Substrate

[brandy]

Ok I read thru alot of the topics on this but I am one that needs reassurace so here it goes.
I am brand new to tortiose's. I just got my russian this week. Anyway I had a box turtle before and he was so different with his needs. I did some browsing on this site and decided to go with the eco? Something coconut substrate mixed with the calcium sand. It seems like it gets everywhere. Also last night when I took him out to the yard to wander around in the grass he has so much of it stuck int he little ledge of his shell under his head. I don't want it to get into his eyes. Would playsand be better mixed with the coconut stuff? I am building him a tortoise table this weekend so I will be redoing it all so I figured I would ask now. One of the main reasons I ask is because I have a friend who is a lizard fanatic and yelled at me when I told him what I used.He said that both of it can cause impaction. He said that is no good. Might not be for lizards but what about my tortoise. Any and all advice is greatly appreicated!!! Thanks

 

[SulcataSquirt]

Hi, I would use coconut coir with no sand in it. The sand will cause impaction the coir will not. I have had great luck using just coir for the last year and few months.

 

[brandy]

How do you get that coconut stuff to stay in one place. It gets in his food dish and water. I am worried about him accidentaly eating some of it on his lettuce. I didn't mix much sand in with it. I would say 90% to

 

[Yvonne G]

That's why I don't like it. I gave it a good try, then scrapped it and went back to cypress mulch.

 

[brandy]

Oops I meant to say 90% coconut stuff to 10% sand. I saw cypress mulch at petsmart. Is it ok to just use that? I would rather but he seems to love to dig in that coconut stuff.

 

[Tom]

I agree with your friend about skipping any kind of sand in any amount. There are a lot of opinions about each potential substrate and it really boils down to personal preference.

I prefer the coco coir. There are several "grades" of it though. The fine stuff CAN get messy, but I have never seen a case where it caused any harm or impaction.

I also like "orchid" bark, cypress mulch, sterile potting soil (additive free), and out doors, all of mine are on plain dirt. In the past I used Aspen bedding and sani-chips too. I wouldn't hesitate to use those for an adult russian even now, as long as it had a humid hide box and an appropriate water bowl.

 

[lynnedit]

I agree with the above. Coir is probably a great product but is too darn messy by itself, at least the brick versions that most of us can get.
I was at a landscaping store and got some fine Orchid bark yesterday: this is kind of like soil.
organic soil is great; not potting soil with vermiculite added which they can eat.
Cypress mulch works well; stays cleaner.
You could use topsoil or fine orchid bark in one part, cypress mulch in another, or instead, sprinkle the cypress mulch over the top of the soil or bark.
Kind of individual preference.

 

[brandy]

So I picked up a big bag of cyrpess mulch yesterday. But won't he get slivers from it? Should I mix anything else in with it. He LOVES to dig. Seems pretty boring just the mulch. Also what about timothy hay in a part of his enclosure is it good or bad? I heard it molds easy what do you guys think?

 

[Tnewton]

So I picked up a big bag of cyrpess mulch yesterday. But won't he get slivers from it? Should I mix anything else in with it. He LOVES to dig. Seems pretty boring just the mulch. Also what about timothy hay in a part of his enclosure is it good or bad? I heard it molds easy what do you guys think?

Plain cypress is fine. I just switched all my sulcatas over to cypress from sani chips and they love it. If your worried about impaction feed on a huge plate so they will be less likely to get it in the cypress which is what I do. However after buggin Tom all the time he told me he has NEVER had an impaction using cypress so I wouldnt worry

 

[tyler0912]

get rid of sand.........put moss around waterbowls and food bowls....so it draggs of onto the moss!

 

[brandy]

Thanks guys. I plan to just use the cypress. I do feed him on a little plate that I wash daily. I just worry when he digs that it might hurt him. He seems to love the coconut coir stuff but it is SO MESSY!!!

 

[Jacqui]

Let's us know how the mulch works for you. I use it in some of the enclosures, but really don't like it. It think it is more potentially dangerous then sand that is mixed in with the coir. After all, most soil has sand as part of it's make up. I think the coir by itself dries too fast and is too dusty. I am more trying to work towards going bio in my inside enclosures currently.