Can I use Scott's organic topsoil for a tortoise enclsure.

[TortoiseNoob9]

I want to make an outdoor stock tank enclosure. The top will consist of orchid bark. The rest I am thinking of using Scott's organic topsoil. It has been recommended to me.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

I want to make an outdoor stock tank enclosure. The top will consist of orchid bark. The rest I am thinking of using Scott's organic topsoil. It has been recommended to me.

What type of tortoise?
A non digging species wouldn't have an issue at all.

 

[TortoiseNoob9]

What type of tortoise?
A non digging species wouldn't have an issue at all.

A western Herman's tortoise. It is part of the genesis testudo, and will have to bury during the winter for bruemation. My tortoise does enjoy minor burying. Like you can still see the shell when they bury.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

There are probably quite a few things that are "organic" that are still harmful for a tortoise to be living in or on in organic top soil.
I just can't give you an answer that I'm 100% comfortable with.

I've used topsoil underneath Orchid bark myself. But what I found and used here in south Florida is probably apples and oranges different than what you may find.
Right off the bat it contains peat moss. That's already not good. And there's no specifics on the "other" organic additives.

 

[TortoiseNoob9]

There are probably quite a few things that are "organic" that are still harmful for a tortoise to be living in or on in organic top soil.
I just can't give you an answer that I'm 100% comfortable with.

I've used topsoil underneath Orchid bark myself. But what I found and used here in south Florida is probably apples and oranges different than what you may find.
Right off the bat it contains peat moss. That's already not good. And there's no specifics on the "other" organic additives.

I live in northern California, so it is pretty dry here, and for a tortoise to live outside it has to bruemate during the winter.

 

[TortoiseNoob9]

There are probably quite a few things that are "organic" that are still harmful for a tortoise to be living in or on in organic top soil.
I just can't give you an answer that I'm 100% comfortable with.

I've used topsoil underneath Orchid bark myself. But what I found and used here in south Florida is probably apples and oranges different than what you may find.
Right off the bat it contains peat moss. That's already not good. And there's no specifics on the "other" organic additives.

Is it possible you can give me the name of the soil you used. I was going to buy this off Amazon anyways.

 

[Tom]

I live in northern California, so it is pretty dry here, and for a tortoise to live outside it has to bruemate during the winter.

Soil should not be used as a tortoise substrate. It is made with composted yard waste and all sorts of other weird stuff, and it could be toxic or dangerous.

Your tortoise needs to brumate safely indoors under controlled conditions. It is not safe to do it outside here. Too inconsistent.

Tom's Brumation Thread

Every fall we get bombarded here on the forum with all sorts of questions and problems regarding hibernation and tortoises "slowing down" for winter. The purpose of this thread is to talk about all aspects of this subject, to dispel some of the myths and mysteries, and give a "how to" list of...

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