Best substrate for russian tortoise?

[Tom]

so tomorrow i have a day of school (im 13 years old and live in England) and i thought instead of sitting around i would do something to benefit my little baby Russian, and her substrate is only topsoil (not the best substrate) so, what do you guys use for your Russians or you know is good for them?

Thanks all,
Harry

For babies, the best substrate is coco coir. For adult, fine grade orchid bark. If you can't find orchid bark, cypress mulch is a suitable substitute. Soil or sand should never be used.

 

[Tom]

Hi I'm new to keeping tortoises and the information I got led me to use 50% topsoil and 50% play sand mixed well and its looking to be a good choice it doesn't dry out too quickly and as long as you mist it it stays moist enough to keep my tortoise enclosure at a good humidity. My tortoise did try it out and had a mouth or two full but she soon found out its not that tasty. If you go to a few garden centers they will have a good deal at one of them and you can get it cheap. Just make sure it has no added fertilizer and your good to go. I got a deal where I got 3 bags of sand and 3 bags of topsoil for £20 in total. maybe quite expensive compared to what some people can get but I would rather pay garden center prices than pet shop extortion. lol . Dont buy wood chips or saw dust its totally wrong although the pet shop may lead you into thinking its a good choice its not. They can become very ill if they eat it or even poisoned. I find the mix drys out on top so you don't get a tortoise trampling through a muddy mess as long as you mist correctly.

Store bought "soil", aka "topsoil" or "sterilized soil", is made from composted yard waste. There is no way to know what is in it. It IS recommend all over the internet and in books too. Even some of the old timers here on the forum still recommend it and use it. None of that makes it safe, and each one of them is one bad batch away from dead tortoises, and then they will say the same thing I'm saying. I got my one bad batch a few years ago, and now I try to warn people so they don't have to learn the hard way after a tortoise dies.

Soil is also very messy and turns to mud when wet. It also usually has additives like perlite, fertilizers, or chemicals, that can be deadly. Soil is great for growing plants. Its not great as a tortoise substrate.

 

[Tom]

The care sheet on this very forum says this? The best possible substrates for housing Greek tortoises indoors are a 50/50 mix of top soil and play sand, cypress mulch and aspen wood shavings. When using aspen it is very important to make sure the tortoises stay hydrated because it tends to be very dry. Rabbit pellets will suffice but do not hold humidity well and mold will grow quickly in soiled areas. Cedar and pine bedding are an absolute NO, as they are toxic to tortoises. ??????????? I'm mystified? I have also been given this advice by many supposedly reputable places

You are reading and following old, out-dated, incorrect info. Soil and sand should never be used. Cypress mulch is fine. Aspen shavings are far too dry, as are rabbit pellets which quickly turn to dust under a tortoise.

 

[Tom]

Its safer to use a bit of sand as it will help hold up the burrows so they dont claps on your tort and its less dangerous if you use 25 to 75 mix of sand to soil

Its not safer. 3-4 inches of substate "collapsing" on your tortoise will not hurt anything. And they don't dig tunnels anyway. They just sort of shimmy down into the substrate like a stingray on a sandy bottom.

Less dangerous? How about we use something that is not dangerous at all?

 

[Tom]

How do I know that the topsoil is non toxic? Also, is topsoil good for adult russians?

You can't know, and no it isn't.

 

[Sarah2020]

As your in the UK look at this supplier ....orchid bark available from swell reptiles is also advised for russians https://www.reptiles.swelluk.com/sw...MIsYaomuG26gIV1GDmCh0HQw3uEAQYASABEgK1lfD_BwE
I use them for lots of supplies inc lights, bulbs etc...