Red Foot Tortoise Bedding

[turtleman 97]

Hello Im new here. I have a baby red foot and i have some questions about the substrate. What kind should I get? I was thinking about repti bark but im not sure what do you think?

Thanks - Jason

[animalkeeper]

 I use a 50/50 mix of coconut coir & play sand and keep it moist.

 If the repti bark is what I think it is, that dries out quickly and redfoots like their substrate moist.

[turtleman 97]

ok thanks ill see if i can try sonething like that

[Jules]

It seems to me that Joe uses that and Sphagnum Moss to keep in the moisture for baby Redfoots

[Joe H]

Yep
I use sphagnum moss. It holds the moisture well and...get this....its edible

[t_mclellan]

For hatchlings I like a 50/50 mix of fresh "Long Fiber Sphagnum".
(you Orchid people know what I mean) That choice is because I like how it looks.
&Cypress mulch. I use about 5" in there tank. I keep all hatchlings indoors for at least the first 6 months.
I find hatchlings love to "Dig in" & the 5" depth allows this without getting unduly wet.
I love the moisture holding quality of  sphagnum but it can be very wet at the bottom.
I like the cypress mulch for support.
Hatchlings can dig in if they choose & if not they don't have to fight the sphagnum jungle while walking around.
This works for me because;
1) Its easy.
2) I'm lazy.
3) My hatchlings like it.
I will probably keep using this method until someone shows me another way that is better.
Remember that I said "I like it" & never said it was BETTER that any other method!

[Joe H]

I use 1/3 sphagnum 1/3 coir and 1/3 sand

For hatchlings I use straight sphagnum