Whether you are landscaping or setting up an indoor sulcata enclosure, it’s important to choose a safe substrate. You’ll often hear that mulch is a bad substrate for sulcatas, but not all mulch is the same.
Is Mulch Safe for Tortoises?
Mulch is a general term used for any material you may use in landscaping. Garden mulch can range from rubber mulch, hardwood mulch, bark mulch, leaf mulch, glass mulch, lava rock, etc. Mulch is wide and varied by many different types.
Depending on the purpose, gardeners may choose one mulch over another, whether it be for color, weed or pest control, soil conservation, etc.
Since not all mulch is created the same, you will find some mulch will be toxic or hazardous for sulcatas, whereas other mulch for will be safe for tortoises.
Safe Mulch for Sulcata Tortoise
Fir and cypress mulch are both safe and popular choices of mulch for tortoise bedding. Both types of mulch will help maintain humidity for inside tortoise enclosures, which can help prevent pyramiding in baby sulcatas.
You can purchase plain cypress mulch and fir mulch from your local garden store in large bags. But, for smaller bags or a reptile-specific brand of cypress mulch, Zoo Med’s Forest Bedding is 100% cypress mulch.
When soiled, you can “wash” fir and cypress mulch. Soak the substrate in a big bucket of water (boil if you’re able). Then let it dry. You can bake it in the oven to kill any parasites that may be living in the substrate.
Mulch to Avoid Using Around Tortoises
You want to avoid using mulch for sulcata tortoise enclosures that includes any additives, like fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides and dyes. Avoid using cedar mulch or mulch made with pine, as both can emit a toxic fume that can cause skin and eye irritation, as well as respiratory problems.
Avoid using cocoa shell mulch for sulcatas. Cocoa mulch is made of the husk of cocoa beans. It contains concentrated amount of cocoa fats, theobromine and caffeine, which can be harmful. But, some brands send their cocoa mulch through several rounds of cleaning in order to strip the cocoa fats from the shells.
Also, try to avoid glass mulch, rubber mulch or dyed mulch for sulcata tortoise bedding.
