Help! Switching to a larger cage!! Need advice!

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Sep 26, 2020
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Hey guys! We are planning on switching Shelldon into a larger enclosure once we get into a new apartment and have a bit more space. I would like for him to have different textures for him to dig through and explore. Thing is my pet store doesn’t really sell any type of dirt or any finely ground anything. So my question is what kind of dirt is safe to put in his cage? Is there maybe some type of soil I can get from the Country Max or maybe a hardware store? I know a lot of soil like that has weird stuff mixed into it for plant food and I’m not sure what is safe for my tort.. Any info helps!! Thank you!!!
 

Blackdog1714

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Bagged soils often have sand so thats a no go. You can use cypress mulch and fine fir bark (Reptibark). Then get some large paving stones and use as a divider for the two substrates. I would make the cold diggable side from cypress since it is cheaper.
 

Maro2Bear

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Hey guys! We are planning on switching Shelldon into a larger enclosure once we get into a new apartment and have a bit more space. I would like for him to have different textures for him to dig through and explore. Thing is my pet store doesn’t really sell any type of dirt or any finely ground anything. So my question is what kind of dirt is safe to put in his cage? Is there maybe some type of soil I can get from the Country Max or maybe a hardware store? I know a lot of soil like that has weird stuff mixed into it for plant food and I’m not sure what is safe for my tort.. Any info helps!! Thank you!!!

Check this deal out for Coco coir

➡️ https://hydrobuilder.com/growit-commercial-coco-5kg-bale.html

Might be worth it, shipped right to your house/flat/apartment.
 
Joined
Sep 26, 2020
Messages
26
Location (City and/or State)
New york
Bagged soils often have sand so thats a no go. You can use cypress mulch and fine fir bark (Reptibark). Then get some large paving stones and use as a divider for the two substrates. I would make the cold diggable side from cypress since it is cheaper.
Awesome thank you so much I will look in to it
 

Tom

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Hey guys! We are planning on switching Shelldon into a larger enclosure once we get into a new apartment and have a bit more space. I would like for him to have different textures for him to dig through and explore. Thing is my pet store doesn’t really sell any type of dirt or any finely ground anything. So my question is what kind of dirt is safe to put in his cage? Is there maybe some type of soil I can get from the Country Max or maybe a hardware store? I know a lot of soil like that has weird stuff mixed into it for plant food and I’m not sure what is safe for my tort.. Any info helps!! Thank you!!!
Coco coir, fine grade orchid bark, or cypress mulch. All need to be kept damp. Hand pack the coco coir if you go that way. It can be messy.

Soil, sand, and most other substrates are not safe for one or more reasons.
 
Joined
Sep 26, 2020
Messages
26
Location (City and/or State)
New york
Coco coir, fine grade orchid bark, or cypress mulch. All need to be kept damp. Hand pack the coco coir if you go that way. It can be messy.

Soil, sand, and most other substrates are not safe for one or more reasons.
Awesome, thank you for the advice. We ended up trying out a mix of coco coir and cypress mulch in his digging areas and some coconut husk for the rest he really seems to enjoy it so far. I mixed the mulch and the coco coir cos he was sinking like quicksand in just the straight up coco coir. It was very funny
 

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Tom

The Dog Trainer
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Awesome, thank you for the advice. We ended up trying out a mix of coco coir and cypress mulch in his digging areas and some coconut husk for the rest he really seems to enjoy it so far. I mixed the mulch and the coco coir cos he was sinking like quicksand in just the straight up coco coir. It was very funny
Yeah. You have to firmly hand pack the coir so its not loose. Sounds like what you are doing is working now.
 
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