Tortoise-world Forum

I have given Alfie a mix of sand and topsoil and he has taken to eatting it. Can anyone tell me if this is safe for him to do?

another reason to just use 100% topsoil maybe? i wonder why he's eating it, is he getting calcium and vits/minerals daily?
i don't think it will harm him if it's just a phase but probably not good if he continues this
sometimes they look for extra vitamins if they are lacking and they try eatin stones, slugs, snails, try a cuttlefish bone in his enclosure, he will nibble at that if he feels he is lacking in calcium

(02-28-2010 03:14 PM)Lucie Wrote: [ -> ]I have given Alfie a mix of sand and topsoil and he has taken to eatting it. Can anyone tell me if this is safe for him to do?

It's perfectly normal for torts to eat new substrate, they are just testing it and will stop when they get used to it. It's the same as babies with new toys lol

Thank you he does already have a cuttlefish bone in with him for his calcium so am hopping he is not lacking anything. Have no idea why he is doing it, He was dripping his tongue in it and had sand all round his mouth. It couldn't have tasted nice. I put some food in front of him to distract him but he decided the substrate was much more fun. But as long as a little bit wont harm him then i will just keep a close eye on it.
Thank you for your help i will keep you posted on if he keeps doing it.

(03-02-2010 05:29 PM)Lucie Wrote: [ -> ]Thank you he does already have a cuttlefish bone in with him for his calcium so am hopping he is not lacking anything. Have no idea why he is doing it, He was dripping his tongue in it and had sand all round his mouth. It couldn't have tasted nice. I put some food in front of him to distract him but he decided the substrate was much more fun. But as long as a little bit wont harm him then i will just keep a close eye on it.
Thank you for your help i will keep you posted on if he keeps doing it.

It's nothing to do with nutrients Lucy and WILL stop in time.