Substrate Maintainance?!

LonesomeGeorge · 06-12-2013, 10:50 PM

Hello I have a 3 year old Horsefields tortoise, on topsoil substrate. The topsoil is really dry and sandy, do I need to spray it at all?! How often if so?!

Many thanks,

LonesomeGeorge

Merlin M · 06-12-2013, 10:57 PM

I would give it a good water and churn it up so its damp and holds together if you squeeze it in your hand but doesn't ooze any water

alley cat · 06-12-2013, 11:23 PM

I wet mine through a couple of times a week for my Horsfield babies who are 6 months and 18 months. The way I test if it is about right is to run my finger through the soil in a line, if the soil leaves a groove that holds the shape of my finger but my finger comes out clean then it is about how I like it! if there is a groove but my finger has soil stuck to it then I would consider that too wet, if the soil just falls back together then it is too dry. Hope this helps

Suze65 · 07-12-2013, 07:54 AM

That's a really good way of testing the soil Alley, I test it by seeing how crumbly or not it is, like making pastry , I mean when pastry gets to the crumbly stage, that's about right

LonesomeGeorge · 07-12-2013, 10:28 PM

Thanks for all of your help

06-12-2013, 10:50 PM	#1
LonesomeGeorge Member Hatched Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Reading area Posts: 252	Substrate Maintainance?! Hello I have a 3 year old Horsefields tortoise, on topsoil substrate. The topsoil is really dry and sandy, do I need to spray it at all?! How often if so?! Many thanks, LonesomeGeorge

06-12-2013, 10:57 PM	#2
Merlin M Senior Member Adult Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Edinburgh Posts: 4,186	I would give it a good water and churn it up so its damp and holds together if you squeeze it in your hand but doesn't ooze any water __________________ 1:1:1 Horsfields (Misha, Amber and Teabag) 1:0:0 Dog: Rocco, Rottweiler cross 1 husband (Russ)

07-12-2013, 07:54 AM	#4
Suze65 Senior Member Adult Join Date: May 2012 Location: Wiltshire Posts: 6,769	That's a really good way of testing the soil Alley, I test it by seeing how crumbly or not it is, like making pastry , I mean when pastry gets to the crumbly stage, that's about right __________________ Suze. 3 THB, Sammy, Jemima, & Phoebe 7 Marginated, Tabitha, Ptolome, Tatiana, Noah,Lottey, Lulu & Poppy 1 TGG (Emma) RIP Feb 2012

06-12-2013, 11:23 PM	#3
alley cat Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Somerset Posts: 3,150	I wet mine through a couple of times a week for my Horsfield babies who are 6 months and 18 months. The way I test if it is about right is to run my finger through the soil in a line, if the soil leaves a groove that holds the shape of my finger but my finger comes out clean then it is about how I like it! if there is a groove but my finger has soil stuck to it then I would consider that too wet, if the soil just falls back together then it is too dry. Hope this helps

07-12-2013, 10:28 PM	#5
LonesomeGeorge Member Hatched Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Reading area Posts: 252	Thanks for all of your help

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)