15-07-2012, 12:44 AM | #1 |
Member
Incubating
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 198
|
Does eating small stones every now and then offer any health benefits?
I have noticed my horsfield sometimes eats a small stone every now and then i know this is fine as long as they are passed which they are I was just simply wandering if eating these has any health benefit to tortoises. I thought it might clear out their system or something. I was wandering if someone could tell me if there is any health benefit to this?
Thanks
__________________
Three cats-Mitzi, Tilly, Luna Two dogs-Cara, Brodie Two Horses-Ruby, Murfy One budgie-Poppy One Horsfield Tortoise-Pumpkin One Nosy Ankarea Panther Chameleon-Boggles |
15-07-2012, 12:52 AM | #2 |
Senior Member
Sub Adult
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Mid glam, South Wales, but born in Bristol
Posts: 1,590
|
I would be worried if i knew my torts were eating stones, as if they dont pass they may cause serious problems to the tort
|
15-07-2012, 01:16 PM | #3 |
Member
Hatched
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 446
|
My thbs eat stones, one in particular goes out looking for them constantly!! I caught her yesterday trying to eat a huge one! I now break up bits of cuttlefish to resemble stones and place them in her fave hunting ground and she happily eats them instead
|
15-07-2012, 08:37 PM | #4 |
Super Moderator
Adult
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 11,157
|
My theory is that they are either looking for calcium -emmajh's suggestion is a great one - or the stones are an aid to digestion
|
16-07-2012, 02:15 AM | #5 |
Member
Incubating
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 198
|
I will try this with my tort thanks
__________________
Three cats-Mitzi, Tilly, Luna Two dogs-Cara, Brodie Two Horses-Ruby, Murfy One budgie-Poppy One Horsfield Tortoise-Pumpkin One Nosy Ankarea Panther Chameleon-Boggles |
16-07-2012, 02:21 AM | #6 |
Senior Member
Adult
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Northumberland
Posts: 2,170
|
My horsfield elvis used to do this all the time, he loves white ones so probably is a calcium thing tho he has never bothered with his cuttlefish fish even tho I always give him some
__________________
Proud owner of Elvis, Padme, Bella,Ruby and Daisy the Horsfields, Mork and Mindi the Indian stars, Toby and Scarlett the Redfoots Yoshi and Cleopatra the Egyptians and Sam the Labrador. . |
16-07-2012, 08:21 AM | #7 |
Super Moderator
Adult
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Sunny Scotland
Posts: 21,512
|
one of my torts passed a huge stone the other day, it was a brown one with jagged edges
|
16-07-2012, 12:56 PM | #8 |
Super Moderator
Adult
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 11,157
|
...Ouchie
|
16-07-2012, 03:12 PM | #9 |
Member
Hatched
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 446
|
My torts never ever bother with a cuttle fish in fact they trample in! But if I break it up to stone size pieces some big some small and leave it outside in the pouring rain and mud they are quite happy to eat it then!
|
20-07-2012, 10:08 PM | #10 |
Senior Member
Sub Adult
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: central s england
Posts: 1,534
|
Well I guess they do in the wild as there's no-one there to tell them not to! I guess they actually eat all manner of stuff in a rough mediterranean/ Afghan etc terrain. I mostly leave them to it unless it's obviously sharp or jagged. My 4 year old spurthigh passed 14 medium sized stones leading up to hibernation last year! Because I know she has this habit I always give her fibre pellets in the weeks leading up to it as this smoothes the passage!!
|
Tags |
eating, health, passing, stone, substrate |
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests) | |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|