[split] [split] Substrate.

[Herplover012]

I currently have a juvenile to adult Russian tortoise. He is in a large plastic bin without a lid. The substrate in the bin right now is cypress mulch but I think it's to big and sharp. What type of substrate will make it easier for my tortoise to burrow and won't negatively effect his health? Also are there any live or fake plants that I can put in his habitat that he won't eat?


2 dogs
1 rabbit
1 Russian tortoise
1 hermanns tortoise
2 red eared sliders
2 cooter turtles
1 razorback musk turtle
1 Mississippi map turtle
1 painted turtle
1 soft shell turtle
3 leopard geckos
1 axolotl
1 milk snake
1 Brazilian rainbow boa
1 Kenyan sand boa
2 saltwater aquarium
1 freshwater aquarium
1 pink toed tarantula
1 dwarf American alligator
3 fire belly toads
1 gray tree frog
1 crested gecko
1 ball python

 

[Yvonne G]

I've split off your question from that other thread. Since you're new, you don't know yet that when you want to ask a question regarding your tortoise and tortoise-keeping, you start your own thread, that way we're not hi-jacking someone else's thread to help you.

My choice is orchid bark or cypress mulch. If you spot clean the substrate lasts a very long time. You can pour a pitcher of water over it then mix it up with your hand for even distribution. Then every time you see a poop, or a little clump of pee, you just pick it out and toss it. All of my tortoises live outside year round, but the smaller ones in tort tables in the outside sheds, are on either orchid bark or cypress mulch. The substrate that I start out the winter with, is the same substrate I toss in the Spring when I put the babies back outside.