Substrate for indoor/outdoor?

natstorts · 16-08-2011, 04:59 PM

Hi all,
We were wondering what substrate we should put in our outdoor enclosure and our indoor tortiose table? For the outdoor one we have just grass and some slate and we were wondering whether to add topsoil?
We have seen pictures of all different types - sawdust,pellets(?),woodchips and bark to name a few.
What do you use for your torts?
And does it make a difference to which substrate you use if you have young torties (under a year)?
Very new to this and we are collecting our young hermann tortoises in October - just want to be prepared and have everything ready!!
Thanks for reading and any other advice you have feel free to share!
Natalie x

Trac3y · 16-08-2011, 10:15 PM

I'm quite new too, but everyone recommends top soil for your indoor enclosure. I also use ProRep Tortoise Life Reptile Substrate which is why I looked on your post to see if anyone has recommended it. It's 50:50 mixture of top soil and play sand with a little limestone grit. It is supposed to stimulate the texture and moisture retention characteristics of the soils found in their natural habitats.

jeannette37 · 16-08-2011, 10:22 PM

I tryed mixing 50% play sand & 50% sterilized top soil but it made mine have sore eyes it was the sand,so now I just use the top soil outside I again use top soil but also have plants & weeds growing in there,rocks,pebbles & slate mine like walking over different textures

Trac3y · 16-08-2011, 10:47 PM

Sounds lovely jeannette. Maybe I wont buy anymore then and just stick to the top soil. There isnt much of the substrate you can see cos its mixed in with the top soil and vanished. Mainly just under the lamp but they dont burrow there so hopefully it is ok. I dont want any sore eyes! Top soil is so much cheaper as well!

natstorts · 17-08-2011, 01:10 PM

Hi, yeah we were wondering about doing 50/50. When you buy it is it already mixed? or could you just do it yourself? Yes we have rocks and pebbles and slate as well as grass to make it a bit more interesting. Is there anything you can get which makes life abit more fun for them?

emma_mcraf · 17-08-2011, 08:11 PM

We started off with 50/50 but have more of a 70/30 ratio now. The torts all seem to like that. Yes, you can do that yourself, okitsme.
Mine love going in half sunken pots and climbing over and in their habba hut. I've put little hamster logs down too and they enjoy clambering over them.

jeannette37 · 17-08-2011, 08:33 PM

Definatly sunken flower pots are a good idea because they can climb over them or go inside

if you have a look at the pictures on the outdoor enclosure thread you will get some really good ideas,i also put some tortoise life over the top of my top soil they seem to like that

natstorts · 17-08-2011, 08:45 PM

Thats what we have done so far, do you think we could improve it in any way?

jeannette37 · 17-08-2011, 09:51 PM

some weeds

lynnedit · 18-08-2011, 05:08 AM

That is a very nice enclosure. You might think about removing more grass, and replacing with topsoil mixed with sand, even on a bed of an inch or two of gravel for drainage.
Plant some weed seeds in one area, and a couple of small tort friendly shrubs like hosta, etc. Any of the aromatic herbs are good like Lavender, Sage, Rosemary. They like to burrow under those.
Nice high sides and screening!

16-08-2011, 04:59 PM	#1
natstorts Member Juvenile Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Kenilworth, Warwickshire UK Posts: 935	Substrate for indoor/outdoor? Hi all, We were wondering what substrate we should put in our outdoor enclosure and our indoor tortiose table? For the outdoor one we have just grass and some slate and we were wondering whether to add topsoil? We have seen pictures of all different types - sawdust,pellets(?),woodchips and bark to name a few. What do you use for your torts? And does it make a difference to which substrate you use if you have young torties (under a year)? Very new to this and we are collecting our young hermann tortoises in October - just want to be prepared and have everything ready!! Thanks for reading and any other advice you have feel free to share! Natalie x

16-08-2011, 10:22 PM	#3
jeannette37 Member Juvenile Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: worcester,Worcestershire Posts: 815	I tryed mixing 50% play sand & 50% sterilized top soil but it made mine have sore eyes it was the sand,so now I just use the top soil outside I again use top soil but also have plants & weeds growing in there,rocks,pebbles & slate mine like walking over different textures __________________ I don't own torts they own me

17-08-2011, 08:11 PM	#6
emma_mcraf Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Devon Posts: 11,365	We started off with 50/50 but have more of a 70/30 ratio now. The torts all seem to like that. Yes, you can do that yourself, okitsme. Mine love going in half sunken pots and climbing over and in their habba hut. I've put little hamster logs down too and they enjoy clambering over them. __________________ Emma Testudo Hermanni 5.12.2:Theo, Tamara, Tabitha, Harriet, Isabelle, Clara, Oscar, Hugo, Oliver, Florence, Arabella, Esmé, Aurelia, Felicia, Claudia, Atticus, Celestia, Amaris, Tristan and Clementine Budgies: Jasper, Ivo, Otis, Henry, Louie and Luca Doggies: 1.1.0 Chester and Lottie

17-08-2011, 08:33 PM	#7
jeannette37 Member Juvenile Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: worcester,Worcestershire Posts: 815	Definatly sunken flower pots are a good idea because they can climb over them or go inside if you have a look at the pictures on the outdoor enclosure thread you will get some really good ideas,i also put some tortoise life over the top of my top soil they seem to like that __________________ I don't own torts they own me

17-08-2011, 08:45 PM	#8
natstorts Member Juvenile Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Kenilworth, Warwickshire UK Posts: 935	Thats what we have done so far, do you think we could improve it in any way? __________________ Natalie 1.0.1 THBs(Freddie and Flo) 0.0.1 Leopard(Otis) 1.1.0 Dogs (Zac + Meg) 2.0.0 Cats (Oli + Billy) 1.0.0 Bearded Dragon (Draz) 1.0.0 Russian Dwarf Hamster (Ralph) 2.0.0 Gerbils (Patch + Digger)

16-08-2011, 10:15 PM	#2
Trac3y Member Egg Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Cannock staffs Posts: 67	I'm quite new too, but everyone recommends top soil for your indoor enclosure. I also use ProRep Tortoise Life Reptile Substrate which is why I looked on your post to see if anyone has recommended it. It's 50:50 mixture of top soil and play sand with a little limestone grit. It is supposed to stimulate the texture and moisture retention characteristics of the soils found in their natural habitats.

16-08-2011, 10:47 PM	#4
Trac3y Member Egg Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Cannock staffs Posts: 67	Sounds lovely jeannette. Maybe I wont buy anymore then and just stick to the top soil. There isnt much of the substrate you can see cos its mixed in with the top soil and vanished. Mainly just under the lamp but they dont burrow there so hopefully it is ok. I dont want any sore eyes! Top soil is so much cheaper as well!

17-08-2011, 01:10 PM	#5
natstorts Member Juvenile Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Kenilworth, Warwickshire UK Posts: 935	Hi, yeah we were wondering about doing 50/50. When you buy it is it already mixed? or could you just do it yourself? Yes we have rocks and pebbles and slate as well as grass to make it a bit more interesting. Is there anything you can get which makes life abit more fun for them?

17-08-2011, 09:51 PM	#9
jeannette37 Member Juvenile Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: worcester,Worcestershire Posts: 815	some weeds __________________ I don't own torts they own me

18-08-2011, 05:08 AM	#10
lynnedit Member Hatched Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Washington State, USA Posts: 332	That is a very nice enclosure. You might think about removing more grass, and replacing with topsoil mixed with sand, even on a bed of an inch or two of gravel for drainage. Plant some weed seeds in one area, and a couple of small tort friendly shrubs like hosta, etc. Any of the aromatic herbs are good like Lavender, Sage, Rosemary. They like to burrow under those. Nice high sides and screening!

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