Reptile & Amphibian Forums

OK this didn't sound to great, but when I walked in today I found my african spur thighed sulcata tortoise eating her own poop.
Is there something she is lacking? She had diahhrea for the last two days so I cut down on water consumption and greens figuring this was the cause and letting her eat her timothy hay. Her poop is solid now and I plan to give her a bath to clean her up.

She gets calcium and a multi-vitamin and lots of timothy hay, but this is the first time I noticed this behaviour.

Any suggestions???

bob
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Totally normal behavior... gross... but normal. I'll never get used to them doing it.

These guys (tortoises) are hind gut fermenters with a digestive system similar to horses or bunnies. They get relatively little nutrients from the first time the food passes through in most cases so... they run it through again.

>>OK this didn't sound to great, but when I walked in today I found my african spur thighed sulcata tortoise eating her own poop.
>>Is there something she is lacking? She had diahhrea for the last two days so I cut down on water consumption and greens figuring this was the cause and letting her eat her timothy hay. Her poop is solid now and I plan to give her a bath to clean her up.
>>
>>She gets calcium and a multi-vitamin and lots of timothy hay, but this is the first time I noticed this behaviour.
>>
>>Any suggestions???
>>
>>bob
>>
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Ed @ Tortoise Keepers
Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care

Thanks EJ,

I thought I was doing something wrong. I've onlyhad her for 6 days now and still learning. I gave her a bunch of dandelion greens and a couple of medium cuttle bones. Cuttle bones were recommended on a few other web sites. Have you ever used them?

bob

I use them all the time in all shapes and forms.

>>Thanks EJ,
>>
>>I thought I was doing something wrong. I've onlyhad her for 6 days now and still learning. I gave her a bunch of dandelion greens and a couple of medium cuttle bones. Cuttle bones were recommended on a few other web sites. Have you ever used them?
>>
>>bob

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Ed @ Tortoise Keepers
Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care