Tortoise husbandry questions

[Jungle Jen]

I just acquired a 4.5 inch female Hermann’s Tortoise this month and had a few questions for you other Tortoise keepers. I have heard a mixed review of what to use as substrate. I started out with the timothy hay pellets so if ingested there was no worry of impaction. I bathe her twice a week and she usually urinates/defecates in her water, but she has urinated in her cage and it is hard to notice with the pellets and you then have the worry of the pellets spoiling. I have considered both potting soil and ground coconut substrate and wonder if anybody had experience with either of these. My concern would be the possibility of impaction. (She was apparently kept on turf before she came to me.) She has a great appetite and is eating anything and everything I introduce to her so far. She lives in a tank that is 5' x 2' x 2' with a long shallow water dish, a heat lamp over one end, UV light over the enclosure during the day, and an under tank heater under her hide area. She generally spends most of her time in her hide area, so I take her out for munchies and some UV exposure. Do other keepers provide a hide area? The reason I ask is it isn't commonly mentioned in the research I have done. If anybody has any words of wisdom I would greatly appreciate it. I'm a new mommy and just worried about my new baby. o>

[Tim and Julie B]

First off I want to say that I am extremely jealous! I love Hermanns. I have been using cocanut for about three months and so far so good. I love it. It is cheap (from a hydroponics store) and you just scoop the poop! If you want some longer term results. Ask Niagra Reptiles. TB

[Jungle Jen]

Hi Tim, yeah I figured you might like my new addition. I will get some pics up of her soon, she's an absolute doll. Thanks for the info on the coconut, and I will contact N.R. about long term use. What kind of hide areas do you have for your guys' tortoises?

Cheers, JJ and the Zoo

[Tim and Julie B]

For hides it dosen't look very good but it comes in a variaty of sizes, colors and are easy to clean. Rubbermaids. :D I just get an appropriate size and cut it in half or put a big enough hole in it. Not very pleasing to look at but functional.

[Turtle Matt]

I've got a male Hermann's...For a hide,I use the tubular cork bark.
Matt

[Tim and Julie B]

Sorry Matt I am having trouble picturing it what is tubular cork bark? Maybe I just need to finish my coffee first! :D TB

[Linds]

Tim,
I think he means the kind that is in the shape of a tunnel instead of just the flat/curved pieces ;)

Jen,
You can go out in the forest and find old logs and stuff and clean those up for natural looking hides. I also use plastic flower pots that I cut holes out of. You can get them in green and brown with texture so they dont look too bad (I don't mean those smooth plastic pots).

[Tim and Julie B]

I don't think I have ever seen a round peice of cork bark. Where do you get them?

[Turtle Matt]

We sell them at the store I work at...Yes, I do mean the round cork bark...You can get anything from half a tube,to a whole tubed piece...I have one piece that I made a nest box for my sugar gliders with,it's fully enclosed and all I had to do was put a piece in the top and bottom so its like a hollowed out stump or something.
Matt

[Jungle Jen]

Thanks for the advice guys/gals. I currently am using a giant 'igloo' made by 'super pet' draped with fake plants. She seems to like it.

Turtle Matt, what do you use for substrate?

[Turtle Matt]

I use a mixture of cypress mulch and sand..Mostly cypress though.
Matt