Best Substrate?
 

Hello, I have a marginated tortoise who I've recently bought a new larger table for.

I've just lined it with pond lining because I wanted it to be easier to clean and replace the substrate, but now I'm not sure what substrate is best to buy.
Last time I bought a mediterranean tortoise substrate and I think I want to do this again, I can't work out which topsoil is safe and what isn't.
Are the tortoise-specific substrates okay or is topsoil better? Are there brands which are better than others? I've been looking at the Prorep Tortoise Life Substrate, is this OK? I can't remember what brand I bought last time...

Thanks for any replies. (:
I'll share a pic once I'm done setting it up, I'm hoping to have it finished by next weekend. (:

That's the best top soil around I think. It has no nasty bits in it like plastic and other nastys.

Hi there CatZombie. I know some members here do not like the tortoise-specific substrates.

I used topsoil for a long time indoors but I switched to coir which I buy from these people:
https://www.fertilefibre.com/

When my tortoises are indoors they live in an upstairs room and topsoil is very heavy. Coir is light until the water is added to it so I add water to the coir after I have put in on the table. This way I am not carrying heavy topsoil upstairs and heaving it up onto a tiered tortoise table.

But I like the coir anyway. It's clean and cheap and can be put on borders in the garden when it's replaced.

yep stick to natural as much as possible and don't waste money on commercially profitable goods which don't do the job or worse have ill affects to health,. you can tell my stress levels are up already, CB

Thanks for the replies, I won't be buying the branded tortoise substrates...

I think I'm interested in using coir, though when I would use it for the giant snails I used to keep it would get these horrid little flies in it. Do you get this problem at all @Ozric Jonathan ? I have a fair few plants in the room so it could be to do with that..

There's also a lot of choice and I don't know what to buy, do you get it in brick form?

Is this one okay? Or should I get the washed one?

Thank you for your help!