- Joined
- May 1, 2011
- Messages
- 22
Hi, my name is George, married to Kathe, hence my name on this site.
I'm in process of buying a male Hermann's, having researched a lot (5 books from the library & the two well reviewd ones just on Hermann's hopefully coming from somewhere else in country via library) + everything I could read on Hermann's on internet.
I live in Western Colorado, USA, ln the high desert, but originally am from London via Essex, England where I grew up with two Greeks, both of which my sisters still have at ripe age of 60+, both my sisters & the Torts! So I am used to having Torts around.
I have set up an outdoor enclosure & will winter/hibernate him in my garage in suitable insulated container - gets down to mid 30s F inside garage.
Will need to also keep him indoors occasionally, in newly built indoor enclosure, as weather can get warm here in late winter, enough to wake him up, before getting cold again for odd days when it would be too cold to keep him outdoors.
Cannot get Cypress mulch in town for substrate - I know it's ideal - & don't want expense of shipping. Plenty of Cedar mulch here in CO but I know it is toxic. Thinking of using organic potting soil. As I am avid gardener have plenty, always on hand. Brand name Happy Frog. It has small white pieces in it - Perlite.
Question - is this a problem?
Will be posting on regular part of forum for Hermann's later, but would appreciate answer now on substrate issue. Do not want to use Alfalfa pellets as heard it is not ideal. Don't want garden soil due to possible contaminates.
great forum - plowing my way through all entries on Hermann's, as it is only 50 odd F today so cannot go outdoors - typical weather here - in 2 days it will be 70+ F!
thanks in advance for response.
George (&Kathe)
I'm in process of buying a male Hermann's, having researched a lot (5 books from the library & the two well reviewd ones just on Hermann's hopefully coming from somewhere else in country via library) + everything I could read on Hermann's on internet.
I live in Western Colorado, USA, ln the high desert, but originally am from London via Essex, England where I grew up with two Greeks, both of which my sisters still have at ripe age of 60+, both my sisters & the Torts! So I am used to having Torts around.
I have set up an outdoor enclosure & will winter/hibernate him in my garage in suitable insulated container - gets down to mid 30s F inside garage.
Will need to also keep him indoors occasionally, in newly built indoor enclosure, as weather can get warm here in late winter, enough to wake him up, before getting cold again for odd days when it would be too cold to keep him outdoors.
Cannot get Cypress mulch in town for substrate - I know it's ideal - & don't want expense of shipping. Plenty of Cedar mulch here in CO but I know it is toxic. Thinking of using organic potting soil. As I am avid gardener have plenty, always on hand. Brand name Happy Frog. It has small white pieces in it - Perlite.
Question - is this a problem?
Will be posting on regular part of forum for Hermann's later, but would appreciate answer now on substrate issue. Do not want to use Alfalfa pellets as heard it is not ideal. Don't want garden soil due to possible contaminates.
great forum - plowing my way through all entries on Hermann's, as it is only 50 odd F today so cannot go outdoors - typical weather here - in 2 days it will be 70+ F!
thanks in advance for response.
George (&Kathe)