Hemp v soil/sand mix

roedeane · 11-01-2007, 10:01 AM

What are your opinions on these as substrates for Hermanns? I have always used sand/soil but am seeing more and more pictures of them on hemp and wondered which would be best for my torts,Yvette

veebee · 11-01-2007, 10:28 AM

I use a mixture of both, hemp one end, and sand/soil the other, separated by large pebbles, it give them variety then!!

Vivienne

11-01-2007, 11:36 AM

i was using both, hemp at one end then soil and sand at the other but i have not decided to just use soil and sand, it mirrors more what they are used to in their natural habitat in the wild, is easier for them to walk on etc, i add variety in their enclosure by logs and things that they can climb over they seem to love it

nina · 11-01-2007, 01:58 PM

Like Viv, I use half sand/soil and half hemp, separated by flat stones. It's nice because it gives them different textures to walk on. I used to use only sand/soil but found that if it was dry, it was too loose for my horsefield to burrow in, and even though I dampened it a bit to make it firmer, he only nestled down a half-inch or so. He loves to burrow in the hemp, but loves to bask on the sand/soil, so that combination works well for me.

saucysqueezy · 12-01-2007, 01:13 AM

We've had everything on the market I think lol

On advice of Darren et al we got a soil/sand mix, hemp and a slightly stoned area so three different substrate environments

we did buy some wood chips that were coloured but got rid of them after 3 weeks as they dyed the tortoises' legs a strange orange colour, so avoid anything with any sort of colourant in!

KayMarie · 12-01-2007, 01:18 AM

I'm having a tortoise table built this week and should hopefully be using the substrate i use now, slate/stones plotted about and i have some trays of soil that i am growing wweds in so i was going to put that in for them to graze on? Not loads, just a few seeds. I will probably add different types as i go along but the substrate i use now works well and i have a huge pile in one corner that he burrows into...

roedeane · 12-01-2007, 09:37 PM

Thanks, it's interesting to learn what others use. I have ordered some hemp to give it a try instead/as well as sand/soil - I'll let you know what Martin thinks - Molly's still in the fridge! Yvette

11-01-2007, 10:01 AM	#1
roedeane Member Egg Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Notts Posts: 67	Hemp v soil/sand mix What are your opinions on these as substrates for Hermanns? I have always used sand/soil but am seeing more and more pictures of them on hemp and wondered which would be best for my torts,Yvette

11-01-2007, 10:28 AM	#2
veebee Senior Member Sub Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Birmingham Posts: 1,109	I use a mixture of both, hemp one end, and sand/soil the other, separated by large pebbles, it give them variety then!! Vivienne __________________ www.tortoise-protection-group.org.uk PLEASE SIGN: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/769012123

11-01-2007, 11:36 AM	#3
loopey lass Guest Posts: n/a	soil i was using both, hemp at one end then soil and sand at the other but i have not decided to just use soil and sand, it mirrors more what they are used to in their natural habitat in the wild, is easier for them to walk on etc, i add variety in their enclosure by logs and things that they can climb over they seem to love it

11-01-2007, 01:58 PM	#4
nina Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Oxford Posts: 2,337	Like Viv, I use half sand/soil and half hemp, separated by flat stones. It's nice because it gives them different textures to walk on. I used to use only sand/soil but found that if it was dry, it was too loose for my horsefield to burrow in, and even though I dampened it a bit to make it firmer, he only nestled down a half-inch or so. He loves to burrow in the hemp, but loves to bask on the sand/soil, so that combination works well for me. __________________ http://www.thetortoisetable.org.uk l

12-01-2007, 01:13 AM	#5
saucysqueezy Member Incubating Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 166	We've had everything on the market I think lol On advice of Darren et al we got a soil/sand mix, hemp and a slightly stoned area so three different substrate environments we did buy some wood chips that were coloured but got rid of them after 3 weeks as they dyed the tortoises' legs a strange orange colour, so avoid anything with any sort of colourant in! __________________

12-01-2007, 01:18 AM	#6
KayMarie Senior Member Sub Adult Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Leeds, West Yorkshire :D Posts: 1,252	I'm having a tortoise table built this week and should hopefully be using the substrate i use now, slate/stones plotted about and i have some trays of soil that i am growing wweds in so i was going to put that in for them to graze on? Not loads, just a few seeds. I will probably add different types as i go along but the substrate i use now works well and i have a huge pile in one corner that he burrows into...

12-01-2007, 09:37 PM	#7
roedeane Member Egg Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Notts Posts: 67	Thanks, it's interesting to learn what others use. I have ordered some hemp to give it a try instead/as well as sand/soil - I'll let you know what Martin thinks - Molly's still in the fridge! Yvette

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