Russian Tortoise poop

[George Hassard]

I took my Russian tortoise Mr Gorbachev to the vet yesterday and they said he was healthy and he even peed on the doctor. I told them he hasn't pooped in a couple days which was odd but I figured if he peed it was fine. I caught Mr Gorbachev eating some tiny wood chips in his enclosure today. I began to worry that if he is eating wood it could be blocking his poop. I've been soaking him every other day and he usually poops when he soaks and he hasn't the last 2 times. I haven't found any poop in his enclosure. And I'm using a new subsrate (pictures attached) which the vet said was suitable. How long before I should worry?

 

[The Tortoise Tree]

What did you tell your vet?

 

[The Tortoise Tree]

If your tortoise ate the substrate I would worry about the pear moss in it because it can cause respiratory issues if consumed.

Though that is not very likely I just worry about alot of things

 

[Lokkje]

Don’t use topsoil. Use cypress mulch or Coco coir or orchard bark. I don’t own a Russian but there should be a care sheet on Russians at the beginning of the threads for Russian tortoises. The topsoil can have toxic substances in it. There are much more experienced tortoise owners who will no doubt post and explain to you in greater detail than I can.

 

[KarenSoCal]

You don't want to be using that stuff. It's hard to read the ingredients, but I think I saw compost and sphagnum moss.

Compost is ground up greenery, and you have no idea what they used. It could be ground up toxic plants, like oleander.

The sphagnum moss is a definite impaction hazard. It shouldn't be used for torts because many of them try to eat it.

As Lokkje said, use orchid (fir) bark, cypress mulch, or coco coir.

In the meantime, feed her opuntia cactus, if you can get it, and some Mazuri. Opuntia has a bit of laxative effect, and Mazuri provides some fiber.

It would be great if you went to your profile and told us approximately where you are. Maybe city and state, or even just state? Different advice for Maine than Arizona.

 

[George Hassard]

You don't want to be using that stuff. It's hard to read the ingredients, but I think I saw compost and sphagnum moss.

Compost is ground up greenery, and you have no idea what they used. It could be ground up toxic plants, like oleander.

The sphagnum moss is a definite impaction hazard. It shouldn't be used for torts because many of them try to eat it.

As Lokkje said, use orchid (fir) bark, cypress mulch, or coco coir.

In the meantime, feed her opuntia cactus, if you can get it, and some Mazuri. Opuntia has a bit of laxative effect, and Mazuri provides some fiber.

It would be great if you went to your profile and told us approximately where you are. Maybe city and state, or even just state? Different advice for Maine than Arizona.

Birmingham Alabama. I have read countless threads, Facebook posts, and my reptile specialist. That sphogumn moss and top soil are fine.

 

[George Hassard]

You don't want to be using that stuff. It's hard to read the ingredients, but I think I saw compost and sphagnum moss.

Compost is ground up greenery, and you have no idea what they used. It could be ground up toxic plants, like oleander.

The sphagnum moss is a definite impaction hazard. It shouldn't be used for torts because many of them try to eat it.

As Lokkje said, use orchid (fir) bark, cypress mulch, or coco coir.

In the meantime, feed her opuntia cactus, if you can get it, and some Mazuri. Opuntia has a bit of laxative effect, and Mazuri provides some fiber.

It would be great if you went to your profile and told us approximately where you are. Maybe city and state, or even just state? Different advice for Maine than Arizona.