Reptile & Amphibian Forums

How many of you tortoise breeders/keepers gut-load hatclings with probiotics (i.e., scat from adults)? Is this important and if so, why? A couple friends of mine have hatcling desert tortoises and I've heard of this practice before in herbivorous tortoises and lizards, however could not find any references to it on the internet. Thanks for your help.

I've never seen the necessity of this in any of the animals I've raised but there may be a benefit although I think the risk outweighs this.
Ed

I have never thought to do this and have never had a problem.

I try and feed a varied diet along with calcium supplements and sunshine though so maybe this is why. They are also outside in small protected pens as well and could be picking up what they need from native weeds etc.
The idea of 'gut loading' a hatchling with any parasites the healthy adults might be harboring is just not a good idea in my mind.

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