[Terri123]

Coco coir, peat moss and sphagnum moss all work well individually and in combination.

So.. for purchasing this substrate... dumb question, but can one literally look on Amazon for coco coir? and any form of peat moss? And do you recommend that it is baked in the oven, to destroy any potential mites ...? (I'm in Alberta, so have to purchase the substrate from either Petsmart or Amazon on-line) Thank you!

 

[Terri123]

OK, so I just researched this- I have used the coco coir in the past, and it does work well, but does make a big mess in the water bowl. My understanding is that Cypress mulch is excellent, as well, (seehttps://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/is-cypress-mulch-safe.122913/) but you want to make sure their food is in a food bowl, to try to lessen the risk of them ingesting the mulch - that's my understanding anyhow. I'm going to give it a shot, but add a bit of moss as recommended, and see how it goes ...

 

[PJay]

So.. for purchasing this substrate... dumb question, but can one literally look on Amazon for coco coir? and any form of peat moss? And do you recommend that it is baked in the oven, to destroy any potential mites ...? (I'm in Alberta, so have to purchase the substrate from either Petsmart or Amazon on-line) Thank you!

Yes, I order from Amazon and I freeze my substrates for a few weeks before I use them.

 

[Terri123]

That's a really good idea, thank you.
And I did find coco coir, and peat moss- Duh!