Substrate from Home Depot/Lowes okay to use?

[srod]

I'm currently using cocount coir that I purchased from Petco but since I am building a large indoor enclosure for my hatchling sully and I need ALOT more substrate, I wasn't sure if it was safe to purchase the substrates from home depot/lowes. I am planning on using a mixture of both coconut coir and cypress mulch (both sold at my local home depot), but I am not sure if the ones they sell are treated with stuff that might be harmful to my sully. Any insight to this would be helpful. Otherwise, I don't mind just getting the stuff at the petstore even though its much more expensive.

 

[mainey34]

What is it exactly that you are looking at ? From home depot...

 

[Laura]

if you are building it outside... what is wrong with the Natural Ground?

 

[srod]

What is it exactly that you are looking at ? From home depot...

home depot

http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc...word=cypress+mulch&storeId=10051#.UMIvj4O_F8o

http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc...-1&keyword=coconut&storeId=10051#.UMIwHIO_F8o

lowes

http://www.lowes.com/pd_97677-1802-...pl=1&currentURL=?Ntt=cypress+mulch&facetInfo=

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if you are building it outside... what is wrong with the Natural Ground?

Indoor enclosure

 

[Laura]

oh never mind... i see INDOOR now...
garden centers may have Top Soil.. make sure there is no fertilizer in it. It shoud say on the bag...

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I'd go with the first one.. more fine..

 

[Kapidolo Farms]

Hi,

Cypress mulch from HD or Lowes is OK, read the label closely for 'added' ingredients, like weed suppressing agents etc. I have not ever found these included in wood mulches that are 'types' like cypress or licorice root, but every year some new thing comes into those stores.

Will

 

[srod]

oh never mind... i see INDOOR now...
garden centers may have Top Soil.. make sure there is no fertilizer in it. It shoud say on the bag...

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I'd go with the first one.. more fine..

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does top soil hold humidity as well as the others? i have no experience with it, but it is alot cheaper than the rest

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Hi,

Cypress mulch from HD or Lowes is OK, read the label closely for 'added' ingredients, like weed suppressing agents etc. I have not ever found these included in wood mulches that are 'types' like cypress or licorice root, but every year some new thing comes into those stores.

Will

thank Will, i will keep that in mind

 

[chaloman]

http://www.lowes.com/pd_26986-1803-...ewSearch=true$ddkey=http:SearchCatalogDisplay

I have a mix ( 50/50) of this peat moss and organic topsoil as a substrate, it holds humidity really well , how big is the enclousure ?

 

[Kapidolo Farms]

[/quote]

does top soil hold humidity as well as the others? i have no experience with it, but it is alot cheaper than the rest

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Hi,

Top Soil, as it is called - varies by region. It is not economical for a central source to ship to all those big box hardware stores. Each region packages a mix of 'stuff' that is local and cheap. When I was in NJ/PA area, it really was top soil, here in northern CA, it is ground wood, same exact package.

Depending on where you are you might try "supersoil" without the added fertilizer or moisture retaining agents. It is uniformly made and shipped. It is more expensive than cypress mulch, but if you seek a soil it is good.

It will hold moisture well, but like most soils, it is sorta sticky (wet dirt), and the tortos will get it everywhere.

Will

 

[srod]

http://www.lowes.com/pd_26986-1803-...ewSearch=true$ddkey=http:SearchCatalogDisplay

I have a mix ( 50/50) of this peat moss and organic topsoil as a substrate, it holds humidity really well , how big is the enclousure ?

Thanks for the suggestion!
The enclosure is going to be 4ft long and 2 ft wide

 

[bigred]

I have been getting mine from lowes for years and have 2 huge bundles in my wifes trunk right now. I will post a pic if I can Saturday morning

 

[Tom]

I've been using hardware store bedding for many years. No problems to report. You just have to buy the right kind.

 

[srod]

Thanks all for the help. I'll be trying out some topsoil/cypress mulch from home depot.

 

[tortoisefanatic]

When I've used mulch from either store, I have to microwave small batches of it to kill all the little bugs that get in the bags. Other than that, a good economical way to buy cypress mulch.

 

[Livingstone]

Tom could you tell us what kind you are using.

 

[AcidElvis]

I'm currently building a indoor enclosure too and I was told top soil could be bad because you risk dirt in the eye and getting infection. Is that true or was I lied to?

 

[Tom]

Tom could you tell us what kind you are using.

I did a post of some stuff that I really liked a couple of years ago, but I can't find the post now. It was basically orchid bark. I think they called it "Pathway bark" at Lowes. I have also used cypress mulch, various soils and the peat moss stuff that is like dirt or fine coco coir.


Here. I found it pictured in this thread.
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/thread-14680.html

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I'm currently building a indoor enclosure too and I was told top soil could be bad because you risk dirt in the eye and getting infection. Is that true or was I lied to?

I don't think this is accurate. Sounds like they were talking about sand. When I have used soils in the past I like to pack it down with my hand so they have a more solid footing. The main reason I don't use soil is because it is really hard to find it with out a bunch of additives in it. You can't use it with fertilizers, guano, perlite etc... At least not for a full time sole substrate in an indoor enclosure. Just my opinion.