ILikeTortoises
New Member
Hi all -
I'm setting up a new enclosure for my Egyptian juveniles, and am looking for recommendations from someone who's had success with sandy substrates for this species. I'm thinking about moving away from the crushed oyster shell I'm currently using to go with something a bit more naturalistic - both to allow for better burrowing and to incorporate more live plants in my setup.
I have a care book that recommends a 4:1 ratio of washed playground sand and powdered loam, though I can't find powdered loam anywhere and no one seems to know what I'm talking about when I ask. I've also read care sheets that recommend a mixture of decomposed granite, top soil and mason sand. I found washed playground sand at home depot and a ZooMed clay excavator product from a local pet store (see attached). ZooMed also has a desert sand product ("Reptisand"), as does ExoTerra.
If you've had success with a sandy substrate for Egyptian indoor enclosures, I'd be all ears. Trying to do as much research as possible before making big changes for my little guys. Thanks!
I'm setting up a new enclosure for my Egyptian juveniles, and am looking for recommendations from someone who's had success with sandy substrates for this species. I'm thinking about moving away from the crushed oyster shell I'm currently using to go with something a bit more naturalistic - both to allow for better burrowing and to incorporate more live plants in my setup.
I have a care book that recommends a 4:1 ratio of washed playground sand and powdered loam, though I can't find powdered loam anywhere and no one seems to know what I'm talking about when I ask. I've also read care sheets that recommend a mixture of decomposed granite, top soil and mason sand. I found washed playground sand at home depot and a ZooMed clay excavator product from a local pet store (see attached). ZooMed also has a desert sand product ("Reptisand"), as does ExoTerra.
If you've had success with a sandy substrate for Egyptian indoor enclosures, I'd be all ears. Trying to do as much research as possible before making big changes for my little guys. Thanks!