Substrate Woes......

[Tonka-Tamer]

I am about to kill all the dirt in the world. I've tried at least 3 different substrates from pet stores and none hold up well. The current substrate I am using has turned practically to dust, which can't be good if my tortoise is breathing it in.

So tell me, is it very unwise just to use soil or sand if I sift through it? It is snowing here in Michigan, but I'm willing to shovel through the snow to dig up some dirt from our old garden.

Does anyone use dirt? I keep Tonka indoors, so is it easy to clean, and does it smell very bad?

 

[Meg90]

If Tonka is a Russian, I would suggest Aspen bedding.

I use it for Nigel, my Greek. Its almost 99% dust free, and it makes
it very easy to spot messes.

You can get a bag of compressed Aspen bedding at Walmart for $3.43
and it covers ALOT. Nigel even likes to burrow in his now.

(I used to buy it from petco...they call it Aspen snake bedding) but a little
bag (almost 1/4 the size of the walmart one) was 4.99. I kicked myself
after I checked the walmart pet section.

Also, you can mist it a little daily to help keep some humidity.

 

[Tonka-Tamer]

Thanks a lot, I will definately check that out. The substrate I use now dries up so quick, no matter how much I mist.

 

[Crazy1]

Tonka-Tamer, Careful misting the Aspen it can mold. I use it and have a humidifier to keep the humidity up (My Greeks are in their own room). I have used good old yard dirt from my garden as long as it has had no chemicals in it it works fine. You can mix with sand or just use the dirt only. I have never sifted it just dig it up and placed it in the enclosure. The problem I had is it is heavy, and as dirt goes dusty. Aspen has little dust. You can make a humid hide by fixing a sponge to the top of a hide or use sphargum moss that you keep damp-not drippy wet.
Also if your tort is a young one or hatchling and you don't want to risk them turning on there backs when climbing on their hide you can get the edible logs for Hampsters at Wal-Mart really inexpensive. I use it for all my torts now when they are inside they have two sizes and work Great.

 

[Tonka-Tamer]

Thanks, Crazy. Tonka is an adult russian and I haven't had any trouble with him flipping over. I really like the sponge idea, too.

I am sure regular dirt will be fine, too. I have read that mixing water with dirt and letting it sit in a container (or was it the actual enclosure?) for a month or so helps retain moisture better and also stays more compact. I don't think dust would be too big a problem, it surely can't be as bad as what I'm using now (which I can't remember the name of..). Could too much dust cause respiration problems for a tortoise? The thought crossed my mind a few days ago and had me really worried.

 

[Jacqui]

Yes, dust can cause problems.

I myself like the Bed-a-beast/sand combo. It does hold the moisture fairly well as long as you add moisture as needed (especially under the heated/lighted areas. I am not talking misting, but actually adding water.

Have not tried dirt itself for any of my Russians, just the boxie hatchlings, so I can't give my opinion of it. I did try the Aspen. I didn't like it as well as the combo, but it does have it's good points (weight, or actually lack of..lol).

 

[Crazy1]

Plain Garden Soil, Bed a beast and Sand can all be mixed together if you want a moister mixture. If dust is of concern dampen and pack the dirt down. If you are worried about critters in the dirt you can get those Bags for turkeys to be cooked in and bake it to kill any critters. Truth be told I have used tried quite a few different substrates so far. Not to mention the mixtures of these.
Aspen
dirt
bed-a beast(cocofiber) sand
dirt, bed-a-beast and sand
dirt and timathy hay
timathy hay/orchard hay
turtle carpet
Newspapers
Critter Country Pellets
papertowels
sod
spargham moss
I think that about covers it.
I currently am using Aspen (due to weight and dust problems for me) for the larger torts and carpet and spargham moss for the hatchlings. But during the winter I now have them in a room where I can increase the humidity (biggest factor I found when using Aspen as it is very dry) and temps. They are all outside during the summer.
Really, I think you have to experiment for your area and what works best for you and your tort. My area is hot and very dry. So I found Humidity is a big factor. My first two hatchlings have some very mild pyramiding due to too dry an enviornment. Something I have hopefully corrected this year for them and my new hatchlings, who are looking great. Just remember no pine or cedar shavings as they are toxic to torts.