Could it be possible for Zilla coconut husk brick to be irritating my Russian tortoise eyes? We have changed bulbs, put fresh substrate of the Zilla coconut husk, kept humidity at 30, but it still seems dry and Pickles keeps rubbing his eyes. He is pooping, peeing normally, eating, no running nose no wheezing. His eyes seem irritated. Basking area kept 88-90, 75-80 rest of enclosure.
Russian Tortoise and Zilla Substrate
- Thread starter Jsander09
- Start date
Littleredfootbigredheart
Well-Known Member
Are you sure it’s husk and not coir? Sometimes it’s labelled as husk incorrectly but just want to make sure because coir is what to go for.
Some people don’t like just using the coir on its own because when the top is dried out by the lights it can get dusty, a layer of orchid bark on top would help.
Basking temperature directly under the bulb needs to be reaching 95 but the rest of your temps sound good
Some people don’t like just using the coir on its own because when the top is dried out by the lights it can get dusty, a layer of orchid bark on top would help.
Basking temperature directly under the bulb needs to be reaching 95 but the rest of your temps sound good
Are you sure it’s husk and not coir? Sometimes it’s labelled as husk incorrectly but just want to make sure because coir is what to go for.
Some people don’t like just using the coir on its own because when the top is dried out by the lights it can get dusty, a layer of orchid bark on top would help.
Basking temperature directly under the bulb needs to be reaching 95 but the rest of your temps sound good
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It says coconut fiber. I do feel like it is a little dusty. What orchid bark do you recommend that I can put on top? I do have an extra heat light I can turn on, to get temps higher. I’ll turn it on and just watch it I know it can get to 100, it seems when it gets higher he’s less active and sleeps a lot is that pretty normal too?
I can't exactly tell what the Zilla is like from the picture - once its been soaked and is no longer in brick form does it relax into a mushy, smooth-ish, sort of paper mache feeling, kind of thing? It should feel like a finely ground soil-ish/sawdust-ish stuff. You don't want any stringy fibers. The stringy kind of coconut husk substrate may be ok for other types of animals, but tortoises tend to swallow whatever is around, and the fibrous stringy-kind can cause intestinal blockages.
And, yes, the top of the coco coir does dry out and could bother your tortoise's eyes, and respiratory system. As suggested above, it would be best to cover it with an inch (to three) of fine-grade orchid bark.
Besides knocking down the dusty aspect, the bark also offers a "dry" surface for the tortoise to walk on, live on, while the coir provides the dampness in the lower strata to evaporate up through and keep your humidity steady.
30% is too low of humidity. Keep the lowest inch or so of substrate damp-to-slightly-wet by pourin water into the corners (not all over the surface) so that the water can evaporate up through make it easy to maintain higher humidity levels (provided you have a closed top to hold it in).
For the first couple years all species of tortoises need humidity and temps in the mid 80s or higher. Then as adults, yours will like the humidity to drop some and temps go down, too.
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And, yes, the top of the coco coir does dry out and could bother your tortoise's eyes, and respiratory system. As suggested above, it would be best to cover it with an inch (to three) of fine-grade orchid bark.
Besides knocking down the dusty aspect, the bark also offers a "dry" surface for the tortoise to walk on, live on, while the coir provides the dampness in the lower strata to evaporate up through and keep your humidity steady.
30% is too low of humidity. Keep the lowest inch or so of substrate damp-to-slightly-wet by pourin water into the corners (not all over the surface) so that the water can evaporate up through make it easy to maintain higher humidity levels (provided you have a closed top to hold it in).
For the first couple years all species of tortoises need humidity and temps in the mid 80s or higher. Then as adults, yours will like the humidity to drop some and temps go down, too.
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Littleredfootbigredheart
Well-Known Member
We personally use a uk reptile brand, but a lot of people in the states use orchid bark from garden centres, but you need to read the fine print to make sure it’s 100% natural fir bark with nothing added like fertiliser, pesticides or perlite. You could look up a reptile brand though, will just be a little more expensive.
No need to add another bulb, instead(depending on the bulb distance already, don’t got closer than 12”) you can try lowering it slightly, or a higher watt and raise it till it maintains the right temperature. If all over temperatures become too warm then he will be burrow down and won’t be as active, the only part of your enclosure that reaches 95-100f should just be directly under the basking bulb, the rest of your temperatures should remain how they are now
The problem is that your substrate is much too dry and your humidity is much too low. Any tortoise substrate for an indoor enclosure should remain damp. Not sopping wet, but lightly damp. You accomplish this by dumping water in to the substrate. How much to dump and how often varies tremendously from one enclosure to the next, and it varies seasonally too. You have to go by feel.
Spraying the surface does not work and typically just causes cooling though evaporation.
Basking area directly under an incandescent flood bulb should be around 100. 88-90 is too cool.
What types of heat lamps and UV bulbs are you using? Any ambient lighting? The wrong bulbs can irritate the eyes.
RandyTortoise
Well-Known Member
I think it is possible for tortoises to have allergies just like a dog or cat. Maybe he is allergic to the substrate. Change it and see if he gets better and you will have your answer
Thank you everyone for your advice. I am so grateful for this forum. I’m attaching pictures of the lights I’m currently using. I’m going to add some orchid bark but I’ll check ingredients to make sure. I’ll got my humidity up by wetting the substrate and will continue to do this. Thanks again for everyone’s help. 
Hello!
The basking bulb is okay but UVB lamp should be replaced. Compact lamps have weak UVB output and are tricky to set up properly. This bulb can be the culprit of irritated eyes but, more likely, you underprovide UVB for your tortoise.
Long straight tube lamps (T5 HO) are the best option: either Arcadia ProT5 Kit or ZooMed Reptisun T5 Terrarium Hood.
Arcadia Desert 12% or ZooMed Reptisun 10.0 lamp are placed at 18-20" over substrate
or (if vertical space is limited)
Arcadia Forest 6% or ZooMed Reptisun 5.0 are placed at 11-12" over substrate.
