baby eating perlite

[reagansymone]

I recently posted about a my Florida box turtle hatchling who I'm struggling to get to eat. Since then he has eating a few pill bugs -- does anyone know where to get pill bugs besides Carolina Pet Supply?

Anyway, he seems to be really attracted to eating perlite. He actively seeks it out. I don't have any in their enclosure, but when he's marching around outside in the garden he tries to eat it any time he can. What does this mean? I've read it's bad for them so I don't let him eat it...but if he's so interested in it, what could I feed him that would be equally interesting? What in perlite is so attractive to him?

Any help is greatly appreciated!
What I've tried feeding him so far:
pill bugs (he eats them, sparingly), black worms (he ate one, once), mini meal worms, butter worms, wax worms, earth worms cut up, small earth worms whole, phoenix worms, romaine, kale, strawberry, blue berry, black berry, grape, carrots.

Thanks!

 

[ascott]

Man, I wish they could just tell us why it is they do what they do ...that would solve so many issues....lol...

No idea what it is that they find awesome about the perlite or other things that can harm them....but continue to be diligent at keeping him away from it....keep him hydrated so if he does sneak some he will be able to pass it....

Could you possibly be offering him too many choices at the young age? I know that sounds crazy...I am by no mean a tortoise, but if I am plopped in front of a snack isle that has a million choices, I usually get huffy and flustered and walk away with nothing...too many choices proves overwhelming at times....

Also, how are you offering him the food? By hand, on a dish with you leering at him waiting to see if he eats it? D) or do you drop and leave? What is the system..

 

[reagansymone]

Hello! Thanks for the advice. I certainly wish they could tell us, too! That would be wildly helpful haha.

Maybe I am giving too many options. Usually I put the fruit/veggies in while he's soaking, and put the bugs separately in a dry container because they drown otherwise/don't wiggle enough for him to notice or care.

I've offered him the food a few different ways before, as he wasn't eating for quite a while and it was really worrisome. But now I just put him and the food in and walk away. I keep an eye from a distance as he has trouble flipping himself right if he falls over (as the side of his face is injured), but I try not to hover...I hear that makes them nervous.

 

[Tom]

Offer him a chuck of cuttle bone and see if he chomps on that with the same vigor.

 

[reagansymone]

Hi Tom! Good idea. I keep a cuttle bone in the terrarium, but I will offer it at feeding time as well and see if he is more interested

 

[Tom]

Be careful. Perlite can kill them. I would not even have it around.