We are planning on using a 50/50 mix of playsand and topsoil for our tort.  Firstly, can we use any topsoil from a garden centre?  And also, I understand hemp is not recommended anymore, is there any other type of bedding material we should use or just keep to the topsoil/playsand mix?

Thanks again!

Angelina

Hi Angelina,

Personally I use the Homebase topsoil without adding playsand as it seems sandy enough as it is. You can add a stone area (large enough for them not to be ingested), a shelter in the form of a roof ridge tile or a small plant pot, a piece of slate is a good platform to feed from.

Just some ideas

HTH
Darren

Organic topsoil is OK as it doesn't have fertilisers in it.  Most recommend 50:50 mix with playsand, but it does depend on the type of topsoil you purchase.  I buy from B & Q and use a 60 topsoil 40 playsand mix.  If I use top soil form my garden I use a 50:50 mix.  If you are buying it I think you can tell from the soil when you open the bag how much sand to use. 

It also depends on the species of tortoise you are wanting to use the substrate for.  Most med species do well on a 50:50 mix as they come from dry, arid and often sandy environments in the wild. 

If the substrate is for indoors use it does dry very quickly with the heat lamps so I wet mine daily either watering the surface with one of those plant sprayers that you can buy from garden centres or by watering it properly and giving the whole soil a good mix up on a regular basis.

Hemp has been known to cause traumatic injuries to some tortoises so it really is no longer recommended, even though some do still use it as it hasn't caused their tortoises any problems.  I think the saying better to be safe than sorry probably applies.

Helen   

Hi, i use a organic top soil from FOCUS and mix it with play sand normally i do 60/40 this i put over the whole enclosure some areas alot deeper than others about a foot deep one end then i lay two slabes of slate one end with there food on and cuttle fish and a water bowl on, but in there hide i have it filled with readi grass which they can eat as it is only dried grass, sometimes they like to burrow into this and sometimes they like to burrow down into the soil. When i turn there basking lamp off in the evening i thoughly dampen down the soil and gently turn it so to prevent it becoming dusty the next day.

Thanks Darren, some good ideas!

Thank you, we're looking for an Ibera breeder.

Hi Angelina,

We have several Ibera breeders on our recommended breeders list. Click on Buying a Tortoise in the left-hand column, and then on the breeder's list.

We also have a good care sheet for Iberas (click on The Tortoise, then on Care Sheets, and then on the species you want).

Good luck, and I hope you find a lovely tortoise to raise! You certainly seem to be going about this in the right way, and doing all your research in advance, and that is great.

Nina

Great choice - lovely tortoises

Here's a link to the care sheets if you have any trouble finding them:-

http://www.tortoise-protection-group.org.uk/site/122.asp

HTH
Darren