New enclosure help?

[green man]

So I am in the process of finishing up my first indoor enclosure for my first wee russian tortoise. I've got him a half log hide, two terra cotta saucers, and the appropriate lighting setup, I just need a cross brace lid so I can rest the lamp fixture on it. I also am going to get some rocks/rock hide for his basking. Can I just get any big rocks that won't chip so he can't swallow anything?







Anyway, another noticeable absence here is the presence of any vegetation for him to have a nibble on when he gets here. Also so he can graze and that. But I'm a bit confused as to how I get them growing; I've read quite a few plant and enclosure articles here but I'm still hazy.

I've put off getting pots and regular soil and growing them outside because I'm afraid of then mixing the soil with the substrate, will it do him any harm?

I have coco coir substrate, so can I just plant the numerous veggies I got in the tank and let the UVB light grow them? Or use the coco coir to grow them outside?

But then I become worried about if he has 5 or six growing plants on hand, doesn't that mean he'll over eat?

Sorry for such a barrage of newbie questions, I'm just a bit lost is all.

 

[Yvonne G]

Some people plant the Mediteranean seed mixture from Carolinapetsupply.com. I have used it in the past, only outside, and it grows very well. I think the the light that plants need to grow well is different from the light that tortoises need. So indoor plants might not do too well in your terrarium.

Dirt you bring in from outside is not going to harm your tortoise - unless it has pesticides or herbicides in it. I wouldn't worry about bringing in dirt on plant roots.

 

[lynnedit]

Most tort keepers, I think, put plants in inside enclosures for interest and to create places to hide. For example, a spider plant in a pot, submerged in the substrate near their hide.
It is hard to plant enough inside to rely on as their sole food source. You are right; they tend to mow the sprouts or plants down/eat them up, and then that's it. You can put in 1-2 at a time, let him go for it, then wait a few days, feeding normal amounts in between.
Torts in inside enclosures don't tend to get the exercise that they do in larger outside enclosures, so sometimes food amounts have to be monitored.
However, if he is very active, he can eat more, within reason.

My outside tort enclosure is large and planted with various weeds and greens. I never have to supplement (except Optunia cactus now and then), they wander and graze here and there.