Tortoise Bedding

[kmfernandez]

Hi can someone please recommend a good substrate or bedding that i can use. I have 2 sulcatas in one enclosure inside, and 1 leopard in another enclosure. I keep reading through the different post, and everyone has something different. I am currently using bark that i bought at petsmart. Can someone please recommend something, and also specify were i can buy that substrate. I am really dedicated to providing the perfect habitat. I had a leopard last year and it died on me. I recently got a new one and i really dont want it to die, so please id someone can recommend something i would greatly appreciated.THanks

 

[Yvonne G]

The reason you see so many different opinions is because we all have our own favorites. You just have to try them and use the one you like best for your situation. Here are my favorites listed with most favorite first:

1. Fine grade orchid bark
2. Cypress mulch
3. Clean dirt

 

[Tom]

Yeah, I've used them all and they all have their good and bad points. I like Yvonne's list but I'd add coco chips and coir too. The one you have should be fine too.

More important is what you do with it. How damp you keep it and how warm you keep the enclosure. Temperature and hydration are also very important.

 

[kmfernandez]

Well for example what is Coco Noir and Top soil 50/50. I saw this, the thing is won't the tortoises eat the dirt, isnt it dangerous for them. ALso dont soil and dirt grow little bugs in them?

 

[River14]

Are they inside or outside. In most parts of "sunny" California and that means not on top of some snow peaked monument they will be fine outside. If they are hatchlings and kept inside/outside then hay is great for their night time accommodation they adore it. Under the hay as a lining you can put news-paper they love burying into that hay its so sweet. In the wild they might use someone elses hole like an aarvarks but they prefer a nice cosy bushel and hay is just right. Make sure they have fresh water all times. The leopard will be active all year, so give it plenty of sunshine with shelter for when its finished basking. You will see every night it will dive into the hay and fall asleep. The water will keep the humidity just fine, besides leopards are used to a dry period every year when the humidity falls, this is usually during summer. Say hello to my fellow South African ( :

The best hay is whatever you can get hold of, if its rough just remove the prickly bits. Alfalfa is a bit high in Protein but the amount they will eat while sleeping is negligible.

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I wasnt sure how you were keeping them and where you are in the world. Is the leopard inside too?

 

[dmmj]

What ever you decide to use try and find it in a home improvement type store they are usually much much cheaper and sell bigger bags than what a pet store does.

 

[River14]

Humidity is vital too, if its very dry where you are you might have to even soak and dry the hay to the requirements. Also depends on where you are a farmers bale of hay is perfect and cheap but huge. Straw is no good. If your leopard is captured bred then you are safe if its not you wont be sure where and what exact climate its used to. In the Cape of South Africa its wet and cold in winter and bonr dry summer, in Natal and north of the country its wet and humid in summer and bone dry and slightly cool in winter?