Eating Substrate while Basking

[Flipper]

I've had Tallula for 4 weeks now she's a pleasure to take care of and watch! She's a Dalmation Hermann's tortoise. Approximately 6 months old.

I just saw her eating her dirt/peat substrate this am when she was basking how concerned about this should I be? Does it mean she's difficient in something or just has PICA?

 

[wellington]

It could mean she is lacking something. There is a supplement you can give them and for the life of me I can never remember the name of it. It has helped others whose torts try to eat rocks. Someone will be on soon that will know what I'm talking about and will give you the name of it. Sorry I can't remember it.

 

[Yellow Turtle01]

My tortoise tries to do that too, but he never eats a lot! Not sure he likes the taste... I'll go looking for that stuff because (in the beginning, not anymore) he tried to much on rocks too.

 

[wellington]

I found it, it's called Miner-All

 

[Flipper]

I found it, it's called Miner-All

Thanks Barb!

Once I put breakfast in there she quit eating the soil, but I'll get some Miner-All

 

[Flipper]

I have reptivite with d3. Can I just use this more frequently? Or do I need to get the miner-all?

 

[Yellow Turtle01]

Thanks! I'll look for that...

 

[StarSapphire22]

Mine used to do that too. Still does sometimes when I'm slow on breakfast..but I use the repcal with d3 and the herptivite multivitamin and he has stopped mostly. Minerall is good too, but I haven't used it.

 

[Flipper]

Mine used to do that too. Still does sometimes when I'm slow on breakfast..but I use the repcal with d3 and the herptivite multivitamin and he has stopped mostly. Minerall is good too, but I haven't used it.

So should I sprinkle the mineral on the food or put it in a small dish for her to eat when she wants it?

 

[StarSapphire22]

I would mix in with the food. I never "sprinkle". Littlefoot knows what I'm up to then. I make a mazuri/weed mash and mix the vitamins in. I'm tricksy.

 

[Flipper]

When I make mash Tallula won't eat it. She prefers her food intact

 

[StarSapphire22]

When I make mash Tallula won't eat it. She prefers her food intact

I mixed a teensy bit of canned 100% pumpkin in the mash at first and then weaned him off. Worked like a charm. Now he eats it all the time. He PREFERS lettuce and stuff, but will eat it if it's all he's got.

 

[Tom]

I just sprinkle the MinerAll on top. It has a pleasant smell and all of my tortoises eat it right up.

Flipper, Are you using and "infra red" bulb or a red bulb for basking?

 

[Flipper]

@Tom I'm using a regular white household 100w bulb for basking and have a CHE over her humid hide at night that's on 24/7. I plan to get a merc vapor bulb once I'm not taking her out for sunshine for a few hours each week. This will be when the weather cools a bit. Unless you tell me different.

Do you think I should get the MVB now?

 

[StarSapphire22]

Tom is asking because when people use red bulbs, sometimes torts think everything is made of treats and strawberries and they bite/ingest everything. Your lights are fine if she's getting natural UV.

 

[Yellow Turtle01]

Tom is asking because when people use red bulbs, sometimes torts think everything is made of treats and strawberries and they bite/ingest everything. Your lights are fine if she's getting natural UV.

 

[Tom]

@Tom
Do you think I should get the MVB now?

I would wait and get it closer to Fall. Then it will give you good strong UV over the winter months. No need for indoor UV bulbs for tortoises that get access to hours of sunshine every week.

 

[Flipper]

Here is a video I took yesterday when we were outside. BTW, I did order the miner-all

Please tell me if anything looks off about Tallula!

 

[Tom]

It says "blocked plug-in" when I click on it.

 

[Flipper]

Shoot. Why does the Internet curse me?!

Is the link better?

http://s1287.photobucket.com/user/F.../2014-07/20140710_152035_zpsg3djhlqu.mp4.html