maske
Member
I know a couple people on here said Ace has it I don't have an Ace. Out where I live, I went to Lowe's. I went to buy Martin. Nobody has organic topsoil. Can I just get the Zilla stuff to mix with the coconut stuff?
Top soil
- Thread starter maske
- Start date
Store bought soil isn't safe to use as tortoise substrate.
More here:
Info For New People. Please Read This First.
Hello and welcome to tortoiseforum.org! We are all glad you are here! There is no other forum like this anywhere. We have tens of thousands of members from all over the world ranging from kids with their first tortoise to people who have been breeding and keeping high end tortoises since the...
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maske
Member
Do you plan to grow live plants in substrate? (makes sense for large enclosures and plant covers, otherwise potted plants are better).
If not, you can stick to just orchid bark (Reptibark) or coco coir (EcoEarth). These are less muddy, dusty and prone to mold than soil. And you can get them at plant nurseries/gardening centers/hardware stores cheaper than "reptile-branded" products.
What tortoise do you have, are you looking for indoors or outdoors enclosure substrate?
maske
Member
It's a 6 month sulcata tortoise. I'm using eco earth. Can I put the back on top. I plan on putting plants in his outside enclosure.
Outside, you can probably use just the yard dirt. Or use potted plants to give a chance of survival. Can you post a photo of the enclosure (to better understand what we are talking about)?
maske
Member
Here is a pic. I can get a picture of the whole enclosure in a few minutes. I'm getting the kids ready for school. I am changing his dish to a slate slab. And taking out. Cyprus, mulch. That is was what the breeder used. Under it is the eco earth coconut fiber.
Littleredfootbigredheart
Well-Known Member
I’m afraid you’ve been sold the very typical incorrect starter set up, babies NEED a closed chamber, not an open top and humidifiers are problematic.
Hopefully you find this a good read, this thread covers correct equipment(uvb, heating bulbs, lighting etc, double check these!), correct levels, importance of a closed chamber for younger tortoises(only way to maintain the humidity you need), appropriately maintaining the humidity, safe substrates, there’s lots of visual examples for everything, and a really handy diet link to check out! If going with a greenhouse, the lower the ceiling height, whilst still allowing for recommended bulb height, the better! but I’ll include some more closed chamber ideas below
Leopard/sulcata starter
Hello there! In this thread I’m going to include some information below on how I’d personally tackle an indoor starter set up for a leopard/sulcata until they’re bigger. Hopefully it helps give people some ideas!” I know it looks like a lot to go over, I like to make sure all bases are covered...
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This includes different closed chamber options, some work better than others
Visual inspiration
Hi guys! I’ve had some lovely messages complimenting me on my care sheets I made for all the visuals they include! That makes me so happy because as a visual learner myself, that was my goal🥰 I’ve recently had some requests for some more visual inspiration for set ups that can house babies/...
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This idea in particular might work for you!
Lastly, this one is probably most important to go over and keep on hand, it’ll help you avoid the wrong bulbs, substrates, housing etc, I always encourage double checking purchases on the forum too before buying
Common keeping errors
Hello everyone! I’d been a long time lurker on this site long before joining just under a year ago now, over that time I’ve seen these husbandry issues come up time and time again, sometimes with dire consequences☹️ I thought this thread might serve as a good visual guide for these common...
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Hope they help! Please feel free to ask any further questions!
The cypress is good. You can keep that. Coco coir is safe, but messy for sulcatas. Orchid bark works best.
Most soil from the store has perlite in it. Tortoises will eat it and it can slowly kill them. Never let the tortoise have access to soil with perlite in it, neither indoors nor outdoors.
You were given the usual wrong info on how to house and care for your tortoise. The mistakes you are making will have permanent effects. Please read the threads that are being left for you and make the necessary changes. Most breeders are not doing it correctly, and they tell their customers all the wrong info. I am also a breeder. I've hatch 1000s of sulcatas. The things I'm telling you were learned the hard way with lots of trial and error and experimentation over decades. I know that it is hard to know who to listen to, but at least give the threads a read, and then please feel free to ask lots of questions. Let us explain the contradictions. In a few years time, you will be SOOOOOO glad you did.
The Best Way To Raise A Sulcata, Leopard, Or Star Tortoise
I chose the title of this care sheet very carefully. Are there other ways to raise babies? Yes. Yes there are, but those ways are not as good. What follows is the BEST way, according to 30 years of research and experimentation with hundreds of babies of many species. Babies hatch during the...
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maske
Member
Now I am confused. I've been reading for days and days on this site. People are telling me not to use Cyprus mulch ( as you can see, I have lots of bags like 4 'cause when the breeder told me to mix it with the Coconut fiber, I went out and bought a whole bunch), and they're telling me to use organic topsoil, and then other people are saying don't use organic topsoil use reptisoil, but it has it Pete, moss and sand in it, so I don't think that's good either. I am going to redo the whole enclosure. But unfortunately, that's the only enclosure I have right now. I am going to send your picture, but the top screen does have plexiglass on both sides. I what to add? Thank you so much for helping me out.
Littleredfootbigredheart
Well-Known Member
Who on here said not to use mulch? Possibly an old post? No one will recommend reptisoils here unless a new member, peat and sand are no good you’re right.
The breeder is irresponsible to recommend top soil.
Coir, mulch or orchid bark are the safest options, that forest floor is fine
Someone on this site said not to use cypress? There are three substrates that are safe and effective to use. Cypress mulch, coco coir, and orchid bark. Of the three, I prefer orchid bark for baby sulcatas, but cypress mulch (aka: forest floor) is fine too.
Top soil, or any other soil bought in a bag at a store is not safe and should never be used as tortoise substrate. Peat moss (the dirt-like stuff) can burn their plastrons and that shouldn't be used. The long fiber peat moss stuff will be eaten and it can cause impaction.
The problem with your enclosure is the open top. It lets all the heat and humidity out. You need a large closed chamber with the heating and lighting all contained inside.
maske
Member
Sorry no it was on one of my Facebook groups.
"Westland" is a UK brand of soils, if I'm not mistaken. They are made according to different regulations than in US and may be "more safe". However, issues with muddy puddles and mold are the same.
Cypress mulch is among the recommended substrates for a long time. Yes, there are lethal cases of ingestion of cypress mulch but not many. If you already use it - no need to rush and change, just make sure to feed your tortoise off the plate (a good practice for any substrate type). I'm not aware of injuries when burrowing but mulch fibers can get in the eyes.
Mixing coir and soil looks pointless to me:
1. Coir on its own is a fine substrate, resistant to mold and good at holding moisture.
2. Soil needs amendments to prevent compaction and growth of anaerobic bacteria. Coir doesn't help with that.
maske
Member
Ok thank you I will not change substrate
Well that explains that. FB, YT, and most other sources of tortoise info are all still repeating the same old wrong info that we are trying to dispel here. FB is fine if you want to look at pretty pictures of tortoises. FB is a terrible place to get accurate helpful tortoise care info. You've now learned this lesson the hard way. Have you read the link I left for you in post number 2? This is all explained there...
Please invite Jennifer and Natasha to come here and learn. You might get banned if you do that publicly, but it would help them and the tortoises in their care if you could somehow do it.
