Coco coir substrate

Emilyjayne2012 · 20-10-2013, 11:46 AM

How many people use coco coir as their only substrate?
I use it in my hide but I use tortoise life in the other half of their table.
I am getting really fed up with tort life though, it's so dry and when I water it if goes into big clumps and looks horrible. It can't be nice for them.
I've only just cleaned their table out but I am thinking about doing at all again and changing my whole table to coco coir. How many people have this?
Could some people with coco coir as a main/only substrate put some photos up here for me to see what the tables are like with it in please? That would be a great help.
Thank you

becciwales · 20-10-2013, 11:59 AM

This is no help to you, but that's what I'm changing mine to tomorrow. The soil gets so dry and dusty, well he's been on paper because I thought he had worms, but he's clear so we'll be changing it tomorrow. My plan is to put a small area of slate, some stones and just over half of it being the coco coir. I don't know if it will work out as I imagine it to look though. I thought it would be more natural with different textures x

emma_mcraf · 20-10-2013, 12:02 PM

You could always mix the coir with sterilised topsoil Emily. I believe many people do this and I think a fair few are using coco coir alone. Hopefully they'll be along to answer your question soon.

Andy Robertson · 20-10-2013, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Emilyjayne2012

How many people use coco coir as their only substrate?
I use it in my hide but I use tortoise life in the other half of their table.
I am getting really fed up with tort life though, it's so dry and when I water it if goes into big clumps and looks horrible. It can't be nice for them.
I've only just cleaned their table out but I am thinking about doing at all again and changing my whole table to coco coir. How many people have this?
Could some people with coco coir as a main/only substrate put some photos up here for me to see what the tables are like with it in please? That would be a great help.
Thank you

Hi Emily,

I have been using the coir on top of the top soil on my indoor tables, It's good for keeping the top soil moist when the coir drys it's less dusty. The younger torts love it in there hides or where ever you put it extra deep they will dig down into it. You can also mix it with the top soil as well with good results.
Andy

Suze65 · 20-10-2013, 03:50 PM

I mix the top soil and coco coir about 50/50 and have found it to be really good.
I found coco coir on its own dried out to quickly, the top soil holds the moisture better and the coco coir keeps it soft for digging in . Hope this helps.

rachel.mather · 20-10-2013, 03:56 PM

Hello, I used just coco coir in my table. Its much cleaner, and it's the only substrate that my torts likes to dig down into. It does get a little dusty, but its not nearly as messy. Another thing i'm going to try is baking the blocks in the oven, cos sometime there are a few little flies in there. But overall i really like it and so does my tort!

meacy · 20-10-2013, 04:08 PM

I use coco coir I did use topsoil before but must admit I like the coco coir. My hatchling loves it and digs in every night, my older tort seems to like it but only digs in sometimes just the same as when he was in with topsoil.

Emilyjayne2012 · 21-10-2013, 02:36 PM

Thanks for your advice guys. I think I will definately be changing their substrate

My two have recently started digging a lot so I want them to have a substrate they can actually dig into instead of tort life which is really hard for them.

**Alan1** · 21-10-2013, 10:30 PM

........... me

Catwoman63 · 21-10-2013, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alan1

........... me

Hehe what do you mean Alan? X

20-10-2013, 11:46 AM	#1
Emilyjayne2012 Member Hatchling Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Essex Posts: 674	Coco coir substrate How many people use coco coir as their only substrate? I use it in my hide but I use tortoise life in the other half of their table. I am getting really fed up with tort life though, it's so dry and when I water it if goes into big clumps and looks horrible. It can't be nice for them. I've only just cleaned their table out but I am thinking about doing at all again and changing my whole table to coco coir. How many people have this? Could some people with coco coir as a main/only substrate put some photos up here for me to see what the tables are like with it in please? That would be a great help. Thank you __________________ Emily & ....

20-10-2013, 11:59 AM	#2
becciwales Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: South Wales Posts: 3,438	This is no help to you, but that's what I'm changing mine to tomorrow. The soil gets so dry and dusty, well he's been on paper because I thought he had worms, but he's clear so we'll be changing it tomorrow. My plan is to put a small area of slate, some stones and just over half of it being the coco coir. I don't know if it will work out as I imagine it to look though. I thought it would be more natural with different textures x __________________ Becci 1:2:0 Testudo Hermanni Boettgeri - Darwin, Galileo, and Einstein. Archimedes (THB) RIP June, 2018

20-10-2013, 12:02 PM	#3
emma_mcraf Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Devon Posts: 11,365	You could always mix the coir with sterilised topsoil Emily. I believe many people do this and I think a fair few are using coco coir alone. Hopefully they'll be along to answer your question soon. __________________ 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

20-10-2013, 03:50 PM	#5
Suze65 Senior Member Adult Join Date: May 2012 Location: Wiltshire Posts: 6,769	I mix the top soil and coco coir about 50/50 and have found it to be really good. I found coco coir on its own dried out to quickly, the top soil holds the moisture better and the coco coir keeps it soft for digging in . Hope this helps. __________________ Suze. 3 THB, Sammy, Jemima, & Phoebe 7 Marginated, Tabitha, Ptolome, Tatiana, Noah,Lottey, Lulu & Poppy 1 TGG (Emma) RIP Feb 2012

20-10-2013, 04:08 PM	#7
meacy Member Incubating Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Scotland Posts: 166	I use coco coir I did use topsoil before but must admit I like the coco coir. My hatchling loves it and digs in every night, my older tort seems to like it but only digs in sometimes just the same as when he was in with topsoil. __________________ Michael 1.0.1 Hermanns. Dexter+Morgan 0.1.0 Dogs. Roxi & RIP Ben & Buster 0.0.1 Chinchilla Chinky

20-10-2013, 03:56 PM	#6
rachel.mather Member Incubating Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Cardiff Posts: 102	Hello, I used just coco coir in my table. Its much cleaner, and it's the only substrate that my torts likes to dig down into. It does get a little dusty, but its not nearly as messy. Another thing i'm going to try is baking the blocks in the oven, cos sometime there are a few little flies in there. But overall i really like it and so does my tort!

21-10-2013, 02:36 PM	#8
Emilyjayne2012 Member Hatchling Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Essex Posts: 674	Thanks for your advice guys. I think I will definately be changing their substrate My two have recently started digging a lot so I want them to have a substrate they can actually dig into instead of tort life which is really hard for them. __________________ Emily & ....

21-10-2013, 10:30 PM	#9
Alan1 Super Moderator Adult Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Sunny Scotland Posts: 21,512	........... me

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