GuncleB
New Member
Almost every care sheet and substrate post I've read says to not use substrates that contain compost. Does this only apply to commercial compost or can I add a little of the compost I make from my own yard waste?
Compost in substrate
- Thread starter GuncleB
- Start date
If you know the ingredients and all are safe, I would think it would be okay in that regard.
Other issues are how dirty/muddy is it going to be? What will the microbial/bacterial level be, and what effect will that have? Will the materials in your compost support mold, fungal, and bacterial growth? Are you intending to create a bio-active type enclosure?
What species, size and age tortoise are you housing? Are you trying to grow live plants? Why use this instead of a known safe substrate like orchid bark that resists mold, bacteria and fungal growth?
GuncleB
New Member
I have a 18 month old Russian tortoise and I would like to give him as natural of an environment as I can. I would like to have some bioactivity in the substrate to help break down any waste that I miss and I would also like to add live plants that he can eat.
I compost using the hot method and it gets to about 160f, hot enough to kill seeds and harmful bacteria.
The_Four_Toed_Edward
Well-Known Member
@Alex and the Redfoot might be able to give some pointers about bioactive substrate.
I'm not an expert on the matter, just have a couple of bioactive terrariums (one of them with a tortoise).
1. Depending on how coarse compost is you may need to add some filler like coconut coir for moisture retention and to provide better density for roots to hold. Or otherwise - add some fine grade mulch, leaf litter or orchid bark to keep it aerated.
2. A good practice is to make a drainage layer to prevent standing water in substrate and anaerobic bacteria bloom. Make sure you can drain water excesses (you can leave a small pipe going to surface to check water level and connect a drainage hose). Expanded clay balls are good drainage layer filler (isolate them from substrate with a fiberglass mesh).
2. You will need some source of minerals for the plants. Lava rock or pumice should be fine for the purpose but you don't want them to be accessible for the tortoise. One of the options is to add them to the drainage layer.
3. Organic rich substrates will get some mold growing inevitably. Springtails are good to keep mold under control. You can either seed the ready damp compost with springtails before mixing substrate or add a colony of springtails to substrate in the enclosure and let it to "settle down" for 4-6 weeks before moving a tortoise there - substrate should go through the "fungi boom" and then get back to normal.
4. Another component of cleanup crew are isopods who actually feed on large food and feces chunks. For a Testudo enclosure most common species should be fine (I think you can source a colony from the wild).
5. It's hard to grow anything from seeds in tortoise enclosure because sprouts will be bulldozed without a chance to establish themselves. Let plants to grow a bit outside first and then add them to the enclosure. This applies to edible, decorative and grouns cover plants.
6. You'll have to keep the enclosure watered and brightly lit through the whole year. Even when tortoise is living outside or brumating.
1. Depending on how coarse compost is you may need to add some filler like coconut coir for moisture retention and to provide better density for roots to hold. Or otherwise - add some fine grade mulch, leaf litter or orchid bark to keep it aerated.
2. A good practice is to make a drainage layer to prevent standing water in substrate and anaerobic bacteria bloom. Make sure you can drain water excesses (you can leave a small pipe going to surface to check water level and connect a drainage hose). Expanded clay balls are good drainage layer filler (isolate them from substrate with a fiberglass mesh).
2. You will need some source of minerals for the plants. Lava rock or pumice should be fine for the purpose but you don't want them to be accessible for the tortoise. One of the options is to add them to the drainage layer.
3. Organic rich substrates will get some mold growing inevitably. Springtails are good to keep mold under control. You can either seed the ready damp compost with springtails before mixing substrate or add a colony of springtails to substrate in the enclosure and let it to "settle down" for 4-6 weeks before moving a tortoise there - substrate should go through the "fungi boom" and then get back to normal.
4. Another component of cleanup crew are isopods who actually feed on large food and feces chunks. For a Testudo enclosure most common species should be fine (I think you can source a colony from the wild).
5. It's hard to grow anything from seeds in tortoise enclosure because sprouts will be bulldozed without a chance to establish themselves. Let plants to grow a bit outside first and then add them to the enclosure. This applies to edible, decorative and grouns cover plants.
6. You'll have to keep the enclosure watered and brightly lit through the whole year. Even when tortoise is living outside or brumating.
Why Not Give Your Egg shells to your tortoises ?
