Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Thought you would find this interesting. I put trays of moist dirt in my indoor enclosures, with a hide in each tray. My marginata is completely uninterested, but my hermanni loves it, and entirely buries himself in the dirt whenever he goes in for a nap. Just goes to show they have minds of their own. BTW, when I tried just putting in a hide with some damp moss, the hermanni wouldn't go near it.
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Sohni

0.1 Baja de L.A. Rosy Boa
0.1 Okeetee Corn Snake
1.1 Rubber Boas
1.0 Leopard Gecko
0.0.1 Hermann's Tortoise
0.0.1 Marginated Tortoise
1.0 3 Toed Box Turtle (rescued)
plus my kids' herps:
0.1 California King Snake
1.0 Mexican Rosy Boa
0.1 Leopard Gecko

There are some interesting points here.
How much time did you give the marginated to 'find' the hiumid hide. I think it is very important that it get used to it because they are very prone to pyramiding/hand grenading and I think this would really help.
The point of the spagnum is a neat one. I like using inorganic mediums for moisture because it does not attract bugs. That is also why I use fine sand in my moist hides.
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Ed
Tortoise_Keepers-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care

Well, the marginata can't really miss the dirt tray, because it takes up about 1/3 of the enclosure, but whether or not he realizes a hide is there...I guess I just assumed he would! He is slightly pyramided already, so I'd better be careful. He is usually soaked daily, but I'll try to get him more interested in the humid hide.
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Sohni

0.1 Baja de L.A. Rosy Boa
0.1 Okeetee Corn Snake
1.1 Rubber Boas
1.0 Leopard Gecko
0.0.1 Hermann's Tortoise
0.0.1 Marginated Tortoise
1.0 3 Toed Box Turtle (rescued)
plus my kids' herps:
0.1 California King Snake
1.0 Mexican Rosy Boa
0.1 Leopard Gecko