Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Today my testudos were grazing in the front yard & Boris, the CB Russian, came across potting soil from a plant that had fallen off the porch, & chowed down on the little white bits of vermiculite. I snatched him up when I realized what he was doing but I feel sure he ate several pieces.

I remember reading once upon a time that vermiculite isn't good for tortoises. Will it pass through or stop him up? What should I be on the look out for?

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Its just styrofoam. Harmless unless it doesn't pass. I remember once where my chihuahuas tore a big hole in a bean bag chair. I had those little white balls everywhere. The dogs had them in their crap for weeks.

Vermiculite is NOT styrofoam. It's a mineral, similar to mica. There are vermiculite mines.

It's basically nontoxic, like eating dirt. There might be some concern in that it absorbs moisture and swells to a great degree -- Idunno. I guess is would depend on how much he ate.

They would have to determine if it is fact vermiculite and not styrofoam. They feel different, and both are used in soil mixes.
Styrofoam feels like styrofoam, and vermiculite will crush to a powder. I'd still almost bet it is styrofoam, as vermiculite breaks down quickly.

Oh, and the white things IN the vermiculite might be styrofoam, but they're more likely to be perlite, which is another nontoxic mineral.