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Posted by Niki on April 09, 2003 at 10:57:39:
In Reply to: What is everyone using for substrate?>>>>>>>>> posted by buckroebeardie on April 08, 2003 at 22:06:45:
I used Kenaf Plant Lizard Litter (which is my favorite for youngsters)
excellent if available to you, kinda expensive so more for small
tanks
tried:
rabbit pellets - no traction, dusty, smelly on a large scale
(at the time he was already starting in a 300 gallon tank), heavy
on a larger scale also - my biggest complaint though is the lack
of walking traction which I've read is not good for their leg
muscle development
sand - abrasive, very heavy in any amount
aspen - OK for years, somewhat expensive on a large scale, was fine
in the 300 but too dusty and pricey to keep up in his 1000 gallon
carefresh - tossed it after a few days, too dusty in a large cage
also expensive on a larger scale
now we use shredded newspaper, which is free, we have 2 shredders,
and with a 40 pound tortoise pooping/peeing an amount that can make
great dane look like a wimp, it's not a problem to toss out a
few plastic bags of it, and also do major cage changes since
it's free - I get my parents to save their newspapers also
Right now I'm not using much as he's out as much as possible,
but in the winter, we were going through it, I tried regular
just opened up sheets of newspaper (like people use for snakes)
but it was a disaster when the pee ran 5 feet in each direction
and poo smeared and ackkk! Good grief!
So I guess it depends on the species (arid, humid) and size
of the tort. Also needs change as torts grow, and I suppose
if people were trying to breed the substrate for laying eggs
would be different, lots of variables.
I wouldn't say any one substrate is better than another and
can be used indefinetly, certainly some are awful and should
never be used - walnut shell lizard litter comes to mind, as
well as corn cob.
