Need help on substrate

[caleb1234]

Hi all ,

I need help from all of you. I have this particular problem . On the substrate . I am using soil mix with top soil on my enclosure. I am wondering how all of your out there who using soil ,differentiated the poop from the tortoise and the soil itself . It's require me to change the entire substarte every 3-4 days , so that i keep my tortoise healthy ans strong.

Would changing to wood chip be better? I am thinking to used the wood chip from chipsi?

Also why after sometime the soil turn into ball similar to a stone?. It harden into many pieces of small rock.

Thank you

 

[Yvonne G]

Hi Caleb, and welcome to the Forum!!

It sounds like you have some pretty heavy clay soil. It might help (the ball problem) if you mix it with a bit of sand. They sell sand in bags at home improvement stores.

How big is your tortoise? I can see the poop quite plainly in my substrate, not matter what kind of substrate I'm using. If your tortoise is very small, that might be why you can't see it.

Where are you located? The type of substrate I prefer may not be available in your country. I like orchid bark. It is a clean product made from fir bark and has no additives or pesticides, etc. I pour a pitcherfull of water over it and mix it all up with my hand. Then every day I look for the poop and pick it out. When the substrate gets dry, I'll repeat the pitcher of water, etc.

Tell us a bit more about your tortoise and how you have it set up.

 

[caleb1234]

Hi,

What kind of sand should i be using , would be the cement mix of sand ,would be fine ?

I got two kind of tortoise, which is the leopard and star tortoise. They are in the range of 4 to 5 inch.In the enclosure of 3feet long and 2 feet wide. With the height of 1 feet.

 

[caleb1234]

Hi

I live in the region of southeastasia. Which is the region with summer all year round.

Yess and your are right the orchid bark is not avaialble in my area.