HUMUS?

[jlyoncc1]

I am preparing my enclosure for my 2 new soon to be arriving leopard hatchlings. I was going to do the 50/50 of top soil and sand substrate. The garden center was out of topsoil and had organic humus. Is this ok to use in place of the topsoil? I am not even sure what humus is. The guy said it is just like topsoil. Help!?!

 

[Josh]

(this is where my degree in soil science will come in handy) humus tends to be a bit less decomposed than topsoil. topsoil is more like potting soil. humus has larger pieces of partially decomposed leaves or stems or moss, whichever.
i haven't heard of many folks using humus for tortoise substrate....i'd probably stick with topsoil or bed-a-beast

 

[T-P]

the best soil to use is John innes, it contains NOTHING. loambased, top, any john innes soil is great.

 

[drummerkid1993]

I was going to do the 50/50 of top soil and sand substrate.

its prberly best if you do the mix at 60% top soil 40% play sand

50/50 sometimes becomes very dusty and lay sand because it wont irate the tortoise as much as industrial sand