Dirty Habit

[Joanne]

So my tortoise has access to the garden via a flap in his enclosure which is outside.

I've gone outside just now and caught him chowing down on a dog poo. A fresh one as I clean up after my dog every day, but sometimes I miss that he has been to the toilet.

This isn't the first time Shermann has eaten poo.

Why do they do this? He gets plenty of greens and I suppliment with pellets once or twice a week.

Just so disgusting!

 

[Yvonne G]

Recycling. There's always some additional nutrition that was missed the first time around. Plus, the dog doesn't eat the same types of food the tortoise does, so it smell different and give them a different kind of nutrition.

 

[dmmj]

It does smell but it smells like poop I do think it's disgusting as well but I'm not eating it and it won't hurt your tortoise as long as your dog isn't on heartworm medicine doesn't mean he should eat it but if he does generally no harm will become him

 

[Tom]

Mammal feces is one of the natural foods for at least some species of turtles and tortoise in the wild. Not unusual for them to partake in captivity if given the chance, which they shouldn't.

As David noted, some flea and tick and worming treatment can be passed in the feces and these could kill your tortoise. I would section off different areas for the tortoise and dog(s). Not only will this keep the tortoise from eating things it shouldn't, but it will protect the tortoise from the dog(s) too.

 

[deadheadvet]

What Tom said, big no no. Almost all monthly heartworm preventatives are excreted through the feces. Pretty much potentially fatal to tortoises.

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

My Tidgy likes to eat bird pooh, if she can find some.
it's most annoying trying to remove them all from her areas.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

What Tom said, big no no. Almost all monthly heartworm preventatives are excreted through the feces. Pretty much potentially fatal to tortoises.

Boy! That's something I didn't know. Thanks.
I was just going to ad that tortoise poo is also something that dogs like to eat. It'll turn into a nasty orgy of recycling if you don't stay on top of things.

 

[Alaskamike]

I fought my Sulcata recycling cat throw up.

They really have different taste buds than ours

 

[Careym13]

I fought my Sulcata recycling cat throw up.

They really have different taste buds than ours

Oh man...that is pretty gross.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

I fought my Sulcata recycling cat throw up.

They really have different taste buds than ours

Better tasting than Mazuri LS!

 

[TerrapinStation]

Our Redfoot will begin eating his droppings almost immediately after letting them go....