Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Was wondering what the consensus of opinions was for the prefered substrate to use for box turtles and if there are any to be avoided. There are several fir bark substates for reptiles and look interesting to me, but I was thinking that I had read somewhere that it is toxic if injested. Anyone use the coconut fiber and if so is it messy, like peat. I've used peat and found it to stick all over them when they burrow and then they track it into the water dish, so for the past 5 yrs. I have been using hardwood mulch, but then when I bring them inside for hibernation in the winter it tends to bring bugs and mites. FYI I live in Iowa so I'm not willing to risk outdoor hibernation, they dig under the mulch in october, then I bring them in to the basement, water the mulch with a sprinkling water can once a week when I water the indoor plants and we don't see them untilll in April when they pop there heads out of the mulch and say, "OK I'm ready to go outside now"

Do you mean substrate for them to brumate in, or to live on?

I have my (young) torts that stayed in for the winter on alfalfa pellets, but you have to really watch it for mold anywhere it gets wet. Other than that, I really like it. Very, very easy to clean.

My Eastern brumated in a mixture of peat and store-bought garden soil. Outside, though.

Could you bake whatever you want to use to get the bugs out of it?

Nanci
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1.0 Tricolor Hog, 0.0.1 Eastern Hog, 1.0 Florida King
1.0 Eastern Box Turtle, 1.0 Florida Box Turtle
0.0.2 Desert Torts, 2.0 Feral Pigeons

Hey baking is a great idea,it would sterilize the mulch, but I'm pretty sure my wife would veto, but thanks for the input.
Jeff and Donna.

Be aware that baking is effective but potentially VERY SMELLY!

For indoor set ups I use a combination of long fiber sphagnum moss and cypress mulch. It retains moisture well.

For artificial hibernation (and that is how I hibernate my turtles) I use only moist long fiber sphagnum moss. It's sometimes called Orchid Moss since it is sold for repotting orchids.
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Tess
Kingsnake.com Forum Host

Thanks Tess,
Do you use the long fiber moss for hibernation because it hold moisture better? Do you still add water to hydrate them occationally?
Thanks,
Jeff and Donna

I know I'm a little late chiming in here, but if your still reading, I love coconut fiber like Bed A Beast. There are other brands as well.
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