Poop eating

[Killslayer51]

Ive had my 2 redfoots about a week now and there is no trace of poop in there tank... I no there pooping I've seen them do it. Is it common for them to eat there own poop? And how do you train them not to eat it if they are

 

[coreyc]

Yep its normal gross but normal that what torts do

 

[wellington]

Normal and as far as I know, you can't train them not to. Just pick it up when you see it.

 

[ascott]

Eeeeewwwww, your torts eat poooooo, never heard of such a nasty thing before.....ewwwwwww....:shy:

 

[Mgridgaway]

It must be delicious!

 

[Nixxy]

Unfortunately, much like dogs eat puke,poop, etc...Tortoises have an appetite for poop.

 

[TortoiseBoy1999]

Eeeeewwwww, your torts eat poooooo, never heard of such a nasty thing before.....ewwwwwww....:shy:

I didn't know that either ewwww

 

[CourtneyAndCarl]

Yup, it's perfectly normal. I have been fortunate enough to never actually have seen my tort doing it yet, but if I ever do, I will probably find the idea much more disgusting than I currently do.

In the wild, tortoises eat their poop to retake-in all the nutrients that their body expelled. It's not really necessary in captivity when they are assured food every day, but I guess they just haven't figured that out yet.

 

[jmaneyapanda]

Well, I'll dissent a little. It may be common, but I won't call it normal. Animals that exhibit coprophagia typically do so for reasons. Whether it be hunger, vitamin, mineral, or trace elements or otherwise. Another possible cause can be poorly digested food, causing reingestion. Regardless, while something that is VERY difficult to track down why, there is a reason, and it's typically not "normal". As I said, common- perhaps. Harmless- quite possible. Necessary to resolve- undecided.

 

[Happy Tortoise]

I wonder why they do it???

-Rabbits eat poo for fiber
-Mice eat it for vitamin C sometimes...
-Mother dogs eat their pup's poo when they are only nursing
-Dogs might make other dogs eat their poo as a sign of domination
-Some people in Asia drink cat poo coffee [I know it is gross!]
So my point is...

Why do torts do it? They must have a reason

 

[Kenazfehu]

My sulcata likes our dog's poop but not his own. Of course I don't give it to him or let him have it, but every once in awhile, he finds some before I see it.
Ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!!!!

 

[jmaneyapanda]

I wonder why they do it???

-Rabbits eat poo for fiber
-Mice eat it for vitamin C sometimes...
-Mother dogs eat their pup's poo when they are only nursing
-Dogs might make other dogs eat their poo as a sign of domination
-Some people in Asia drink cat poo coffee
So my point is...

Why do torts do it? They must have a reason

It very well could be a behavioral trait known as a "fixed action pattern". An "instinct", if you will. Most all the situations you described are nutritional deficiencies that the animal is "somehow" compensating for. Why? Possibly because their diet isn't complete as much as their bodies need. They don't KNOW there is fiber or vitamins or whatever, but theyre hard wired to respond.

How it applies to us- should we be considering that tortoises that coprophage may be missing certain dietary elements or ingredients?

 

[mctlong]

Eeeeewwwww, your torts eat poooooo, never heard of such a nasty thing before.....ewwwwwww....:shy:

LOL!

The best is when they have little poo lipstick stains....

 

[TortoiseBoy1999]

LOL!

The best is when they have little poo lipstick stains....

I did NOT need to know that! -.-

 

[Tortoise Hub]

LOL!

The best is when they have little poo lipstick stains....

I did NOT need to know that! -.-

Yeah thats gross!