coco coir

[leanneb85]

I've decided to use coco coir for my russian tortoise as im fed up of top soil as the last 3 batches have been riddled with fly eggs. i've bought the canna coco coir in a bag does this need soaking or is it already damp enough?

[Alan1]

I've decided to use coco coir for my russian tortoise as im fed up of top soil as the last 3 batches have been riddled with fly eggs. i've bought the canna coco coir in a bag does this need soaking or is it already damp enough?

I've never tried that type nor heard of it but I used to get the blocks from IKEA that were about £2 or something and called Kokosnot and when you soaked them they expanded massively. I would say if it's damp it will be ok, you can always spray it with water afterwards anyway. I don't know if IKEA still sells it

[CherryBrandy]

welcome Leanne, and rusky tort,

yes canna is good make - no additives. Some coco can come in bricks and you soak them to rehydrate and disperse it - canna doesn't usually , its loose soil. the soaking you may be thinking of is the misting each day to gain the humidity - you would have to do this regardless if top soil or coco coir as the humidity needs maintaining daily. Hope that helps. apologies if it is a brick constituted product ! you would see the difference definitely. your first 5 posts are sanitised / filtered so delays will occur after that you are live time posting, CB

[Ozric Jonathan]

Hi there

The flies might not be specific to topsoil as I've had some nuisance with tiny flies that were living in coir. I use the blocks that expand on soaking and have not tried canna. When the tiny flies problem started I thought I might be plagued with them permanently but this didn't happen and most of time they are not there.

I really like the coir for a load of reasons including it is not full of bits of plastic and glass. Bagged topsoil, even from a good source, can contain all kinds of junk. The garden centres etc. expect us not to notice which we wouldn't if we were putting the topsoil in the garden.

[sky]

I use amix of top soil ( I prefer wilkinson but) and coir find it mixes well and nice texture for torts.