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what type of substrate is best for an indoor young horsefield tortoise?

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8.8K views 1 reply 2 participants last post by  purplepixie  
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#1 ·
What type of substrate is best for an indoor, young horsefield tortoise? Been reading a lot to find out and now I'm confused.
A lot of tortoise experts say 50/50 play sand and top soil ( some say sterilized top soil, some say no need for sterilized - ordinary top soil is sufficient. The reptile shop where I bought my tortoise says aspen for bedding/burrowing and a sand substrate with calcium in it?
She is an indoor torty for now, but will go outside in summer.
Also can anyone advise me of a good complete food? At present I am feeding her "komodo complete holistic tortoise diet" . She seems to like it (plus of course veg etc). My vet also gave me "ACE- High" vitamins for her, but not sure if she needs this as well....she doesn't seem to like it.
 
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#2 ·
Soil is the substrate they get in the wild, so just as good inside.
Diet of weeds weeds and more weeds.
You can spend money on top soil, but garden soil is fine, but make sure no chemicals have been used on it.
Too much sand can irritate tortoises eyes, but can be mixed with soil.
A shop will always recommend something they sell, but it does not mean the tortoise needs it.
If your tortoise gets the correct diet, there is no need for vitimins.
Places that sell things, will always tell you they are needed, as they need to make a profit.
Try reading www.thetortoisehouse.com or www.tortoises.net both are excellent sorces of information to read at your leisure.
 
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