Substrate

[Sydnee]

Hey guys! My Russian Todd hass a 4ft by 3ft enclosure and I have coconut fiber substrate. I was just wondering:
How often do you guys recommend changing substrate?
I've heard of puting earth worms in the enclosure to eat all of the bad stuff? Any opinions?

Thanks guys ☺

 

[wellington]

If you do a good job at spot cleaning you don't have to change it often at all. I use coconut coir for sometimes more then a year.
As for your enclosure though. If your tort is not a hatchling, a 4x3 is way too small. 4x8 minimum is needed.

 

[Tom]

I spot clean and remove any un-eaten food every day and as needed.

I never change out the substrate unless the tortoise outgrows the enclosure and I intend to use the same enclosure for a new tortoise.

 

[Sydnee]

If you do a good job at spot cleaning you don't have to change it often at all. I use coconut coir for sometimes more then a year.
As for your enclosure though. If your tort is not a hatchling, a 4x3 is way too small. 4x8 minimum is needed.

I spot clean a lot so that's good
He's only 5 inches. The enclosure is 4 ft long and 3 feet wide. All of the articles I read said minimum 4 ft by 2 ft? He doesnt seem streassed he mainly stays on one side of his enclosure.

 

[Sydnee]

Have you guys ever heard of putting earthworms in there?

 

[leigti]

You can put pill bugs in there.

 

[Tom]

Have you guys ever heard of putting earthworms in there?

That would require soil and I don't think store bought "soil" is a good substrate for tortoises.

Do a forum search for "bio-active substrates" and you can read all about it.

I don't use earth worms indoors, but I relocate them from underneath my water bowls into my planters beds in my outdoor enclosures all the time.