Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello,

My russian tortoise, which I have had for four years, occasionally appears to eat dirt. Is this normal? I don't think she is just picking out little pieces of vegetable matter (or bugs) as I can hear a noise that sounds like she is really biting down on little pebbles.

Its a sign they need minerals in the diet. It is very common for animals to eat mineral rich dirt. Dogs eat dirt especially after they are over an illness. There are even human diseases(anemia) that causes the sufferer to eat dirt or crave eating it. Its natural, so don't fret over it.

Maybe it's enough to let her wander around once in a while so she can eat dirt to her hart's content.

Maybe I should find a mineral suppliment for her diet. Do you (or anyone reading this) know of such a thing?

This is called pica. He needs a cuttle fish bone to gnaw on.

Thanks for the reply.

She already has a cuttlefish bone. Also, Once a week or so I shave a fine powder from a cuttlefish bone over her food.

Perhaps there are some other minerals she needs.