Orchid bark substrate

[christina731]

Hi folks. Here is my little one - Charlie. He/she is about a year old and lives in a temperature-controlled indoor enclosure with orchid bark substrate. In posting pics of Charlie on tortoise FB groups, I have been attacked by people telling me that I’m basically killing my DT by having orchid bark in the enclosure and it must be removed and replaced with top soil and coco coir. I personally do not want all of that dirt in my home, so I chose orchid bark and Charlie seems to be thriving for the 6 months that I have had it with a significant increase in weight. Charlie is fed daily on a terra cotta dish and food ends up everywhere and never have I seen it try to eat the bark when the food is tossed from the dish onto the bark. From what I’ve read here, it’s recommended and I confirmed this with a local exotic reptile vet. Can anyone tell me if they have ever experienced a problem with their DT being injured/had an impaction due to orchid bark? Or maybe everyone can share your success with raising a DT with orchid bark substrate? Thanks so much!

 

[Tom]

I prefer coco coir for baby DTs, and then move them onto orchid bark when they get to around 4 inches. That's what I "prefer". Orcid bark is fine as a starter substrate too. I, and many others here have been starting hatchings of many species, including DTs, on orchid bark for decades. I hatched over 1000 sulcatas and never used anything BUT orchid bark. Not one problem ever. Dozens of leopard tortoises, dozens of DT babies, dozens of other tortoises, and 100s of Burmese stars. No problems of any kind to report. That's not luck or coincidence. I go through two dozen 2 cubic foot bags of the stuff annually.

The FB tortoise groups is run by one insane lady who ignores facts and evidence and continues to promote false incorrect into, and bans anyone who says otherwise. It's sad, and dangerous. YT is terrible too. Get your info here instead.

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[tempest979]

Reddit is pretty terrible too for tortoise info. I like bark cuz it's the cleanest. I've never seen anyone say their tortoise eats bark, except the one time some guy posted about his Russian eating the bark, but I'm not sure if it's cuz he's got a very "special" Russian, or the guy just threw pellets in there with the bark and wasn't very clean and over time the taste and smell of pellets soaked into the bark and the Russian thinks it's pellet.

 

[christina731]

I prefer coco coir for baby DTs, and then move them onto orchid bark when they get to around 4 inches. That's what I "prefer". Orcid bark is fine as a starter substrate too. I, and many others here have been starting hatchings of many species, including DTs, on orchid bark for decades. I hatched over 1000 sulcatas and never used anything BUT orchid bark. Not one problem ever. Dozens of leopard tortoises, dozens of DT babies, dozens of other tortoises, and 100s of Burmese stars. No problems of any kind to report. That's not luck or coincidence. I go through two dozen 2 cubic foot bags of the stuff annually.

The FB tortoise groups is run by one insane lady who ignores facts and evidence and continues to promote false incorrect into, and bans anyone who says otherwise. It's sad, and dangerous. YT is terrible too. Get your info here instead.

Info For New People. Please Read This First.

Hello and welcome to tortoiseforum.org! We are all glad you are here! There is no other forum like this anywhere. We have tens of thousands of members from all over the world ranging from kids with their first tortoise to people who have been breeding and keeping high end tortoises since the...

tortoiseforum.org

Thank you for your input! When I took my DT into my home, it was about 4” long and have had orchid bark since, and it seems to be thriving. I will most certainly take your advice over some weirdo who doesn’t bother to ask the age, species, or geographic location before telling people what to do instead of making recommendations based on real experience. I know EXACTLY who this lady is, haha. I left that group immediately and came here after a dozen or so “experts” said the same thing - that I’m killing my tort. It’s also sad that people think that tortoises are not smart enough to know the difference between their food and other stuff in their environment. I’ve only had mine for a short time but I have found that it is very intelligent. I will come here only for reliable information

 

[christina731]

Reddit is pretty terrible too for tortoise info. I like bark cuz it's the cleanest. I've never seen anyone say their tortoise eats bark, except the one time some guy posted about his Russian eating the bark, but I'm not sure if it's cuz he's got a very "special" Russian, or the guy just threw pellets in there with the bark and wasn't very clean and over time the taste and smell of pellets soaked into the bark and the Russian thinks it's pellet.

This is probably the information that they are referring to. “Special” Russian, indeed haha. Thank you for sharing, I will avoid Reddit as well and stick to the information here.

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

Reddit is pretty terrible too for tortoise info. I like bark cuz it's the cleanest. I've never seen anyone say their tortoise eats bark, except the one time some guy posted about his Russian eating the bark, but I'm not sure if it's cuz he's got a very "special" Russian, or the guy just threw pellets in there with the bark and wasn't very clean and over time the taste and smell of pellets soaked into the bark and the Russian thinks it's pellet.

I would disagree about Reddit, there are a few members there who give really good advice (often linking TFO care sheets, by the way). Yet, since it's a "free to speak" board with thousands of members, you have to carefully decide whom to listen to.

 

[tempest979]

I would disagree about Reddit, there are a few members there who give really good advice (often linking TFO care sheets, by the way). Yet, since it's a "free to speak" board with thousands of members, you have to carefully decide whom to listen to.

Yes some do have decent info and I am also one of those that redirects people here, but the majority will respond will respond with "TAKE IT TO THE VET ASAP!" for just about everything.

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

Yes some do have decent info and I am also one of those that redirects people here, but the majority will respond will respond with "TAKE IT TO THE VET ASAP!" for just about everything.

True