What substrate should we be using?

Chipmunk

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Hi,
I have a little 3 year old Hermann’s tort and we are unsure of what substrate we should be using. In the past we have used wood chips and have been told that it is a bad substrate because when wet it breeds bacteria by this website: http://www.tortoisetrust.org/articles/substrates.html However we have started using a mixture of soft play sand and top soil and have been told that this can cause health problems. Is there a better substrate we should be using
Thanks ?
 

Ink

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Please get rid of the sand they can eat it and get impacted. Welcome and post pictures of your tortoise, what's it name?
 

ArmadilloPup

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The article actually isn’t too far off, just a bit too doomsday. They do (kind of) recommend the right types of wood. Orchid and cypress barks are resistant to decay but hold humidity well. All of the people that I trust recommend orchid or cypress.
 

Tom

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Hi,
I have a little 3 year old Hermann’s tort and we are unsure of what substrate we should be using. In the past we have used wood chips and have been told that it is a bad substrate because when wet it breeds bacteria by this website: http://www.tortoisetrust.org/articles/substrates.html However we have started using a mixture of soft play sand and top soil and have been told that this can cause health problems. Is there a better substrate we should be using
Thanks ?
What size is your tortoise. They all grow at different rates.

Babies do best on hand packed damp coco coir. Once they reach about 3-4 inches, I switch them to fine grade orchid bark.
 

Chipmunk

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Jun 16, 2020
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Littlehampton
What size is your tortoise. They all grow at different rates.

Babies do best on hand packed damp coco coir. Once they reach about 3-4 inches, I switch them to fine grade orchid bark.
Shell is 10cm, not sure how much that is in inches though
 
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