Substrate Mix!!!

[jorn]

Hello
I've been reading a lot on the substrate topics, and as my conclusion is; everybody says something different. That's wy I was thinking about creating a substrate mix, keeping in mind of course that the humidity level should sit arround 30 percent!

What I was thinking about, I've got a a lot of these beech chips. And since these are way too dry I would want to something with this. the first question I asked myself is; what do they live on in the wild? Well my conclusion should be, that I want to use a mix of Sand, coconut fiber, these chips and crumbled treebark. the I've got 2 things in it that keep humidity and 2 things that are pretty dry and it should look pretty natural when used.

So what is your opinion on this?

gr

 

[johnsonnboswell]

You didn't say for what kind of tortoise. My opinion is that mixtures make good substrates, but that wood chips should not be part of it. They get nasty and moldy when damp.

 

[jorn]

Hermann tortoise

 

[lismar79]

I like my mix of coir on the bottom and fir bark on top. Gives me humid and not as messy... I would not use sand though. It scratches eyes and can cause problems if ingested.

 

[jorn]

Do all sand sorts do this?

 

[Tom]

There is no species that should be kept at 30% humidity. Its too low, especially in our artificial, light bulb heated, captive enclosures.

Sand and wood chips should never be used.

No need for a mix when there are several substrates that work very well all on their own. I like coco coir, orchid bark, cypress mulch, or even plain dirt from the yard if yours is of suitable composition.

 

[jorn]

Ah I think this is a language question the soil u use for example for planting vegetables, we call that sand too here

 

[G-stars]

Ah I think this is a language question the soil u use for example for planting vegetables, we call that sand too here

I would be careful with some of the planting soil as some contain vermiculite, which can problems if ingested by tortoises.

 

[Tom]

Ah I think this is a language question the soil u use for example for planting vegetables, we call that sand too here

Thats interesting. I did not know that. Have you been to America ever? The beaches on either coast are covered in what we refer to as sand. "Soil" is what we use to plant things in.

By the way, your country produces the best working dogs in the whole universe. In fact I call my Belgians "The supreme working dogs of the universe". In the right hands, there is nothing better.

 

[Tom]

I would be careful with some of the planting soil as some contain vermiculite, which can problems if ingested by tortoises.

Perlite too, which is even worse.

 

[jorn]

Hha no I have never been, never seen anything outside Europe, what dogs do you mean?

 

[jorn]

And the soil I wanna use is just plain dirt wich is beneath our feet but first freeze it so that my tortoise won't become sick. What is better then the substrzte they will be having when they are in the outside en lose?