Reptile & Amphibian Forums

As I said in a previous post, we got Roan a new plant, planted it with organic soil, and put it in his cage. The first two days he ate some leaves, but he hasn't touched them since. But everyday, a couple times a day, he goes down, sticks his head in the pot, and takes a nice big mouthful of soil. Then he'll go back up and bask or just hang out. His poop has been fine, still just as regualr as always, with no change in color. I just can't help but think that he shouldn't be eating so much soil. He is only a little over 3 monthes old, and I remember I used to eat dirt as a kid. Should we cover the soil with something so he can't eat it? Maybe with some rocks and stones that are to big for him to eat, or do we just let him be?

This isn't uncommon, mine does it too. I cover the dirt with screen or sphagnum moss (the long kind, not peat moss). As you mentioned, rocks too big for him to eat work too, but if you use a lot, it can hold too much moisture in the dirt.

Maybe they are looking for some mineral that is missing from their diet? Mine seems to only want to eat the dirt from one particular plant. Once he couldn't get to it, he seemed to forget about it.

hth,
Joel Fish