Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Recently adopted a female 20 year RES. Since I got her and it continues her feces comes out looking just like gravel. She is indoors and has had no access to gravel. Her diet is exactly the same as the others, veges, fruit, meat and hers is the only different feces.
She has good strength and eats well and appears healthy.
Any ideas what is causing this?
Thanks, Carol

Well, if the turtle had access to gravel in it's previous home, that's where its coming from. RES are known to swallow gravel...different theories have been tossed around as to why they do this, including the possiblility of some eating gravel to aid in digestion and food movement. Even if that's the case lots of people have run into problems with bowel obstructions, so they have taken the gravel out of the tanks. The gravel can stick around in the turtle's digestive system a several months. She's probably just eliminating whatever is left in her. Just make sure that you scoop it out so she can't reingest the gravel. If it persists or the fece starts to look strange, gravel or not, you can snatch up that next round of poo from the turtle and take it over to your vet for a fecal exam. Also, check with the previous home...if she had gravel access, you know where it came from. If she didn't, then you might want to do a fecal just in case.

Thanks,
Good to know they will eat gravel. There was none in her old home that I saw but perhaps she had access earlier if it stays in system that long. I clean the pool daily so should be able to get it all out of system soon. I was worried as some animals are known to eat things like rocks because of poor diet but it seemed she was well taken care of in old home.
Shall keep my eye on her and hope it all clears her system.
Thanks again, much relieved now.
Carol

Hi! My res does the same exact thing! At first i had her in a tank setup with gravel, but i recently moved her to one without. I didnt notice the gravel feces until after i moved her...and i had a heck of a time figuring out how it got in her new tank! I was just wondering if it will cause problems because she is so small? She is only about 3 inches long at the most. I got her about 5 months ago as a hatchling and she is now around 3 inches. Also, does that seem large for her age? She seems to be growing at a very fast pace, but seems very healthy and active and eats fine! Thanks for answering any questions that you can!