5 Greatest Substrates for Sulcata Tortoises in 2023 – Evaluations & High Picks

The Sulcata Tortoise, often known as the African Spurred Tortoise, is likely one of the largest tortoise species. Due to their measurement, it’s impractical to maintain an grownup Sulcata Tortoise indoors, however they are going to spend the primary two to a few years of their life inside. This provides them time to get larger so that they aren’t such a goal for predators. So, you’ll want an acceptable substrate.

Sulcata Tortoises get pleasure from digging and burrowing, and they’ll want a sturdy underground fence after they dwell outdoor. Additionally they choose the humidity degree to be round 40%–60%, which implies you’ll want a substrate that helps you meet these particular wants.

Under we’ve rounded up the 5 finest substrates on your Sulcata Tortoise, with helpful critiques to point out you precisely what every has to supply. So, let’s get began!

A Look at Our High Picks (2023 Replace)

The 5 Greatest Substrates for Sulcata Tortoises

The Exo Terra Plantation Soil Tropical Terrarium Reptile Substrate is our choose for finest total substrate for Sulcata Tortoises for 2 fundamental causes; first, it’s designed particularly with holding moisture in thoughts, and Sulcata Tortoises get pleasure from a habitat with excessive humidity. Secondly, it stimulates your tortoise’s pure digging and burrowing habits, and Sulcata Tortoises like to dig and are fairly good at it.

This pure substrate constructed from coconut husk fibers creates the right atmosphere for dwell crops. It absorbs waste, however after all, you should do some spot-cleaning. Moreover, Exo Terra is appropriate to be used as an incubator medium for eggs. On the entire, clients have been happy with it, however they talked about that it turns into powdery in case you fail to maintain it moist sufficient. There may be additionally a danger of mites and bacterial development.

The Zoo Med Eco Earth Compressed Coconut Fiber Expandable Reptile Substrate is the most effective substrate for Sulcata Tortoises for the cash. It’s fully pure and eco-friendly. It maintains a moist atmosphere, holds moisture, and is ideal for burrowing and digging. It’s accessible in brick kind or unfastened.

Nonetheless, in case you get it as a brick, you should break it up and add a bit of water to melt it earlier than placing it down. Each day misting ought to create the right humid atmosphere on your tortoise. There may be much less of a danger of mildew with Zoo Med than with different choices. It’s essential to notice that it has a danger of impaction in case your tortoise eats an excessive amount of. 

Zilla Floor English Walnut Shell Reptile Bedding is all-natural. It’s usually used as a substitute for sand, and it guarantees to move via your tortoise if eaten unintentionally. It’s excellent for digging and burrowing and conducts warmth effectively.

It is likely one of the costlier choices, and you have to to put down round 1 to 2 inches on the backside of your terrarium. Some homeowners talked about that issues might be precipitated if it will get into your tortoise’s eyes, so test for sharp bits when laying it out.

Sand is normally a horrible possibility for a tortoise, however Reptile Sciences Terrarium Sand is a secure different. The model has made some modifications so its sand is secure for digestion. It’s 100% pure orbicular coarse-grain sand and is silica and phosphate-free.

Reptile Sciences’ sand is odorless and denser than silica sand, so your Sulcata Tortoise’s enclosure will look cleaner for longer. Total, clients appeared pleased with this product, however some have been disenchanted with the dearth of absorption; when their tortoise urinated, the pee failed to take in instantly, which means clumps of sand caught to their legs in the event that they walked over it.

Zoo Med Forest Ground Pure Cypress Mulch Reptile Bedding intently mimics a forest flooring; it’s 100% pure and constructed from cypress mulch. It’s so gentle and unfastened that it’s going to enable your tortoise to dig and burrow. It additionally hasn’t been heat-treated, which sterilizes it, however it will possibly nonetheless retain moisture.

You will want to be careful for sharp items while you’re laying the bedding down. As a result of it’s so good at retaining moisture, it’s barely trickier to maintain clear. Nonetheless, it’s fairly priced, so that you gained’t break the financial institution by changing it.

Purchaser’s Information: Selecting the Greatest Substrates for Sulcata Tortoises

Substrates and Issues They Pose

When shopping for substrates, it’s essential to know what to keep away from. This may really feel prefer it drastically narrows down your choices, however it’ll additionally provide the data you must preserve your tortoise secure. So, let’s take a look at the issues some substrates may cause your Sulcata Tortoise.

Wooden Chips

Your tortoise can get damage by wooden chips since they splinter simply, inflicting injury to their toes and stomach. Moreover, because of this in the event that they eat it unintentionally, it will possibly trigger inner injury. So, whereas wooden chips look pure and have an exquisite pure scent, many homeowners keep away from them.

Pine and Cedar

Pine and Cedar ought to by no means be used since they’re extremely poisonous to Sulcata Tortoises. So, not solely can ingestion result in an impaction, nevertheless it will also be deadly.

Sand

Sand poses a danger if an excessive amount of is eaten as it’s troublesome to digest, which implies it sits on the backside of your tortoise’s intestine and causes gastrointestinal issues. It could possibly additionally simply get into your tortoise’s eyes, inflicting irritation and an infection.

One other downside with sand is that it’s significantly advantageous, so when your tortoise makes an attempt to dig, it’ll simply fall again into place.

Paper

Paper may look like an acceptable substrate, however sadly, it will get sticky simply, which creates a giant mess. It additionally doesn’t enable your Sulcata Tortoise to dig or burrow, so it simply isn’t possibility.

Soil

Soil can intently mimic your tortoise’s pure terrain and permits simple digging and burrowing. It additionally retains its form when your tortoise strikes it. In the event you choose sterilized soil, it has been heat-treated, so it ought to eradicate mites or different infestations that might trigger you issues.

Soil is a messy possibility, particularly when it’s moist, and it will also be difficult to identify tortoise feces amongst the clumps.

Mulch

Mulch is a standard substrate, particularly these constructed from Fir or Cypress, and they’re usually secure choices. They keep water, supply the chance to burrow, and are normally simple sufficient to keep up. Nonetheless, it’s best to keep away from mulch with components, preservatives, or chemical substances, as they will negatively have an effect on your tortoise’s well being.

Carpets

Carpets usually are available rolls or sheets and are easy to put in. They’re used to imitate the forest, soil, or sand flooring and will be washed a number of occasions earlier than they should be thrown away. Nonetheless, the fabric is thought to snag, will be tougher to maintain clear, and doesn’t supply the chance to burrow or dig. Sustaining the required moisture and humidity ranges with a carpet can be troublesome.

Alfalfa

Alfalfa is an unsuitable possibility for tortoises as a result of it can’t maintain water, so utilizing it as a backside layer may cause your Sulcata Tortoise to develop into dehydrated. It’s additionally been urged that in case your tortoise ingests an excessive amount of alfalfa, it will possibly result in stone formation and bladder points.

The right way to Choose a Appropriate Substrate

There are 4 fundamental components to contemplate when selecting the correct substrate.

1. Non-Poisonous

Sulcata Tortoises are inclined to eat their substrate unintentionally. Consuming an inedible substrate can result in impaction and the chance of choking. It might even be poisonous to them and trigger extreme well being issues. So, it’s extremely essential to test the labels of the whole lot you’re shopping for to make sure you get a secure, non-toxic substrate.

2. Water Retention Functionality

Your Sulcata Tortoise requires a sure humidity degree of their habitat, and with out sufficient moisture, they will develop into dehydrated or endure from flaky pores and skin. So, it’s essential that the substrate can maintain moisture for so long as potential.

3. Appropriate for Digging and Burrowing

It is going to stress out your Sulcata Tortoise if they can’t give in to their pure burrowing intuition. It’s finest to pick an acceptable substrate that can enable them to burrow.

4. Ease of Upkeep and Use

It’s finest to purchase a substrate with out many complicated steps to set it up or preserve it clear. It will prevent time in the long term, and your tortoise gained’t dread cleansing day!

How A lot Substrate Do You Want?

It’s important to present sufficient substrate on your tortoise to dig and burrow, which normally means you want a minimum of two inches down. This doesn’t have to be all through the entire terrarium. As a substitute, you may present a digging space in a nook or designated house. The substrate should cowl all the flooring, however an inch ought to be appropriate for the remainder of the tank.

How Usually Ought to Substrate Be Modified?

There is no such thing as a definitive reply relating to this query as a result of many components will have an effect on how usually you must change the substrate. The humidity and temperature of the tank, how messy your tortoise is, and what they eat and the place they feed will all think about. Usually, you’ll most likely be taking a look at altering unfastened substrate each 2 to three weeks.

In the event you use a substrate that may be washed and changed, you may get two rotations out of it, however you have to so as to add a clear substrate to the tank whereas the opposite is being washed and dried out.

Conclusion

We discovered that the Exo Terra Plantation Soil Tropical Terrarium Reptile Substrate was the most effective total possibility. It’s an all-natural materials, helps dwell plant development, and promotes burrowing and digging habits. Zoo Med Eco Earth Compressed Coconut Fiber Expandable Reptile Substrate is an effective different while you’re on a funds and is eco-friendly.

Your Sulcata Tortoise wants a wholesome, clear atmosphere to thrive, and the substrate you choose will make a giant distinction within the high quality of this atmosphere. The substrate impacts the degrees of moisture, humidity, and happiness of your tortoise. We hope our critiques have helped you slender down your decisions and that you simply’re leaving us as we speak with a bit of extra data about what to search for in a substrate.

Featured Picture Credit score: legography, Shutterstock