What substrate should i use ASAP

[Ttfjc]

Im currently using a blanket what kind of substrate shouod i use cypress mulch or top soil? And if so what kind please reply what brand should i buy!

 

[Blackdog1714]

Cypress is better, top soil should not be used due to what it could contain. Fine Fir Bark is the best if you find it with the mulch supplies

 

[Ttfjc]

What

Cypress is better, top soil should not be used due to what it could contain. Fine Fir Bark is the best if you find it with the mulch supplies
[/QUOTE
What brand send me a pic youos evry cypress mulch safe?

 

[Ttfjc]

Will every cypress muclh work can you send me a pic of the Right one? What other subtrate is good

 

[Sa Ga]

I wouldn't use cypress mulch, as sometimes torts eat it. Not ALL, mind you, but is it worth the risk???

Coconut bedding, like Eco Earth keeps the humidity when misted (and mixed in) daily and passes, should it be accidentally ingested.

 

[Blackdog1714]

On the West Coast this is available at large garden Centers just not Lowes or Home Depot for about $20 at most. Petco sells the Reptibark (fine Fir Bark) at $16 for 24 quarts so to equal that bag you are talking $$$. Hope that helps. Fir Bark is awesome for holding moisture but not being wet to the touch and so much cleaner than CoCo Coir. Hope that helps

 

[Sa Ga]

View attachment 285721
On the West Coast this is available at large garden Centers just not Lowes or Home Depot for about $20 at most. Petco sells the Reptibark (fine Fir Bark) at $16 for 24 quarts so to equal that bag you are talking $$$. Hope that helps. Fir Bark is awesome for holding moisture but not being wet to the touch and so much cleaner than CoCo Coir. Hope that helps

I get nervous with fir bark/Reptibark too, as, the summer I worked at Petco, we lost two reptiles to accidental ingestion and thus choking. I've bought a bag myself but haven't yet had the guts to use it!

 

[Ttfjc]

how about

I get nervous with fir bark/Reptibark too, as, the summer I worked at Petco, we lost two reptiles to accidental ingestion and thus choking. I've bought a bag myself but haven't yet had the guts to use it!

How

I get nervous with fir bark/Reptibark too, as, the summer I worked at Petco, we lost two reptiles to accidental ingestion and thus choking. I've bought a bag myself but haven't yet had the guts to use it!

How about organic topsoil?

 

[Blackdog1714]

I use Cypress mulch for my russian and Fine Firbark (Repibark) for my Leopard and see no adverse effects. THe Coco Coir does well too but is very messy. Any bagged soil, organic or not, has other fillers in it-rocks, sometimes SAND which has huge ingestion/impaction issues. You would be better off digging up some dirt from your yard to use since you should know what products were used on it. As far as the accidental ingestion I have watched my Leopard test the substrate in the new enclosure a couple of times, but that ceased once I showed them the food layed out on the rock. Fine Fir Bark has been used by TFO'ers with way more experience than me to raise a ton of healthy babies. I get where you are at right now, the intial information overload was staggering! Take a breath, remember you are a great person (you are using TFO) and Tort On!

 

[Ttfjc]

Is or

View attachment 285721
On the West Coast this is available at large garden Centers just not Lowes or Home Depot for about $20 at most. Petco sells the Reptibark (fine Fir Bark) at $16 for 24 quarts so to equal that bag you are talking $$$. Hope that helps. Fir Bark is awesome for holding moisture but not being wet to the touch and so much cleaner than CoCo Coir. Hope that helps

Is organic topsil good you think

 

[Ttfjc]

Can you

I use Cypress mulch for my russian and Fine Firbark (Repibark) for my Leopard and see no adverse effects. THe Coco Coir does well too but is very messy. Any bagged soil, organic or not, has other fillers in it-rocks, sometimes SAND which has huge ingestion/impaction issues. You would be better off digging up some dirt from your yard to use since you should know what products were used on it. As far as the accidental ingestion I have watched my Leopard test the substrate in the new enclosure a couple of times, but that ceased once I showed them the food layed out on the rock. Fine Fir Bark has been used by TFO'ers with way more experience than me to raise a ton of healthy babies. I get where you are at right now, the intial information overload was staggering! Take a breath, remember you are a great person (you are using TFO) and Tort On!

Can you send me a picture you think orchid bark is good send me images of the bag. Please

 

[Blackdog1714]

This is Reptibark I added the image of the 2 cubic foot bag of Fine Fir Bark by Greenall further up in thread which I would recommend you look for as you are closer to the West Coast and could find it cheaper than the Reptibark

 

[Ttfjc]

This is Reptibark I added the image of the 2 cubic foot bag of Fine Fir Bark by Greenall further up in thread which I would recommend you look for as you are closer to the West Coast and could find it cheaper than the Reptibark
View attachment 285725

This is Reptibark I added the image of the 2 cubic foot bag of Fine Fir Bark by Greenall further up in thread which I would recommend you look for as you are closer to the West Coast and could find it cheaper than the Reptibark
View attachment 285725

 

[Blackdog1714]

Just need to keep up the temps and humidity to what the Sulcata care guide recommends

 

[Sa Ga]

how about

How

How about organic topsoil?

I used that and eco earth for a while (50/50). It made the eco earth less "sandy". I still use some (more like 25/75) but I have heard horror stories of it having bugs in it and such. I have not had that experience but it is something to consider.

 

[Ttfjc]

Just need to keep up the temps and humidity to what the Sulcata care guide recommends

There s a sulcata and a hermans

 

[Blackdog1714]

Oh my just noticed the 2nd tortoise. Please separate them ASAP. Species mixing is a no-no and two torts together is trouble waiting to happen. There is a thread on TFO that shows the sad end of cage mates!

 

[Tom]

1. Species should never be mixed. Disease potential is high, behavioral issues are likely, and these two species have very different heating and diet requirements.
2. Tortoises should never be kept in pairs. Its another recipe for disaster.
3. Bought-in-a-bag soil should never be used in an indoor tortoise enclosure because you can't know what composted material it is made of or if there are any yard chemicals in the mix. It could be something toxic. The soil makers/sellers do not intend for their product to be used in a small indoor chamber with an animal living in/on it.
4. The best substrate for baby Testudo species is coco coir.
5. The best substrate for sulcata babies is fine grade orchid bark.
6. Orchid bark and cypres mulch are not ingestion hazards unless you have sick animals, animals that aren't being cared for correctly, or if you are not using a food bowl, and even then its not likely to be a problem.

 

[Ttfjc]

Oh my just noticed the 2nd tortoise. Please separate them ASAP. Species mixing is a no-no and two torts together is trouble waiting to happen. There is a thread on TFO that shows the sad end of cage mates!

I have placed a visual Berrier in the middle.

 

[Ttfjc]

we

1. Species should never be mixed. Disease potential is high, behavioral issues are likely, and these two species have very different heating and diet requirements.
2. Tortoises should never be kept in pairs. Its another recipe for disaster.
3. Bought-in-a-bag soil should never be used in an indoor tortoise enclosure because you can't know what composted material it is made of or if there are any yard chemicals in the mix. It could be something toxic. The soil makers/sellers do not intend for their product to be used in a small indoor chamber with an animal living in/on it.
4. The best substrate for baby Testudo species is coco coir.
5. The best substrate for sulcata babies is fine grade orchid bark.
6. Orchid bark and cypres mulch are not ingestion hazards unless you have sick animals, animals that aren't being cared for correctly, or if you are not using a food bowl, and even then its not likely to be a problem.

I have placed a visual barrier.