- Joined
- Oct 13, 2012
- Messages
- 54
My box turtle has recently started eating her bedding. I've had her for a year now, and she's only started doing this in the last month or so. I think it started when she laid eggs a few weeks ago (which seem to be doing fine luckily).
But several times now, she's passed large pieces of bark bedding. She's still eating and acting fine so I'm guessing there's no internal damage from them, but it's not something I want to risk. It's kind of confusing, since she is never fed in her enclosure and when she's out exploring I've never seen her try to eat non-food items.
Her diet is pretty balanced; about 60% protein (made up of fish and worms), and 50% vegetables (mostly leafy greens like spinach, with some sweet potato and carrot as well). She gets the occasional blueberry as a treat.
I'm about to go looking for some bedding that she either can't eat, or that won't hurt her if she does. Coco-fiber/Eco-earth is not an option for her; her eyes have permanent scarring, and it gets in her eyes and irritates them very quickly even with daily cleanings.
I'm thinking something like carefresh? It's paper, and should be difficult for her to eat... Until I get to the store, she just has an old towel to hide in. After seeing her pass a piece of bark almost 2 inches long, I immediately removed everything.
btw, she does have a hide with sphagnum moss, so she does have a humid area to go to when she wants it.
Any ideas on why she is suddenly doing this and what a good safe bedding would be??
But several times now, she's passed large pieces of bark bedding. She's still eating and acting fine so I'm guessing there's no internal damage from them, but it's not something I want to risk. It's kind of confusing, since she is never fed in her enclosure and when she's out exploring I've never seen her try to eat non-food items.
Her diet is pretty balanced; about 60% protein (made up of fish and worms), and 50% vegetables (mostly leafy greens like spinach, with some sweet potato and carrot as well). She gets the occasional blueberry as a treat.
I'm about to go looking for some bedding that she either can't eat, or that won't hurt her if she does. Coco-fiber/Eco-earth is not an option for her; her eyes have permanent scarring, and it gets in her eyes and irritates them very quickly even with daily cleanings.
I'm thinking something like carefresh? It's paper, and should be difficult for her to eat... Until I get to the store, she just has an old towel to hide in. After seeing her pass a piece of bark almost 2 inches long, I immediately removed everything.
btw, she does have a hide with sphagnum moss, so she does have a humid area to go to when she wants it.
Any ideas on why she is suddenly doing this and what a good safe bedding would be??