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Burmese & Indian / Sri Lankan Star Tortoises
Other Stars Angulate Tortoise Misc. Pages
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Substrates & Allergic Tortoise Keepers Indoor Substrates
Burmese Star tortoise (Geochelone platynota) Turtles, tortoises & allergies I am very allergic to animals with fur or or feathers, but I love my tortoises and turtles. No allergy or asthma aggravation! :O) Tortoises and box turtles make great hypoallergenic pets for people (not young children) who are allergic to dogs, cats, guinea pigs, and other furred animals. Water turtles may be less suitable for allergy sufferers because they live in large water tanks. Humidity from indoor water enclosures may encourage mold growth and increase dust mite populations. In addition, people can be allergic to the seafood pellets and flakes fed to water turtles. Pretesting substrates I personally have no allergy problems with my tortoises. It's their supplies that bother my allergies! The biggest problem for me is the substrate, probably because there is so much of it! It is difficult to find a substrate that is good for my tortoises AND doesn't aggravate my allergies. :O( Usually, before I put any substrate in a tortoise indoor pen, I pretest it for my allergies. I put a fair amount of the substrate in a large, low sided box (e.g. underbed storage box), and then put the box in the room where I spend most of my time. If I smell any unpleasant odor, or if the substrate irritates my eyes, nose, or airways, I won’t use it. With some substrates, especially ones with strong odors, the reaction is almost immediate. With other substrates, it may take longer before I really notice my increasing allergic reaction to them. Dry grass and hay I cannot use any hay or dry grass substrate products because I am allergic to them. Hay irritates my airways, eyes, and skin. Dry hay can be dusty and wet hay molds easily; both are bad for allergic people. Even some tortoises get stuffy noses living on hay. Hay has a very strong "hay odor" which can be irritating to people with hay fever and asthma. Just walking through the rabbit and guinea pig supply aisle in a pet store aggravates my allergies. And these packages are still closed! Rabbit pellets Rabbit pellets (e.g. alfalfa or timothy hay) used to be a popular substrate for tortoises, but they are not recommended anymore because they are very drying, mold quickly, can cause infections, and may induce walking problems. Many years ago, when rabbit pellets were still a popular substrate, I did try them in an indoor pen, but the strong hay odor irritated my allergies severely. Using them was out of the question for me. Coconut fiber Coconut fiber
substrate (aka coconut husk fiber or coir) is available loose or compressed. The expandable coconut fiber substrate comes as a compressed brick that will multiply in volume when soaked. Coconut fiber is a popular substrate product, but it can be quite dusty when dry. It seems to leave a layer of fine-grained coconut "shell dust" everywhere. When wet, it smells kind of like musty, moist leaves and dirt. Unfortunately, this odor is irritating to my allergies. Coconut fiber also makes my hands itch. Many tortoise keepers mix coconut coir with sand or dirt to use as indoor substrate, and some people use it only for humid hides. If used as a substrate by itself, the sponginess and fluffiness of coconut fiber may make walking more difficult. Coconut fiber does not provide firm footage, and it gets easily pushed around in the enclosure. Coconut bark Coconut husk chips are another popular indoor tortoise enclosure substrate. Coconut bark looks nice and is almost odor free when dry. The bad news is that it is quite dusty when poured out of the bag. Each package of coconut bark can contain a fair amount of very finely ground, powdery "shell dust." This dust can be irritating to allergic persons, and it's probably possible to be allergic to the coconut shell itself. To reduce the dust level, coconut bark can be rinsed before use. I put the coconut bark chips on a plant tray with lattice bottom and then just spray through (pic). Inside the enclosure, coconut bark can be moistened to increase the humidity level. Damp coconut bark has a mild musty, wet wood smell. Coconut bark, like coconut coir, also contains a lot of short, stiff fibers. If you use a felt-like reptile carpet underneath the coconut bark, it will be almost impossible to get these fibers off the carpet. They stick very tightly. Coconut vs cocoa When I mention coco mulch, I am talking about cut and shredded coconut shells (husk). I am not talking about cocoa bean (cacao) shell mulch. Cocoa bean shell mulch is toxic to dogs if the chemical theobromine has not been removed from it. I only use coconut shell husk chips or fiber (coir).
Coconut substrate is available in various forms, including shredded, compressed brick, and bark. Dry coconut bark (actually coconut husk chips) is almost odorless and may thus be a suitable substrate for allergic tortoise keepers to use. I have tried all forms of coconut substrate in hopes of finding a non-allergenic one. Unfortunately, all of them are more of less dusty when dry. Also, in large amounts, the odor from damp coconut coir can be irritating to allergics. Mosses Sphagnum moss
is often recommended as a good substrate for humid hides. Unfortunately, it makes my hands itch. The odor of moist, clean sphagnum moss is mild and tolerable though. Dry sphagnum moss is very dry and flaky. When handling dry moss, some of it breaks into tiny, dry flakes that may get into eyes and airways. If you do use moss, change it frequently because fungus growth and fungal spores in mosses can be a concern. For example, Sporotrichosis is an infection caused by the the fungus Sporothrix schenckii. S. schenckii is found in soil, hay, sphagnum moss, and plants. Moss has been implicated as a source of the fungus in a number of outbreaks. For more Sporo info, see the Allergy section of the links page. Sphagnum moss vs Sphagnum peat moss "Sphagnum moss" and "Sphagnum peat moss" are not the same thing. According to the Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss Association, Sphagnum moss (long strands, green/light tan) is a living moss that grows on top of a sphagnum bog and Sphagnum peat moss (medium/dark brown) is the dead material at the bottom. Cutaneous Sporotrichosis is a chronic skin infection caused by fungus Sporotrichum [Sporothrix] schenckii. In extreme case, it can even cause death. Sporotrichum schenckii is known to live in the Sphagnum moss (growing moss on top), but there are no reported cases of Sporotrichosis caused by Canadian Sphagnum peat moss. Paper pellets In the past, I have also tried small animal, i.e. rodent and rabbit, bedding made from reclaimed wood pulp waste. My allergies were ok with it, but I felt it was very drying for my animals. Their skin looked super dried out. Many other substrates seem to be dehydrating to tortoises as well, including newspaper, other recycled paper products, alfalfa pellets (not recomm.), dry coconut fibers, and calci-sand (not recomm. for tortoises). The sponginess of paper pellets also makes walking more difficult. Paper Paper has always been a popular indoor substrate. However, nowadays many consider it to be unsuitable for tortoises because it does not allow burrowing and thus does not provide any microclimates. Paper is convenient, but the slippery surface may cause walking problems and induce splayed legs in young tortoises. Paper gives no grip for feet and nails. Sleek paper is not recommended for developing tortoises. Paper is also very dry. If you do use paper, take extra precautions to keep your tortoises well hydrated. Soak your tortoises frequently, mist them often, provide warm humid hides, and keep water dishes in the enclosures. In addition, paper is flat and not suitable for digging. Some tortoise keepers use piles of shredded paper (newspaper or paper shredder stuff) for burrowing, but I feel it's way too dry. Touching newspaper shreds makes my fingers feel so dry and itchy, like all moisture is sucked out of my skin. A better choice would be to use some crumpled Kraft paper. Thick Kraft paper (60# or 75# basis weight) can be moistened and kept wet. Or, you can add a "digging box" filled with soil or mulch. Paper substrates need to be changed whenever they are soiled, usually at least daily. When changed frequently, thick Kraft paper and paper towels (especially for tiny hatchlings) are an allergy-free choice for sensitive owners. It's a good idea to weigh the floor paper down with flat tiles to secure it in place. Caution! Paper, dry hay, dry wood chips, and other dry substrate materials can be fire hazards. The substrate may be too close to a hot heat source (e.g. a tortoise pushes a pile of shredded paper or hay under the lamp) or the heat lamp may fall into the enclosure if it's not securely attached. See the lighting & heating for examples on how to improve the security of your heat lamps. Towels Some tortoise keepers use towels as a substrate, especially for babies. You can use larger towels on the floor and/or small wash cloths piled up into a heap for digging into. Putting heavy tiles in the corners will help keep the bottom towel in place. Towels can be used dry, moist, or wet. Towels, just like felt-like reptile carpets, require frequent washing, so using them is quite labor intensive. However, if changed frequently, towels can be a low-allergen substrate choice for severely allergic tortoise keepers. Aspen Aspen snake and rodent bedding, which is quite dry and absorbent, is a popular choice among some dry area tortoise keepers. With dry substrates, like aspen, additional humid areas and/or hides are needed. Shredded aspen looks like wood splinters, but it's also available as chips. Unfortunately, some tortoises have eaten aspen shavings and become seriously impacted (blocked intestines). Sharp splinters may also pierce the intestinal walls. In wet conditions, aspen can mildew. Sand Impaction can be a problem with sand as well. Dry sand can be dusty and irritate tortoise's and your eyes and airways. It may also collect in skin folds. Sand is very heavy to move around. A small bag of kids' play sand weighs 50 lb! If you do use sand, a sand-free feeding area should be provided to avoid accidental ingestion. Generally, straight sand is not recommended as an indoor substrate for Star tortoises. Mixing sand with soil is a safer choice. Crushed walnut shell At first glance, crushed English walnut shell substrate may seem like a suitable indoor substrate for allergic tortoise keepers. In general, it's not super dusty, but this may vary by the brand. The odor is noticeable, but not overwhelming. Crushed walnut shells are advocated by sellers as a safer substitute for sand for desert reptiles. However, crushed walnut shells are considered by many keepers to be one of the least suitable substrates for tortoises. The small pieces may irritate tortoises' eyes or collect in skin folds. When wet, the crushed shell pieces feel very abrasive when rubbed between fingers. In fact, crushed or powdered walnut shells are used in many skin exfoliating beauty products (rubs to remove skin surface cells). If eaten, the pieces may clump up and cause a potentially fatal impaction (intestinal blockage). Wet substrate can easily be formed into balls (pic) that hold their shape. In addition, if not changed frequently, crushed walnut shells may provide an ideal growth medium for bacteria and fungi. Tree chips and mulches Wood chips and bark mulches are appealing looking substrates. However, they can contain bug eggs, mites, and other parasites. Especially, if bought from a garden center. Yikes! Bugs are fine outdoors, but not inside my house! :O) Bark chips can also harbor mold spores that can irritate your and your tortoise's airways. See the Allergy section of the links page for more info. Some wood and bark chips (e.g. fir, eucalyptus) have a stronger odor that can be irritating to allergy sufferers. Cypress mulch is one of the more commonly recommended substrates for tortoises, but in addition to the wood odor, it's also splintery. Furthermore, all chip type substrates may cause fatal intestinal blockages if ingested in larger amounts. Sharp, shredded wood chips may also pierce the intestines. Be sure to provide substrate-free feeding areas to avoid accidental ingestion. Pet store vs garden center Reptile substrates from pet stores are more expensive than garden products from home improvement stores, but they are usually much cleaner. Many reptile substrates have been preheated or treated to kill bugs and eggs. Garden center products don't need to be as pristine because they are sold for outdoor gardening, not for pets. Before using mulch bought from a garden center, it's beneficial to spread it out in a sunny spot in your backyard to dry. Hot sunshine will help kill unwanted bugs, eggs, and molds. Soil Additive-free topsoil (no fertilizer, perlite etc.) is a commonly recommended, natural substrate for indoor tortoise pens, either by itself or mixed with sand or coconut fiber. It provides a good walking surface and allows the tortoise to dig and bury itself. Plain dirt is fire-proof, which is a big plus. See the Housing section on the links page for articles on fires started by tortoises. On the negative side, dry soil can be very dusty, so it needs to be kept moist. Wet soil does a musty odor which can be bothersome to allergic people. Unsterilized soil from a garden center may contain various bugs and/or their eggs. Also, if not changed frequently enough, dirt can become a fertile breeding ground for various pathogens. Many people are allergic to molds that thrive in moist garden and potting soils. Mold in indoor flower pots can cause severe allergic reactions in people sensitive to molds, and tortoise tables are much, much larger than flower pots! See the Links page for mold info. My local garden centers do not sell sterilized topsoil, or even plain soil. They only sell garden soils that are mixed with either fertilizers or animal waste. The fertilizer-free, "all natural" garden soils have animal poop (e.g. chicken droppings, bat guano) and often shredded wood chips in them. All animal manures may harbor pathogens and parasites, and the odor of fresh "all natural" soil is too strong for me to even consider using it in an indoor tortoise enclosure. I don't smell any animal poop per se, but the soil mixture smells like wet, musty, rotting dirt. Letting the soil dry out in the hot sun before use may help reduce the odor.
A Sri Lankan Star tortoise on "all natural" garden soil. You can clearly see all the wood pieces. If used indoors, this soil has an unpleasant, musty odor when it's damp or wet! Soft reptile carpets (not astroturf type) FELT-LIKE reptile carpets may work as an indoor enclosure ground material for severely allergic tortoise owners who keep small, non digging dry area species. Especially in the eating area. Caution! Reptile carpets do not provide humidity so you need to compensate for this. Keep track of the humidity levels inside the enclosure and provide warm, humid hides and/or moist substrate areas as needed. Frequent baths and warm mistings are beneficial as well. Always keep a water dish in the enclosure. I would NOT use astroturf type cage mats which look like fake, plastic grass (see pics on notes page). These plastic grass mats feel plasticky and unpleasant. They are nonabsorbent and stay wet from urine. Unhealthy. Edges of astroturf mats may unravel and wrap around tortoise's feet or neck. Zoo Med's Cage Carpets Just like paper, reptile carpets do not work well with digging tortoise species. These tortoises may try to dig and dig into the mat. This constant scraping will cause the mat surface to fuzz. This may then catch nails. If you use cage mats with tortoises who like to excavate, always provide a "digging box" or an area filled with soil or mulch. Using reptile carpets is much more labor intensive than using soil or mulches because reptile carpets must be washed regularly. When changed frequently, they keep small tortoises and their enclosures very clean, mold-free, mite-free, dust-free, and totally odor-free. Reptile mats can be washed in a bucket or sprayed with a hose outdoors. Letting them dry in the sun and wind helps get rid off any lingering odors. Solar UV radiation is also a disinfectant. If you use a commercial disinfectant, be sure to rinse very well afterwards. Reptile carpets may also be called cage mats or cage liners. For more detailed info on reptile mats, see the additional notes page.
Even if you are allergic to most natural substrates used indoors, you may be able to add a small box containing a natural, moisture retaining substrate. This is coconut mulch (husk chips). If you keep the substrate damp, it should be in a warm area for Star tortoises. Pathogens, excrement etc. Any mold, bacteria, dust, tortoise feces and urine on any substrate can aggravate sensitive persons' allergies. Tortoise urine smell can be quite irritating to people with severe allergies, especially in a small room containing many adult tortoise enclosures. Big tortoises can produce a lot of urine! If you keep the indoor enclosure in your living area, keep it as clean as possible to lessen any allergic reactions. Ideally, keep the tortoise tub away from your bedroom. See also the substrates page for general info on indoor substrates. Housing & allergics (enclosures etc.) and the Allergy section of the links page contain more allergy info. This page is not intended as medical advice. I am just sharing my personal experiences. Always contact your own allergy physician for advice and treatment of your allergies! Allergics = a category of people, who have allergies (Urban dictionary) |
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