Leopard eats soil substrate!

[goodxy]

My leopard showed an immediate interest in the soil substrate I provided, as recommended by many of you on this forum.

As a matter of fact, he started eating the soil!! Should I be concerned??

Thank you!

 

[Seiryu]

It's not uncommon for them to taste new things.

The problem comes in when he is actively eating it after a few days of it being there.

Try feeding him more than usual. The only other thing could be he is looking for nutrients that he is not getting from the food.

Grasses, Hays, weeds, Collard greens, Turnip greens, Radish greens, endive, escarole, radicchio, hibiscus are all some of the best you can feed him. If I remember correctly, you were feeding him romaine? It has very little nutritional value.

Don't forget to use calcium multiple times a week, and a vitamin supplement will help once or twice a week.

 

[bikerchicspain]

As Rob said it is normal for them to try stuff when its new,just to see if they can eat it.

If the tort still eats it on a regular basis try putting a whole cuttle fish in with the tort, and a varied diet of the right food for your species.. I find that my torts love nibbling on cuttle fish and it helps keep their beak nice and trim, plus the advantage of getting the amount of calcuim that they need. I never give calcuim sups to any of my large torts and their shelss are nice and smooth,no sign of MBD. Sometimes you just have to trust them..

I only give calcuim to the yearlings. It is cuttle fish grated into a powder, Also some people buy carbonated calcuim from the chemist.

 

[Tom]

Are you using any "colored" light bulbs as a heat source? Like those infrared heat bulbs. Several people have had trouble with that recently. If yes, then switch to regular incandescents or MVBs and the problem should disappear.

 

[goodxy]

ThanK you for all the help! I will keep an eye On him when possible.

 

[goodxy]

Are you using any "colored" light bulbs as a heat source? Like those infrared heat bulbs. Several people have had trouble with that recently. If yes, then switch to regular incandescents or MVBs and the problem should disappear.

I am using a heat emitter now.

I switched off the FloRepti 10.0 UVB after some negative reads on the forum..
has the problem been fixed yet???