Eating Substrate?

[Cam]

Okay. Our 7 year old Greek,Calvin, is driving me a bit nuts.
We can finally have him on something besides paper towels (meds and critters all done). And he keeps eating whatever we try.

Dirt, sand, coconut bark stuff, shredded paper, aspen.

Any ideas?
I have fed him first so I know he's full.

I am worried he's going to get a blockage...so he's on paper towels still.

I also had to take out his hides...the half log ones..he kept climbing on top and then rolling off and landing on his back

Thanks!

[Itort]

As far as the hides, try a square plastic box with an entrance cut in it.

[egyptiandan]

Except for the sand Colleen, just let him go to town. He'll be fine eating some of the substrate. The dirt though would be the best thing to eat.
What he is trying to do is build back his gut bacteria content. All the medications have lowered the good bacteria that break down his food in his gut. You can even help add it back with Lactobacillus acidophilus that you can get in pill form at a pharmacy. Just crush up a pill and sprinkle some on his food.

Danny

[Cam]

Thank you both.
I tried the plastic hide thing and he still flipped himself over trying to climb on it...I have big wads of crumpled paper towels in there he hides under right now.

I am using the Probiotics from Carolina pet supply and every serving we give him. As well as their supplements with the probiotics 3 times a week. I add the Calcium with D3 every other day because he also has a knack for climbing on the mineral block and pooing on it and he won't go near the cuttlebone.

Do you think he needs more calcium?

Lately he has been eating 3 times a day.

Baby Greens Mix (every feeding-)
Butternut squash 2 times/week.
Dandylion Greens (Every other feeding)
Curly Endive (every other feeding)
Wheat Grass (every other week)

All food items are organic...

[wayne.bob]

one of my torts also climbs on his log hide and he sits there for hours.

[Cam]

Perhaps they are the 'lookouts'

Forgot to say he also gets romain lettuce once a day.[/quote]

[Cam]

egyptiandan Wrote:Except for the sand Colleen, just let him go to town. He'll be fine eating some of the substrate. The dirt though would be the best thing to eat.
Danny

Is the soft shredded aspen okay? or is that an impaction risk?

[egyptiandan]

The aspen is fine too Colleen, it just doesn't have any bacteria like dirt does.

Danny

[Cam]

Thanks Danny...
Do you freeze your aspen prior to use to kill any critter eggs lurking?
I had read this on the corn snake site...

[egyptiandan]

No I've never done that and haven't had any trouble with critters.

Danny

[Cam]

Great! Aspen it is today!!!