I'm happy to hear Jack is not able to be picked up with a magnet
, but now the question is who ate or chewed up the scrubby thingy?? I know someone who’ll be on Poo watch for a while.
(My dog ate a box of dental floss I had left on the coffee table and I was on poo watch for over a week. Luckily she passed it-now my living room is I a floss free zone.)
I Really I am glad everything worked out ok. I wouldn’t think it would be calcium stones I believe they tend to be produced and stored in the bladder, not up in the abdomen. And from my handy dandy Chelonian Anatomy chart it looks like those are in the stomach and intestines. But I’m not a vet – I could be wrong.
Congrats on Jack being fine.
I'm glad Jack didn't eat the scrubby pad.
I though would be concerned, not that you already aren't. A few rocks are fine in the stomach and intestine, but that is a ton of rocks.
He is either lacking minerals in his diet or is just plain hungry. I've seen tortoises eat the strangest things when they are hungry.
I'd keep on poo patrol and save all the rocks he passes and try to get pictures of them. It'll help figure out whats up.
Also what exactly is his diet like, what are you feeding, what are you supplementing with and how often for both.
Danny
Thanks Danny, I was way off
Wow that is an impressive rock collection. Glad it's not the pad in there, but it does look like if you don't change something diet/environment a future problem could be in the making.
Yes, Jack's the redfoot and he's on dirt with moss mixed. For 5 years, I have brought him inside for winter and had him on pretty much just moss and hay. This year I added dirt to make more of a burying area(I've learned much here) He has his moist area, and the rest is a mixture. I am taking another xray next week and looking for that aspen stuff a few people have mentioned here.
Could this be normal, like a bird needs to grind their food with rocks in their gizzard? I have had him outside all summer in a big yard, most of it is planted but theres areas that are dirt. And when he eats the dandelions, sometimes I have seen him rip up the whole thing, roots and all. Isn't there rocks in South America? Darn steel wool!! I would've never known!
Duh, sometimes I don't go to page 2 before I post.Sorry, Jack eats mustard greens, dandelions, romaine, red leaf, all types of squash, little bits of peppers, small amount of collard.swiss chard, little fruit like pears, some of that Mazur, that I just got. \Really anything. I purchase a huge amount of all the produce I can get. I will add riddicco sp?(somethin I have never eated) parsley, cilantro.There is a market that sells alot of spanish things I have never even tried, one was a small light green type of squash (and we eat alot of different types, the checkout person couldn't get me to understand what it was, so I just nuked it for a few minutes and after cooling fed it to Jack(minus seeds) he devoured it, I know that was bad, but squash is squash. Haven't seen it since to buy more. The vet wasn't that concerned for all the reasons stated above,particulary because the rocks weren't concentrated in one spot, but I am xraying him next week to see where they are going. I am thinking about removing everything, and try the aspen(ebay?) and then xray again just the make sure he isn't just adding more and I will think they are not moving on.(out) Thanks
Your question about rocks in South America is a good one. I think in the habitat that they are from is for the most part rock-free being a geologic stable area. I remember reading that flint was a common trade item among the native people pre-contact. I believe contact with rocks in that enviornemt for redfoots is minimal.
Wow, I was being facetious, but it's true, we have some friends that live in a neighboring state (CT) and they were paying for rocks to use for their garden.And where I live it's nothing but rocks and water. Thanks for the input.
Nay I am sure you should be able to find aspen in your larger Pet Stores or perhaps a feed and grain could order some for you. It may be cheaper than paying shipping. I know out here CA it is at Petco and Petsmart several privately owned smaller stores and my local feed and grain place will order it.
Try a local farm store for Aspen, ask for shredded Aspen horse bedding. You can also pick up smaller bags of it at Petco or Petsmart, or pretty much any pet store.
I picked up a couple of bags at my local feed store. Just remember that it is compacted in the bag, so don't dump the whole bag in until you see how much it covers. Glad things are going well!
Ok Dee, you have Russians and leopards.Right? So do you add anything to the Aspen for either? I.m looking into the mulch for Jack. Thanks Na
Are you supplementing at all Nadine? The diet sounds fine, but you need to supplement and you need to add some protein to his diet.
He's probably eating the rocks because he's deficient in minerals, probably calcium.
Danny
Hi Danny, Yes 2-3 times a week, I sprinkle(like I am salting something) Rep-Cal Phosphorous free calcum supplement. Should I do it more often or use more? Thanks
I have not put the aspen in the russians yet. I just put it in my sulcatas enclosure and they seem to love it. I am going to start doing my leopards this weekend. I just put it in plain. One bag really covered alot of space.