My tortoise eats her own poo - Page 2

Jadeo09 · 10-09-2015, 05:37 PM

Hi
It's rabbits that have to eat their poo. They would die apparently if they don't because they need to redigest the food to absorb nutrients.
I have a rabbit too.

She has a vitamin block that she uses which also grinds her beak down.
Zoo med cactus block.

I feed her weeds or florette crispy depending on availability mixed with Timothy hay and a sprinkle of shelled warrior weed and flower mix.

She knows where her food is as she walks over to it as she sees me placing it in for her.
She isn't uncomfortable in that area as she regularly goes to that area to dig eats there ever day

Jadeo09 · 10-09-2015, 05:40 PM

Also I only eat veg ect because I'm a vegetarian and it would be discusting if I ate my own.
I find both scenarios revolting

Jadeo09 · 10-09-2015, 05:42 PM

She wouldn't eat her own poo if she was starving when there is food available.
She actually eats it when I have just put more food in for her.
Therefore she isn't doing it because food is scarce

Jadeo09 · 10-09-2015, 05:44 PM

I'm taking her to the tortoise specialist vet an hours drive away in the next month so I will give him a sample then to check for worms

Ozric Jonathan · 10-09-2015, 06:44 PM

Hi Jade, hope you get some progress through the vet. Clearly it's not a lack of food being offered that is behind it!

A worm test is always a good idea but I don't think worms are normally connected with this behaviour.

Some tortoises eat stones and that has often been written about here too. We don't know why they would do that either but have guessed there might be some kind of mineral deficiency. The owner always says there isn't.

Pussygalore · 10-09-2015, 08:08 PM

I know most will go for white objects be it stones or not and I assume that white is the colour associated with calcium, one reason not to put small white stones in their table/enclosure.

CherryBrandy · 10-09-2015, 08:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pussygalore

I know most will go for white objects be it stones or not and I assume that white is the colour associated with calcium, one reason not to put small white stones in their table/enclosure.

oooh no no wonder I have no hope on shingle. Lettuce eats them til the cows come home despite masses of weeds too. poops them out in a row , look like a little bead bracelet, CB !

Jadeo09 · 11-09-2015, 06:57 PM

I know people who say they eat things like stones ect because of some kind of deficiency is quite rude and discouraging to people who call out for help with their pet that they are trying their best to care for.
I don't put anything in with her small enough for her to eat for that reason

Jadeo09 · 11-09-2015, 06:58 PM

My vet told me of the gut impaction of a tortoise that the had to operate on because it kept being allowed to eat stones they obviously can't do this without having to get through their shell.

Pussygalore · 12-09-2015, 07:10 AM

yes no operation is nice or easy especially on a tort, I assume in the wild they have areas rich in chalk (calcium) and minerals where they go to 'stock' up much the same as some birds and other animals. I know Elephants have such places which they all seem to know about so maybe torts do the same, however because their diet is and far more fibrous they probably get more of what they need through their food. I know they do roam big areas and probably stop and have a nibble of this and that rather than sit in one place and eat and they are also known to eat carrion and bones so would get extra from those.

10-09-2015, 06:44 PM	#15
Ozric Jonathan Senior Member Adult Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: West of Scotland Posts: 4,226	Hi Jade, hope you get some progress through the vet. Clearly it's not a lack of food being offered that is behind it! A worm test is always a good idea but I don't think worms are normally connected with this behaviour. Some tortoises eat stones and that has often been written about here too. We don't know why they would do that either but have guessed there might be some kind of mineral deficiency. The owner always says there isn't. __________________ Testudo Hermanni Hermanni (Corse) tortoises

10-09-2015, 05:37 PM	#11
Jadeo09 Junior Member Egg Join Date: Sep 2015 Posts: 49	Hi It's rabbits that have to eat their poo. They would die apparently if they don't because they need to redigest the food to absorb nutrients. I have a rabbit too. She has a vitamin block that she uses which also grinds her beak down. Zoo med cactus block. I feed her weeds or florette crispy depending on availability mixed with Timothy hay and a sprinkle of shelled warrior weed and flower mix. She knows where her food is as she walks over to it as she sees me placing it in for her. She isn't uncomfortable in that area as she regularly goes to that area to dig eats there ever day

10-09-2015, 05:40 PM	#12
Jadeo09 Junior Member Egg Join Date: Sep 2015 Posts: 49	Also I only eat veg ect because I'm a vegetarian and it would be discusting if I ate my own. I find both scenarios revolting

10-09-2015, 05:42 PM	#13
Jadeo09 Junior Member Egg Join Date: Sep 2015 Posts: 49	She wouldn't eat her own poo if she was starving when there is food available. She actually eats it when I have just put more food in for her. Therefore she isn't doing it because food is scarce

10-09-2015, 05:44 PM	#14
Jadeo09 Junior Member Egg Join Date: Sep 2015 Posts: 49	I'm taking her to the tortoise specialist vet an hours drive away in the next month so I will give him a sample then to check for worms

10-09-2015, 08:08 PM	#16
Pussygalore Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Cambridge Posts: 6,479	I know most will go for white objects be it stones or not and I assume that white is the colour associated with calcium, one reason not to put small white stones in their table/enclosure.

11-09-2015, 06:57 PM	#18
Jadeo09 Junior Member Egg Join Date: Sep 2015 Posts: 49	I know people who say they eat things like stones ect because of some kind of deficiency is quite rude and discouraging to people who call out for help with their pet that they are trying their best to care for. I don't put anything in with her small enough for her to eat for that reason

11-09-2015, 06:58 PM	#19
Jadeo09 Junior Member Egg Join Date: Sep 2015 Posts: 49	My vet told me of the gut impaction of a tortoise that the had to operate on because it kept being allowed to eat stones they obviously can't do this without having to get through their shell.

12-09-2015, 07:10 AM	#20
Pussygalore Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Cambridge Posts: 6,479	yes no operation is nice or easy especially on a tort, I assume in the wild they have areas rich in chalk (calcium) and minerals where they go to 'stock' up much the same as some birds and other animals. I know Elephants have such places which they all seem to know about so maybe torts do the same, however because their diet is and far more fibrous they probably get more of what they need through their food. I know they do roam big areas and probably stop and have a nibble of this and that rather than sit in one place and eat and they are also known to eat carrion and bones so would get extra from those.

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