ShirleyTX
Active Member
Hello! I have been lurking on the forum for a long time, but this is my first post. I am getting a 2 year old Egyptian tortoise from Chris at Garden State Tortoise. I want to have the enclosure ready and stable before she arrives. I searched and read a lot of posts; here are some questions for which I couldn't find answers.
1) Do I use the oyster shell right out of the bag? I purchased a bag at a local feed store (the type that is fed to chickens). The fellow said it is ready to feed to chickens and should not need any cleaning or airing out.
2) How deep is your oyster shell substrate? I understand they are not diggers although they may burrow a bit under grassy tufts in the wild to escape the heat.
3) For those of you who mix coco coir into the oyster shells, have you had any trouble with fungus, with insects?
4) How do you keep your oyster shell substrate clean? I can imagine just scooping and discarding shell with poo on it. How can you tell if they pee on it? Does the substrate ever start to smell? Do you use any cleanup crew like springtails or pill bugs? I'm guessing "no" on insects because there wouldn't be enough organic matter in the enclosure.
Thank you everyone! I have wanted a tortoise for a very long time and I am very excited!!!
Shirley
1) Do I use the oyster shell right out of the bag? I purchased a bag at a local feed store (the type that is fed to chickens). The fellow said it is ready to feed to chickens and should not need any cleaning or airing out.
2) How deep is your oyster shell substrate? I understand they are not diggers although they may burrow a bit under grassy tufts in the wild to escape the heat.
3) For those of you who mix coco coir into the oyster shells, have you had any trouble with fungus, with insects?
4) How do you keep your oyster shell substrate clean? I can imagine just scooping and discarding shell with poo on it. How can you tell if they pee on it? Does the substrate ever start to smell? Do you use any cleanup crew like springtails or pill bugs? I'm guessing "no" on insects because there wouldn't be enough organic matter in the enclosure.
Thank you everyone! I have wanted a tortoise for a very long time and I am very excited!!!
Shirley