Sulcata eating cypress mulch

[5.7]

I've caught one of my sulcatas (6 months old) eating pieces of cypress mulch way too often now, I don't understand why if nothing has changed they've always had cypress mulch, the only thing is that I've increased the humidity it is now kind of swampy, but their diet is the same, should I change the substrate? what should I do?

 

[Jacqui]

Have you tried increasing their "real" food? Perhaps some Miner-all might help.

 

[lisalove]

Nodder did as well. Didn't matter what I did, Miner-all, take out the red light, fed more-nothing worked. I changed to coco coir. It's a bit messy, but no chomping it down on substrate anymore!

 

[5.7]

Have you tried increasing their "real" food? Perhaps some Miner-all might help.

Thanks for your quick reply, yes they actually don't finish everything that i give them but they do eat most of it (dpring mix) I dust their food with flukers calcium with vitamin d3 twice a week

---

Nodder did as well. Didn't matter what I did, Miner-all, take out the red light, fed more-nothing worked. I changed to coco coir. It's a bit messy, but no chomping it down on substrate anymore!

Yeah :/ I guess I'll have to change to coco coir now!

 

[lisalove]

I use the loose, not the brick with the wood looking pieces as he tried eating that too!!
I wet it and pack it down with my hand. It helps the messy part a little.
Good luck. It was worth changing it to have the peace of mind of him not choking.

 

[cemmons12]

If coco coir don't work you can use timothy hay, it is ok/good for them to eat that! Good luck.

 

[5.7]

I use the loose, not the brick with the wood looking pieces as he tried eating that too!!
I wet it and pack it down with my hand. It helps the messy part a little.
Good luck. It was worth changing it to have the peace of mind of him not choking.

Aaaah I had 2 bricks that i had ordered in the past lol, yeah I'm constantly checking them out I'm worried they'll choke. Thanks

---

If coco coir don't work you can use timothy hay, it is ok/good for them to eat that! Good luck.

Thanks, not a bad idea considering they can eat it but how can I maintain humidity with timothy hay?

 

[tortoisefanatic]

I use the loose, not the brick with the wood looking pieces as he tried eating that too!!
I wet it and pack it down with my hand. It helps the messy part a little.
Good luck. It was worth changing it to have the peace of mind of him not choking.

Aaaah I had 2 bricks that i had ordered in the past lol, yeah I'm constantly checking them out I'm worried they'll choke. Thanks

---

If coco coir don't work you can use timothy hay, it is ok/good for them to eat that! Good luck.

Thanks, not a bad idea considering they can eat it but how can I maintain humidity with timothy hay?

---

Yes, you can, but you may have to change it out more often than you think. The hay will develop mold much easier than the cypress mulch.