My tortoise eats her own poo

[Jadeo09]

My tortoise eats her own poo.
Whenever she sees it.she literally does it and turns round to eat it when she's finished eating or when I've just put her food in.
I can't stop her in time I do sometimes but she eats it straight away mostly and I can be changing her bath water for a few minutes and come back and she's pooed and is already eating it.

Is there any way to stop it.
Because its
1.messy
2 discussing.
3 she hates being cleaned afterwards.
4 its very difficult to properly clean her face that's caked in it because she goes into her shell.
Any help or ideas would be greatly appreciated
Jade

[CherryBrandy]

Oh dear ! I suppose if pure poops they should be a herbie, grassy little packages which may attract her? one of mine makes a bee line for pigeon poop, huge and yukky (the poop not the tort) which is probably just as gross and what's it all about!!!! CB

[Jadeo09]

It is her poop

[CherryBrandy]

mmmm, not sure. Dare I say if she knows where her own food is ? or do you think she is anxious, does she turn round and eat it or later on? I wonder if its anything to do with worms (I know she was tested last year but thats a long time if picked them up) or lack of vitamins/minerals. Someone on here will know I am sure! CB

[Ozric Jonathan]

Hi there. Some tortoises do this and I don't think it causes any harm normally. If the tortoise did have worms then it would compound the problem though.

When it comes to hermann tortoise poop I feel it's not that disgusting. It's because they don't eat meat - the poop is just plant material that has been through the digestive system of a tortoise.

[sandy]

Originally Posted by Jadeo09

My tortoise eats her own poo.
Whenever she sees it.she literally does it and turns round to eat it when she's finished eating or when I've just put her food in.
I can't stop her in time I do sometimes but she eats it straight away mostly and I can be changing her bath water for a few minutes and come back and she's pooed and is already eating it.

Is there any way to stop it.
Because its
1.messy
2 discussing.
3 she hates being cleaned afterwards.
4 its very difficult to properly clean her face that's caked in it because she goes into her shell.
Any help or ideas would be greatly appreciated
Jade

Very difficult to stop them if you dont catch it before she eats.
It is normal for them to do this, especially if to them food is scares. When tortoises have been on abs, keepers will actually feed hatchling poos the these tortoises, so they can replace the bacteria normally found in tortoises. Abs can and does destroy vital bacteria.

[Ozric Jonathan]

Is it hamsters or gerbils or soemthingt that must eat it's own poo? There is a small animal that has to have it.

I don't think it's a big problem for a tortoise to do this.

[CherryBrandy]

Originally Posted by Ozric Jonathan

Is it hamsters or gerbils or soemthingt that must eat it's own poo? There is a small animal that has to have it.

I don't think it's a big problem for a tortoise to do this.

Guinea pigs do too ! babies do it for the immune system. My Labrador does it but then they were bred to clear up waste in villages...feeding them pineapple stops them but wouldn't suggest that for a Tortoise of course...... weed herbie packages cant be too bad for torts as mentioned....CB

[CherryBrandy]

oooh and my dogs clear up the guinea pig poops on the lawn ! they love the little packages ! I have to look away.....yuk CB

[Pussygalore]

what does your tort have to eat apart from poo, maybe that will give a hint as to a possible cause or solution ? and its rabbits that eat a certain sort of poo they do mostly at night I think, something to do with needing something it contains I think the eaten poo is different from their normal ones.