Substrate question

[pandacakes]

I have been using cyprus mulch for my leopard tortoise lately and I love it. The only problem that I have is keeping it damp... it seems to dry out in no time and I'm dumping water on it a couple times a day. How do you guys keep your cyprus mulch damp?

 

[ascott]

I don't house indoors....so sorry. However, I have read that some use spray bottle to mist as well as some put a plant or two in pots in the enclosure and keep it watered for humidity...but hang tight...other will arrive with their set ups

 

[dmmj]

Is it the upper layer drying out, or is it drying out all the way to the bottom?

 

[pandacakes]

Thanks! It seems like it's all drying out... it isn't holding moisture for some reason. I pour a good amount of water on it twice a day usually and it still dries out

 

[coreyc]

Try covering part of your top it should not dry up that quick maybe your not adding enough water how much mulch and how much water do you add? can you post a pic of your setup ?

 

[CtTortoiseMom]

Do you have a top or partial top on your enclosure? That might help. I use organic soil with cypress on top. It seems to hold the moisture pretty well. If it is drying fast under your lights or CHE"s you could add sphagnum or frog moss. I have moss around my drier areas.

 

[pandacakes]

Thanks for the replies! I need to charge my camera for a bit to take a pic I think I'm going to try some frog moss and see how that works. I have a heavy duty screen top and was thinking about getting a piece of plexi-glass or something to cover half of it. I have about 3" of the cypress in there right now. And I have a humidifier in there that runs during the day.