Substrate for Greeks?

[tortgirl123]

First of all, do Greeks need a lot of humidity and moisture? What is a good substrate for Greeks? If they need humidity and moisture what is a good substrate that holds it in? How often do you change your substrate?

 

[tort_luv_5055]

Re: RE: Substrate for Greeks?

First of all, do Greeks need a lot of humidity and moisture? What is a good substrate for Greeks? If they need humidity and moisture what is a good substrate that holds it in? How often do you change your substrate?

Yes, Greeks need lots of humidity and moisture especially as hatchlings. If they are deprived of this moisture, they will pyramid. I have seen elsewhere on the forum that when greek's become adults, the humidity needs to be dialed down to avoid URI's, and because adults are less prone to pyramiding. I am not sure if its true though. However old your tortoise is, that is how you need to watch the humidity.

A good substrate for Greek's is topsoil. Just plain old, out of the ground organic soil. You know those little white beads in regular topsoil? Thats perlite, and it kills tortoises if they even take a tiny nibble. So the topsoil has to be organic. I use topsoil and repti-bark mix for my hatchling and the humidity stays between 40 and 50. Its perfect and he is growing smooth. I use a little bag of bark and a big bag of soil. Attached a photo of the brand I use and I got it at Country Max. Both are fairly cheap. Some have luck with topsoil+sand, topsoil+cypress mulch, just sand, and just soil. Its really up to you and what's available where you live and during different seasons.

I change the substrate every two months and spot clean it every day when I feed and "water" the tortoise. Good luck!

 

[tortgirl123]

Exactly what I was looking for! Thanks so much!

 

[tort_luv_5055]

Re: RE: Substrate for Greeks?

Exactly what I was looking for! Thanks so much!

No problem hope I helped! I have to know, how old is your tort? What substrate have you been using? What brought you to ask these questions?

 

[tortgirl123]

No Tort yet just trying to gather as much information as possible! I knew that there was this big controversy over sand or the Repti-Chips, just wanted to know what was best for my soon to be Tort!

 

[tort_luv_5055]

Re: RE: Substrate for Greeks?

No Tort yet just trying to gather as much information as possible! I knew that there was this big controversy over sand or the Repti-Chips, just wanted to know what was best for my soon to be Tort!

Ok I gotchya! A word of advice from one Greek mom to another: Don't give him Feta Cheese! He will refuse to eat anything else after that

As far as the controversy over substrates, I will give you my opinion.

NEVER USE CALCIUM SAND. You know that stuff in the pet stores? It causes really bad impaction. Play sand is fine. Regular sand should be avoided.

Repti Chips, I dont know what that is. I am assuming it is the same as Repti-bark. I have had complete success with it and it holds humidity very well.

Dont use:
Paper towels
Newspaper
Reptile Green Carpet
Aspen (can be used in small quantities) it is dusty and irritates the eyes.
Plain Repti-bark (always mix it with something)
Regular Potting Soil- must be ORGANIC
alfalfa pellets
Timothy hay can be used for a temporary substrate as it molds quickly

hope I helped

 

[tortgirl123]

Stupid me! I meant to say Repti Bark! Lol sorry for the confusion!

 

[Jlant85]

hopefully this gets to you asap! DONT BUY THE REPTIBARKS! THEY ARE EXPENSIVE! go to home depot, they got a huge bag for 1/3 the price and 3 times bigger!

 

[sueb4653]

i use coconut coir for my 3 adults I have also used cedar mulch I think they prefer the coir. when they had the cedar mulch they used orchard hay to sleep in. now with the coir they bury themselves in that to sleep and will not use hides nor do they use any orchard hay I leave out. btw alfafa does mold but the orchard hay seems to stay up very well. also the coir I try to leave as little moisture in it as possible becasue they will get a uri if left to wet. for mine dry works better

 

[tort_luv_5055]

Re: RE: Substrate for Greeks?

hopefully this gets to you asap! DONT BUY THE REPTIBARKS! THEY ARE EXPENSIVE! go to home depot, they got a huge bag for 1/3 the price and 3 times bigger!

I am so with you on this!!! And I only bought the little bag of bark to mix in to help humidity. I would never waste money on one of those big bags

 

[tortgirl123]

hopefully this gets to you asap! DONT BUY THE REPTIBARKS! THEY ARE EXPENSIVE! go to home depot, they got a huge bag for 1/3 the price and 3 times bigger!

So it would be like the red mulch?

 

[tort_luv_5055]

Pretty much

 

[tortgirl123]

Pretty much

Ok!