Substrate Question?

[Dimitri'sMummy]

Okay so at the moment my tort has bark chip substrate from our local reptile store but is this the best substrate for him? If you can suggest any better alternatives that would be great (also I live in the U.K and links to any pet store chain that sells said substrate would be much appreciated)
thanks)

 

[Tom]

The bark chips are one of my favorites. They work well for me.

 

[HtVic]

The bark chips are one of my favorites. They work well for me.

does bark get mold easily? and is it hard to clean out pop?

 

[Madkins007]

You can also pop over to your local garden shop and look for hardwood mulches that don't have any chemicals or rubber bits, or have any significant odor of manure, pine, or cedar.

 

[lisa127]

I had some bark chips in my gulf coast box turtles home for a little bit. Gulf coast box turtles like to eat bugs and worms in the water so that's where he usually gets his red wigglers. One day one piece of bark was in his water bowl and he ate it! I took all the bark out after that.

 

[GeoTerraTestudo]

Coco coir, cypress mulch, and soil hold moisture better than fir bark. I use 100% coco coir, because it does not harbor fungi or insects they way cypress mulch and soil can.

 

[HtVic]

Coco coir, cypress mulch, and soil hold moisture better than fir bark. I use 100% coco coir, because it does not harbor fungi or insects they way cypress mulch and soil can.

i use coco coir too, but lately, I found some very small flies in the enclosure.

 

[GeoTerraTestudo]

Coco coir, cypress mulch, and soil hold moisture better than fir bark. I use 100% coco coir, because it does not harbor fungi or insects they way cypress mulch and soil can.

i use coco coir too, but lately, I found some very small flies in the enclosure.

Probably due to food remaining in the substrate. Coco coir is not immune to fungi and insects, but I have found it to be resistant to these things.

 

[LeaderLeprechaun]

i use coco coir and top it with fir bark so when i dampen the substrate it keeps it humid but not too wet ;P