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Posted by Brian-SFCRC on April 10, 2003 at 07:32:57:
In Reply to: Re: What is everyone using for substrate?>>>>>>>>> posted by Niki on April 09, 2003 at 10:57:39:
It's true most of these substrates are dusty and aspen is prickly to the soft parts of a tortoise.
Brian
SFCRC
: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.
