Not Sharif, but here's my opinion.

Posted by Maurice on September 10, 2001 at 12:36:14:

In Reply to: Sharif - ? about substrate for kleinmanni posted by Karen on September 09, 2001 at 00:02:42:

Doesn't anyone believe in naturalistic enclosures? I agree that many of these other substrates may be easier to clean and maintain, but these animals have evloved for thousands of years on sand, soil, and stone. I keep mine on crushed coral and sand mixture. They do fine. I would not use oyster shell, oysters bio-accumulate heavy metals in their shells. If you do not know the source of the oysters they may have large quantities of heavy metals and if your tortoise ingests this it could be harmful over time or lower their reproductive capacity. I feed my animals on a paper towel so they do not ingest any sand. The crushed coral and sand also help keep their nails trimmed, other substrates usually do not allow the torts. to narturaly trim their nails. Just my opinion.

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: Doesn't anyone believe in naturalistic enclosures? I agree that many of these other substrates may be easier to clean and maintain, but these animals have evloved for thousands of years on sand, soil, and stone. I keep mine on crushed coral and sand mixture. They do fine. I would not use oyster shell, oysters bio-accumulate heavy metals in their shells. If you do not know the source of the oysters they may have large quantities of heavy metals and if your tortoise ingests this it could be harmful over time or lower their reproductive capacity. I feed my animals on a paper towel so they do not ingest any sand. The crushed coral and sand also help keep their nails trimmed, other substrates usually do not allow the torts. to narturaly trim their nails. Just my opinion.

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