Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi there,
Well just got my neice her first tortoise and she loves it. She has been using paper towel for the bottom of the cage for the last week but wants to get a better substrate for it. It loves to dig up the paper so we want a good soil to allow it to burrow. But we do not know what would be best for it to disallow the caving in of the burrow. Any help would be appreciated.
It is only like 4 inches long so it is just a baby. Thanks ...
David...

What type of tort do you have? Normally a mixture of sand/or soil and peatmoss is recommended.

I'd watch the peat because the dust content is high and never seems to fully go away. I've never used aspen bedding but know others that switched to it away from peat b/c dust content low in species with vulnerable respiratory systems as babies.

That is a good point about the peat moss. The dust is nasty. I guess I just do not see it anymore because my redfoots are on it and it stays moist.

I have what I was told to be a California Desert Tortoise, I do not know too much on tortoises since this is my first real dealing with them as pets. I am accually helping my neice with hers since she is just now at the age of 10 getting into herps. She got a pair of Bearded Dragons to start with and they are doing great, growing leaps and bounds. So since she has been asking about tortoises we decided to help further her herp experience. I figured that a soil/sand mixture of some sort would be favorable to there life style but was not sure on any health problems associated with the types of soil/sand and there skin or shell.
She has choosen the name of Hercules for her new friend and it is pretty fitting since it loves to push its food and watter bowls around the cage. Thank you for all your help and of any other suggestions you may have as to raising a good healthy tort.
David...