Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Ok, so what brand/type of soil is best to use in your enclosure? I just built an outdoor enclosure, and now need to fill it up and start growing stuff! Also, the soils I have seen all have fertilizer in them, this is bad correct? Any ideas on what to use?
One more question, what are some good, small flowers to put in there and grow that my tort can eat? Already gonna use dandelions. . .
Thanks,
-Colin

Colin,

I don't know what species of tort you have, or how your outdoor pen is set up, so I'll just provide a general answer.

Assuming your outdoor pen is just a four-sided box (without a bottom) of some sort dug into the existing soil, then you may not need to add any soil to it. My russian torts live in such a pen that has a heavy clay soil with grass and weeds growing in it. I've added a few bags of play sand to it to help loosen the soil for egg-laying and increase drainage a little bit. I've also placed some large flat rocks in the middle for dry basking areas. The hide box (box with a roof but no floor) rests on a layer of bricks I've sunk into the soil. When the torts go in at night they can sleep high and dry. Sometimes I throw some grass clippings and leaves in the hide box so they have something to nestle under.

If instead the pen is a box-like structure or tub with a solid floor, then you can use plain topsoil (no chemicals or other stuff - I can get it for about $1 per 40 pound bag at home depot) and mix some sand into it.

If you have a tropical species of tortoise, like a forest hingeback or yellowfoot, you might add some mulch and leaf litter to provide some humid spots.

If your yard has no fence and you have neighborhood kids, or dogs or other intrusive creatures, you may want to put some kind of screened lid over the enclosure. My neighborhood has cats.

Good luck!

Oh yeah, I have a Sulcata tortoise. My outdoor enclosure is a kiddie pool with 1/2" wire mesh around it, and a wire mesh top that hinges in the middle so one side opens up. . .pretty nifty for $20 and an hour. Anyways, I already have a bunch of topsoil/playsand mix that I use in part of my indoor enclosure, so I'll use that! I was told that topsoil was just used for filling in gaps, and wouldn't grow anything very well, but I guess I was told wrong! thanx!
-Colin