Top soil

[emma_mcraf]

Best chuck that top soil in the garden and buy another bag then. Sounds like an unlucky bag. The coir will do okay in the meantime but I know some people who used to use it have been put off or others mix topsoil and coir together. I've only ever used topsoil in all my tables so can't believe you've been unlucky with your first bag being a dodgy one. Typical!

[Suze65]

I agree with Emma, chuck this bag of top soil away, it shouldn't smell bad, it should smell off soil. Go and get another bag.

[Laura1412]

Originally Posted by Suze65

I agree with Emma, chuck this bag of top soil away, it shouldn't smell bad, it should smell off soil. Go and get another bag.

At the moment suze iv poured water in my coir and give it a good mix round so no dust with it at the mo if I can I may try n persevere with the coir in his main enclosure as it's already in there but can I use soil in his hide and also what consistency should the soil be in the hide box also temp and humidity in hide box also that's safe so he not become sick wi ri

[Suze65]

If you're getting top soil for the hide, you might as well mix it in with the coco , as this makes a good substrate

[Laura1412]

Originally Posted by Suze65

If you're getting top soil for the hide, you might as well mix it in with the coco , as this makes a good substrate

Yea I can do that but I'm just curious do I make the soil moist in the hide and what temp at night can it be so it's not cold and damp n cause a ri

[Laura1412]

Originally Posted by emma_mcraf

Best chuck that top soil in the garden and buy another bag then. Sounds like an unlucky bag. The coir will do okay in the meantime but I know some people who used to use it have been put off or others mix topsoil and coir together. I've only ever used topsoil in all my tables so can't believe you've been unlucky with your first bag being a dodgy one. Typical!

I av Emma it's goin on garden lol can't believe smell was terrible

[burnt toast]

I seem to have missed this thread!
I have used wickses for years, never any problem until last year. I do buy it 4+ bags at a time. Last year brought 3 x 4 & they were all rank! Black coloured seemed like the whole bag was a big lump, stank. I have now moved over to home base (further to drive! Lol) but that's good & I believe Wilkos is very good too (had a bad batch of B & Qs so don't touch that, as bad reports)

As for the "organic" I would be very wary. I used some years ago & caught a young tort shuffling towards the basking circle one morning, half awake. In the soil was a 2 inch piece of sharp wood, like a spear pressing against her throat

Also had a baby go to new home & develop sore eyes in organic top soil. Soon cured once changed.

[Laura1412]

Originally Posted by burnt toast

I seem to have missed this thread!
I have used wickses for years, never any problem until last year. I do buy it 4+ bags at a time. Last year brought 3 x 4 & they were all rank! Black coloured seemed like the whole bag was a big lump, stank. I have now moved over to home base (further to drive! Lol) but that's good & I believe Wilkos is very good too (had a bad batch of B & Qs so don't touch that, as bad reports)

As for the "organic" I would be very wary. I used some years ago & caught a young tort shuffling towards the basking circle one morning, half awake. In the soil was a 2 inch piece of sharp wood, like a spear pressing against her throat

Also had a baby go to new home & develop sore eyes in organic top soil. Soon cured once changed.

Thanks iv got coir in at the mo but seems very dusty that's y I was wanting to change to top soil
Also iv noticed that my tort is making like a popping /tutting sound i don't no what it is iv heard it now for the last 5 weeks when iv been handling him and bathing him but don't seem to be all the time sometimes it's very plain and hear it all time the other times can hold him for 5 mins and Neva hear it it's driving me made because I don't no what it is he's got no signs of a ri or anything just this noise

[Suze65]

Originally Posted by burnt toast

I seem to have missed this thread!
I have used wickses for years, never any problem until last year. I do buy it 4+ bags at a time. Last year brought 3 x 4 & they were all rank! Black coloured seemed like the whole bag was a big lump, stank. I have now moved over to home base (further to drive! Lol) but that's good & I believe Wilkos is very good too (had a bad batch of B & Qs so don't touch that, as bad reports)

As for the "organic" I would be very wary. I used some years ago & caught a young tort shuffling towards the basking circle one morning, half awake. In the soil was a 2 inch piece of sharp wood, like a spear pressing against her throat

Also had a baby go to new home & develop sore eyes in organic top soil. Soon cured once changed.

I got home base top soil this spring, just because I was in home base and I have been very pleased with it.

[burnt toast]

Originally Posted by Laura1412

Thanks iv got coir in at the mo but seems very dusty that's y I was wanting to change to top soil
Also iv noticed that my tort is making like a popping /tutting sound i don't no what it is iv heard it now for the last 5 weeks when iv been handling him and bathing him but don't seem to be all the time sometimes it's very plain and hear it all time the other times can hold him for 5 mins and Neva hear it it's driving me made because I don't no what it is he's got no signs of a ri or anything just this noise

Are you dampening the coir? ( personally I prefer to mix coir & soil)

Is your tort open mouthed breathing?