Substrate for tortoise house

[sdbmc]

Hi,

I'm new here (see introductions) I've only had 4 yr old Tutu for just over a month and as he was given to us unexpectedly I'm still learning how to make him happy.

His accommodation is still temporary for the moment and although he has an outdoor enclosure has slept inside at night until now to keep him safe. (BTW we live in Liguria in Italy so his natural habitat).

I've just bought a small hutch for him to sleep in at night so will be able to close him in at night, but I'm unsure what to put on the floor. Up to now I have used a reptile substrate which is a type of sand but looks like tiny pebbles (don't know the english word it's sabbia di mais in italian) as advised (wrongly) by his previous owners, so will use this temporarily but won't be buying any more once the bag is finished. Should I use topsoil, coco coir, straw?? What would make for a nice cosy tortoise bed?

Thanks in advance

 

[lismar79]

I like coir since it does not seem to mold or grow fungus. Yes you should not use any sort of sand as it can cause impactions. Cypress mulch, if you have, works well too, but harder to dig into.