The use of a substrate goes beyond just covering the floor of your pet’s enclosure.
It allows you to provide a level of comfort to your pet that is similar to what it would have in the wild.
Sulcata babies need to be able to dig down and bury themselves.
This is what they do in the wild and the instinct even in a captive bred Tortoise is the same.
Substrates give your baby tortoise something to dig into as is natural for them.
This way they can thermoregulation and also maintain appropriate humidity.
So choosing the safest and best substrate for baby sulcata tortoise will be an important first step as a tortoise keeper.
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The Best Substrate for Baby Sulcata Tortoise
1. Coconut Coir
Made of fine grains, it’s easy to dig and stimulates digging and burrowing behaviors in your pet.
It’s safe and best kept moist because it can get dusty when dry.
Your baby sulcata tortoise would need to stay hydrated and this is a good option to keep it that way.
Top Pick
Zilla Reptile Terrarium Bedding Substrate Coconut Husk Brick
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2. Orchird Bark
These types of substrates can be gotten easily from the local garden shop. Just like the coconut coir, they hold humidity well are a good way to keep your pet hydrated.
But unlike the coconut coir, they do not get dusty and are less likely to irritate your pet’s eyes when dry.
Keep them moist nonetheless to keep the humidity level in the enclosure to optimum levels.
Top Pick
Fluker Labs Repta-Bark All Natural Bedding
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3. Cypress Mulch
Unlike the use of pine and cedar that are unsafe as substrates for your tortoise, cypress mulch is much safer and loved due to its comfort.
They are easily purchased in your local garden store and your baby sulcata would love digging into this.
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4. Top Soil
Organic Topsoil is one of the best forms of substrate for baby sulcata tortoise as it closely resembles their natural environment.
When choosing this form of substrate, however, make sure it’s free from chemicals and all forms of fertilizers.
Top Pick
Scotts Organic Group Proom Top Soil
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5. Peat Moss
Peat moss is a fine grain moss and resembles topsoil. It has high water retention capacity and can help to raise the humidity levels in the terrarium.
Be careful though to regulate the humidity level within safe limits according to your pet’s needs.
Top Pick
Espoma 8-Quart Organic Peat Moss
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6. Sphagnum Moss
Just like peat moss, sphagnum moss has high water retention capacity so you can raise the humidity levels to meet the needs of your baby sulcata tortoise.
It however molds easily so when used you have to be careful and watch out for molds and decomposition.
Top Pick
Galápagos Terrarium Sphagnum Moss
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Guide for Best Substrate for Baby Sulcata Tortoise
Your baby sulcata tortoise is a reptile and as is the case with cold-blooded animals, they can’t regulate their body temperature themselves.
And so after absorbing much heat from the surface, they would need to hide in burrows to cool down and that’s why they need a substrate.
Substrates also make them feel comfortable and closer to their natural home, and a comfortable pet is a happy one.
To get your choice of substrate right, you need to try to make a choice that is similar to what is obtainable in the wild.
Since sulcata tortoises are originally from Africa specifically in Chad, Nigeria, and Ethiopia, a substrate that is similar in composition to the environment there would be the best.
The soil is relatively dry and contains some sand.
Substrates to Avoid Using with Your Baby Sulcata Tortoise
Even though they are a lot of substrates that can be used with your baby sulcata tortoise, some still exist that you should avoid using.
1. Aspen shavings
Aspen is not a toxic type of substrate to use with your tortoise, but it’s a very dry type of substrate.
This makes it unsuitable for your baby pet as they need much hydration and high humidity for healthy growth.
2. Cedar and pine shavings
Both cedar and pine shavings are toxic for use with your tortoise.
They have toxic oils and when ingested could be poisonous to your pet.
3. Hay
Hay is a good substrate for use with your pet as it gives a good level of comfort, but it molds easily.
So you should try to avoid using it, especially in a high humidity environment.
4. Newspaper
The newspaper doesn’t provide any type of benefit to your tortoise and molds easily.
They catch fire easily especially the ones in the basking area so they are not worth the risk.
5. Pellets
Pellets of paper and wood are not stable, hence difficult for your tortoise to walk on.
This can harm their developing bones and muscles.
6. Fertilized Soil
Avoid using soil with fertilizers and any forms of chemicals as they are toxic to your pet.
Top Pick
Natural Chemistry Reptile Mite Spray
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Things to Look Out for in A Good Substrate for Baby Sulcata Tortoise
The most important thing when purchasing a substrate is to try to get one that closely resembles the natural home of your pet.
Sulcata tortoises live in Africa and are used to dry soil with sand.
So you should aim for this type of substrate or an equivalent that can meet up with your pet’s humidity and moisture needs.
Note however that too much moisture in the substrate makes your pet prone to being infected especially when shedding.
The following are important when buying a substrate for your baby sulcata:
- The moisture needs of a baby tortoise are higher than that of an adult and as such, you would need to keep them more hydrated. For this, you need a substrate that can retain moisture properly and provides high humidity.
- If you choose to go with sand substrate, be careful as the risk of impaction is high. Choose digestible sand instead and try mixing it with another type of substrate to reduce the chances of ingestion.
- Choose a substrate that neutralizes odor as this helps to keep the enclosure conducive.
- The substrate you choose should be easy for your pet to dig through. This behavior is instinctive and helps your pet in thermoregulation.
- A type of substrate that is easy to clean and maintain would help you keep your pet’s home neat at all times.
Commonly Asked Questions About Substrate for Baby Sulcata Tortoises
Yes, they do.
Substrates help them feel more comfortable as they would in the wild and it’s something for them to dig into for fun or temperature regulation.
For a baby sulcata, the depth of the substrate should be about 2 inches.
This way they can dig and burrow as they like.
Sand is a good substrate and it helps to regulate the humidity of the enclosure.
When used on its own, your pet is likely to eat it and get sick.
So only the digestible types should be used and it should be mixed with soil.
Just like sand, sawdust can cause impaction so it’s not advisable for your pet tortoise to live on it.
Moreover, it’s flammable and can get dusty.
It’s Your Turn
Caring for a baby sulcata tortoise is a delicate task as it requires much care and attention.
One way of ensuring your pet stays healthy and happy is to provide it with the right substrate on which it can live.
In all, every product mentioned here will be a good pick to get started with your new reptile pet.
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