What Substrate do You Use?

Laraine · 17-05-2008, 09:41 PM

Just wondering what substrates people use for their tortoises, for example if soil and sand what percentages are you using?

nina · 17-05-2008, 09:46 PM

Indoors I use 70% topsoil to 30% sand mixture in half, and hemp in the other half, but I'm thinking of changing the hemp after yet another report on its dangers (someone on another forum had a sulcata die after a piece of hemp that it swallowed perforated the wall of his intestine (a rare occurrence, but still worrying).

bettyboop · 17-05-2008, 09:52 PM

I use 70% top soil 30% play sand indoors.

and i used just top soil outside.(bagged) has my garden soil is nuff.

janeL · 17-05-2008, 09:55 PM

I can't win when it comes to my rehomed two and substrate. I had them on 70 / 30 soil and sand with hemp in the bedding area and Iris got soil in her eye

. It is a lot better after artificail eye drops and a lots of bathing, but I thought I would try hard wood chippings after that... Iris was eating them... which I only discovered when i found them in her poo in the bath

. Although they came out well I thought they would be uncomfortable and it only take one to get to stuck.. too much of a risk

.

So then I tried just hemp... but Twig is already flashing at 2.5 years and I can see it getting caught in his delicate bits

. So right now we are back to 70/30 soil sand mix... but I'm not happy.

Even outside this pair cause trouble... i have caught Iris eating stones. Tallulah just gets on with it... never had a problem.

Laraine · 17-05-2008, 09:55 PM

I have used topsoil in trays in the table and hemp in the bedding area, but I am now thinking of putting the Graze-on in the bedding area and just changing it more often, as its harder to see when they have done their wees in it, poops will still be easy to spot!

janeL · 17-05-2008, 09:57 PM

Laraine, please can you tell me what is graze on?

leggy · 17-05-2008, 10:04 PM

Mine are all on hemp. Im thinking of using plain old topsoil as i know of torts that have been killed due to the use of sand including one of mine

Laraine · 17-05-2008, 10:05 PM

Its a chopped up dried grass I use in trays for the Leopards, they are meant to eat it but at least one of them always sleeps in the tray anyway, and the sulcata loves to snuggle down and fall asleep while its eating. I've found it a couple of times fast asleep with bits of the graze-on sticking out of its mouth!

LilyLoo · 17-05-2008, 10:12 PM

I don't like soil/sand I find it gets really dusty and it seems to get in the little ones eyes and everything always seems a mess!
I like to spot clean everyday and tidy up the tables but I find it difficult with using soil/sand as you can't see their poo and everything is covered in mud after they've walked through the water dish!

So I started using aubiose which I found much easier to keep things clean and the torts seemed to bury down and dig more so than they did when it was soil/sand. I havn't had a problem using it, but now after the recent reports it is worrying, so I will have to think of something else for the tables

Maybe just soil would be better without the sand.

Laraine · 17-05-2008, 10:17 PM

I don't use a soil sand mix, I found the plants live longer if its just topsoil, but it still gets dusty, so I spray it each day.

17-05-2008, 09:41 PM	#1
Laraine Senior Member Adult Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Wirral Posts: 3,622	What Substrate do You Use? Just wondering what substrates people use for their tortoises, for example if soil and sand what percentages are you using? __________________ Laraine ________________________

17-05-2008, 09:46 PM	#2
nina Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Oxford Posts: 2,337	Indoors I use 70% topsoil to 30% sand mixture in half, and hemp in the other half, but I'm thinking of changing the hemp after yet another report on its dangers (someone on another forum had a sulcata die after a piece of hemp that it swallowed perforated the wall of his intestine (a rare occurrence, but still worrying). __________________ http://www.thetortoisetable.org.uk l

17-05-2008, 09:52 PM	#3
bettyboop Member Juvenile Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 931	I use 70% top soil 30% play sand indoors. and i used just top soil outside.(bagged) has my garden soil is nuff. __________________ DG. __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ ___

17-05-2008, 09:55 PM	#4
janeL Senior Member Sub Adult Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: northampton Posts: 1,435	I can't win when it comes to my rehomed two and substrate. I had them on 70 / 30 soil and sand with hemp in the bedding area and Iris got soil in her eye . It is a lot better after artificail eye drops and a lots of bathing, but I thought I would try hard wood chippings after that... Iris was eating them... which I only discovered when i found them in her poo in the bath . Although they came out well I thought they would be uncomfortable and it only take one to get to stuck.. too much of a risk . So then I tried just hemp... but Twig is already flashing at 2.5 years and I can see it getting caught in his delicate bits . So right now we are back to 70/30 soil sand mix... but I'm not happy. Even outside this pair cause trouble... i have caught Iris eating stones. Tallulah just gets on with it... never had a problem. __________________ www.urbantortoise.co.uk For Tortoise Food, Plants and Pre Alpin info & sales Hermanns THB 2:3:0 Algerian TGG 1.2.3 Ibera TGI 0.1.0[/CENTER]

17-05-2008, 09:55 PM	#5
Laraine Senior Member Adult Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Wirral Posts: 3,622	I have used topsoil in trays in the table and hemp in the bedding area, but I am now thinking of putting the Graze-on in the bedding area and just changing it more often, as its harder to see when they have done their wees in it, poops will still be easy to spot! __________________ Laraine ________________________

17-05-2008, 09:57 PM	#6
janeL Senior Member Sub Adult Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: northampton Posts: 1,435	Laraine, please can you tell me what is graze on? __________________ www.urbantortoise.co.uk For Tortoise Food, Plants and Pre Alpin info & sales Hermanns THB 2:3:0 Algerian TGG 1.2.3 Ibera TGI 0.1.0[/CENTER]

17-05-2008, 10:04 PM	#7
leggy Senior Member Sub Adult Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: FOD GLOUCSTERSHIRE Posts: 1,543	Mine are all on hemp. Im thinking of using plain old topsoil as i know of torts that have been killed due to the use of sand including one of mine __________________

17-05-2008, 10:05 PM	#8
Laraine Senior Member Adult Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Wirral Posts: 3,622	Its a chopped up dried grass I use in trays for the Leopards, they are meant to eat it but at least one of them always sleeps in the tray anyway, and the sulcata loves to snuggle down and fall asleep while its eating. I've found it a couple of times fast asleep with bits of the graze-on sticking out of its mouth! __________________ Laraine ________________________

17-05-2008, 10:12 PM	#9
LilyLoo Member Juvenile Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Cornwall Posts: 793	I don't like soil/sand I find it gets really dusty and it seems to get in the little ones eyes and everything always seems a mess! I like to spot clean everyday and tidy up the tables but I find it difficult with using soil/sand as you can't see their poo and everything is covered in mud after they've walked through the water dish! So I started using aubiose which I found much easier to keep things clean and the torts seemed to bury down and dig more so than they did when it was soil/sand. I havn't had a problem using it, but now after the recent reports it is worrying, so I will have to think of something else for the tables Maybe just soil would be better without the sand. __________________ Lily xXx

17-05-2008, 10:17 PM	#10
Laraine Senior Member Adult Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Wirral Posts: 3,622	I don't use a soil sand mix, I found the plants live longer if its just topsoil, but it still gets dusty, so I spray it each day. __________________ Laraine ________________________

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