Tortoise Eating Substrate

[LeanneW]

Help!

I am currently in the process if changing Pebbles substrate.

the base layer is a sterilised top soil, sand and limestone grit mix.

The top will be coir.
The problem is presently she is trying to eat the base layer.

I am wondering if she will be okay having a little munch or if it is bad and what can I do?

She has food and I have her in a bowl at the moment until I work out what to do, but she is more interested in eating her foot because there is soil on it an not the food.

Who knew that tortoise could be stressful, haha.
Thanks
Leanne

 

[TechnoCheese]

A change of substrate is definitely in order. Sand and limestone grit should never be any part of the substrate. Sand is a huge impaction risk as well as a skin, eye, and cloaka irritant, and the limestone grit encourages them to eat it.

Change it to only coco coir, orchid bark, or cypress mulch.

 

[LeanneW]

okay I have removed that mix and put the coir on.

though she is having a much on that.

Do you think that will stop once the novelty has worn off?

Thank you

 

[Ray--Opo]

Hello and welcome, Use the coco coir as the base and orchid bark or cypress mulch on top. The coco coir is digestible from what I hear. Maybe put some food in Pebbles dish to get Pebbles to eat something else.

 

[TechnoCheese]

okay I have removed that mix and put the coir on.

though she is having a much on that.

Do you think that will stop once the novelty has worn off?

Thank you

Coco coir is fully digestible, so if she eats some, it’s fine. She’ll likely stop after a while.