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substrate for a Russian
Posted:
Tue Sep 09, 2008 11:51 pmby AndrewP
I just got a Russian tortoise and I want her to be very happy and was wondering what would be the best substrate to put in her enclosure.
Posted:
Wed Sep 10, 2008 9:19 amby jenaero
Here's a good care sheet from ATP. They recommend a mixture of top soil and play sand
http://www.austinsturtlepage.com/Care/cs-russian.htm
Posted:
Wed Sep 10, 2008 5:06 pmby AndrewP
Thank you!
Posted:
Wed Sep 10, 2008 6:29 pmby AndrewP
Is there a certain or recommended top soil to use?
Posted:
Thu Sep 11, 2008 9:13 amby jenaero
Anything without those little white fertilizer/vitamin beads in it is fine. Don't buy anything labeled as a 'mixture' because it's full of additives for plants. Look for something that says 'all natural'
Posted:
Thu Sep 11, 2008 10:42 pmby ScrewZoo
They got some compressed substrarte at petco that works fine.
Posted:
Thu Sep 18, 2008 9:27 pmby PcBuilder14
I think tortises are cool. It would be cool to own one.
Posted:
Thu Sep 18, 2008 10:14 pmby AndrewP
She is pretty cool, I'm glad when I got the chance to get her I took it. She's finally warming up to me too.
Posted:
Thu Sep 18, 2008 10:37 pmby PcBuilder14
How much was she?
Posted:
Thu Sep 18, 2008 10:40 pmby AndrewP
only $50. A friend of mine works at the pet store down the road and they had a couple of them so he cut me a deal.
Posted:
Thu Sep 18, 2008 10:44 pmby PcBuilder14
Oh! Lucky! They are normally at least $100-$150!
Posted:
Thu Sep 18, 2008 10:49 pmby AndrewP
yep, she was priced at $100. I didn't expect her to be so quick, she's always running. She might even be able to outrun my biggest RES.
Posted:
Sun Sep 21, 2008 2:45 amby AndrewP
I did the soil/sand mix today and it turned out pretty good, she seems to like it.
Posted:
Sun Sep 21, 2008 5:36 pmby rockyntrixi
hey,
I use the compressed coconut husk substrate. I also take some alfalfa and put that in as well. My 2 russians love, love, love to dig in the substrate. They mentioned that they might dig to cool their body temperature down during the day. Good Luck!
p.s. Hermi, one of my russians, loves to cuddle with me while I watch a movie. As soon as I take him out of the cage, he finds a place to rest (usually on top of my chest) and falls right to sleep. He is most 'agreeable' than any pet I have ever owned.
Posted:
Sun Sep 21, 2008 6:25 pmby AndrewP
rockyntrixi wrote:hey,
I use the compressed coconut husk substrate. I also take some alfalfa and put that in as well. My 2 russians love, love, love to dig in the substrate. They mentioned that they might dig to cool their body temperature down during the day. Good Luck!
p.s. Hermi, one of my russians, loves to cuddle with me while I watch a movie. As soon as I take him out of the cage, he finds a place to rest (usually on top of my chest) and falls right to sleep. He is most 'agreeable' than any pet I have ever owned.
Do you by chance have a pic of your setup? I'm trying to get ideas for Daisy's.
And I've noticed that when I let her walk around while I'm sitting she'll come and lay next to my thigh.