Table Top Substrate for Hermann's

[Oddbod]

As i am in the Isle of Man its taken a few weeks to have my cities import licence sorted for my new Hermann's which should be with me next week all being well.

I have constructed a large open top table from pine and would like a little input to the following if anyone would like to answer ?

1. Substrate;- Was going to go with topsoil/playsand but would like to know if its ok to use good quality peat/playsand (to cut back on dust a little). Also have oyster shell but would like to know if vermiculite ok to add further variety?

2. I have a powersun bulb(burnt in) but as i live in an older property i would like to know if it would make sense to help keep a background heat using an aquarium heat mat (have spare) under the hardboard bottom so that the heat from same would radiate through substrate to the benifit of torts?

Many thanks in advance.

[Lorcan06]

Hi Oddbod, you must be so excited about getting him/her!!!
i have a hermanns and he has a mixture of substrate - his indoor pen he has soil/sand, pieces of bark, pebbles, hay in his bed but might change this to readigrass in new year. also lots of things to climb on and over.
his outdoor pen has three sections grass, soil/sand and bark with a coldframe.

hope this helps, everyone uses different things so theres no right or wrong way x

[linda]

have a powersun bulb(burnt in) but as i live in an older property i would like to know if it would make sense to help keep a background heat using an aquarium heat mat (have spare) under the hardboard bottom so that the heat from same would radiate through substrate to the benifit of torts?


i think you would find it a better idea
to use a normal spotlight in a lamp 40w or 60w to provide additional heat to the powersun if it is required
torts like their heat from above
invest in a thermometer and see what temps you are achieving with the powersun

vermiculite this is not recomended

[linda]

personally i would be very wary of using peat

Although peat has many uses for humans, it also presents severe problems at times. When dry, it can be a major fire hazard, as peat fires can burn almost indefinitely



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peat

may be other will comment

[Oddbod]

Thanks Lorcan, bark and pebbles i have a plenty will see if i can pick up some readigrass tomorrow from the local pet shop.

Loud & Clear on the points you made Linda will have the tabletop up and running this week so will be able to monitor temps before torts get in there, will steer clear of the vermiculite just happen to have 2 x Huge 100 litre bags of the stuff.. One of my ahem more rash ebay purchases lol

[swad1000]

I think, and I'm not sure, but the Tortoise trust warn against using peat, I'm not sure why but there must be some reason.

I'd certainly do a bit more investigation before using it.

[linda]

will steer clear of the vermiculite just happen to have 2 x Huge 100 litre bags of the stuff.. One of my ahem more rash ebay purchases lol

dare i ask why

[Oddbod]

Cheers Swad i think i will be off to B&Q to grab a pack of topsoil and leave the peat and vermiculite for growing my pansies & petunias in

[Oddbod]

Originally Posted by linda

will steer clear of the vermiculite just happen to have 2 x Huge 100 litre bags of the stuff.. One of my ahem more rash ebay purchases lol

dare i ask why

They were cheep (ish)

I was bored.....

It was late..... am-ish

I just love mixing the stuff into compost, makes me at least feel that i have green fingers.

[linda]

good enough reasons