not drinking water and substrate

[paperjamila]

we have a baby sulcata and have had it for a while now. never drinks water that guy, i swear! so we soak it for a few mins 2-3 times a week. we leave the water bowl in his enclosure but he never goes in it...so i was wondering. is that normal?

substrate: we use a mixture of the....hold on im gonna go read what it says ..repti bark. walnut ground shells and eco earth.


walnut ground shells(like sand) and eco earth we mix and the repti bark we place around the food and water so he doesnt get the eco earth and walnut in/on it. is that ok?

 

[zgoldsmith23]

Doc, my Sulcata, hardly ever drinks. Sulcatas rarely have access to standing water in their native habitat but it is a good idea to keep in their enclosure. As long as your continue to soak him, he should be ok.

As for substrate, I use a mixture of 50/50 with Pesticide/Fertilizer-free Topsoil and Filtered play sand. On the top, I add in some hay for the tortoise to eat and he will also use it to corner it and make a little "nest."

Good luck!

 

[paperjamila]

thank you :] yea we use hay in his house. we made, or rather he made with his father, an enclosure. so the eco earth and walnut shells are okay?

 

[zgoldsmith23]

Ehhh. They are OK for now but when you go to clean the cage and change the substrate, I'd recommend at least TRYING the sand/topsoil mix. I like it because it dries out on top while the bottom retains moisture and thus, semi-similulates their natural environment when they have to dig to find moisture.

ZG

 

[Yvonne G]

I really don't know why they continue to mfg. walnut shells for substrate. All the bird folks know not to use it. And most of the reptile folks know not to use it. Walnut shells are really bad for substrate. Here's a blurb from Melissa Kaplin's site:

"Walnut Shell Litter ("Desert Sand")
Largely nonabsorbent, these small, sharp particles are unsuitable due to the risk of injury and impaction if ingested. The litter provides a wonderful home for the bacteria and fungi that grow due to contamination of the litter by spilled food, water, urates, and feces."

I have also heard that they sometimes use black walnut shells, and black walnut shells are toxic.

 

[paperjamila]

I really don't know why they continue to mfg. walnut shells for substrate. All the bird folks know not to use it. And most of the reptile folks know not to use it. Walnut shells are really bad for substrate. Here's a blurb from Melissa Kaplin's site:

"Walnut Shell Litter ("Desert Sand")
Largely nonabsorbent, these small, sharp particles are unsuitable due to the risk of injury and impaction if ingested. The litter provides a wonderful home for the bacteria and fungi that grow due to contamination of the litter by spilled food, water, urates, and feces."

I have also heard that they sometimes use black walnut shells, and black walnut shells are toxic.

OMGOODNESS. thank you so much. we'll get on it asap
we keep the repti bark by the food so when he eats its no where near the sand/walnut stuff and its in a dish. he should be ok for now but we will get on it!

thank you again

---

Doc, my Sulcata, hardly ever drinks. Sulcatas rarely have access to standing water in their native habitat but it is a good idea to keep in their enclosure. As long as your continue to soak him, he should be ok.

As for substrate, I use a mixture of 50/50 with Pesticide/Fertilizer-free Topsoil and Filtered play sand. On the top, I add in some hay for the tortoise to eat and he will also use it to corner it and make a little "nest."

Good luck!

where can i find the pesticide and fertilizer free topsoil and filtered playsand?

 

[chadk]

Any home depot or other type place. Look for organic garden soil (no white things - vermiculite or other). And then look for childrens play sand. Home depot and lowes will have both.

 

[paperjamila]

Any home depot or other type place. Look for organic garden soil (no white things - vermiculite or other). And then look for childrens play sand. Home depot and lowes will have both.

thank you!

 

[dmmj]

I have the exact opposite sulc here he (I am guessing) loves to drink every time I fill his water dish up and he sees it he goes right for it, Now my DT on the other hand has not touched his water bowl for the last 6 years or so, he prefers to drink the dirty muddy water. I always wet down his food before I feed them so I figure they at least get some water that way.

 

[K9KidsLove]

Hi...Some of the organic soil has manure in it and has an unpleasant smell. I prefer to use cypress mulch and mix it with playsand. It keeps the humidity up and doesn't get moldy. I pour water on one end of the enclosure, so one end is damp & the other is dry. I turn the soil every few days.
Even if you don't see him drinking water, he will still absorb some while soaking. There is differing opinions as to whether the cloaca soaks water up into his system.
Good luck
Patsy