mikey~t
New Member
- Joined
- Dec 29, 2013
- Messages
- 12
Hi everyone..
A couple of months ago, whilst playing out, Mikey, our russian horsefield, decided his wide selection of weeds and salad wasnt enough, and took it upon himself to eat stone. We do sprinkle his food with calcium powder and nutrobal.
After the initial worry and panic, I discovered that tortoises do sometimes do this (to supplement their diets of calcium). The stone was white, and likely to be lime.. We monitered him for a week, and he continued to eat and poo, though not like he used to. (Im guessing hes thinking that his little tummy feels full, so no need to eat as much)
Before eating the stone, he used to be waiting for us at 7AM when we got up, sit around in his box and bask under his lamp for hours each day.. Since eating it, (its been two months now) we have to encourage him to get up when its nearly noon, and usually have to encourage him with food too.. He doesnt eat everyday currently, despite the food being available to him.
If its a nice day, we take him outside, and once hes got used to the idea, will roam around and climb for 3-5 hours. If its not as nice outside, we let him out in the dining room where he'll wander around but quickly try and find somewhere to hide and sleep. If we then put him back in his box, its straight to bed, no matter what. (Temps are 30degs in the hot area)
He did goto the vet a month ago (a month after eating the stone), she said he appeared ok, xray'd him, where she said it didnt look the biggest stone, and the fact he did eat and poo something was good news. She also checked his poo for worms, and passed it clear. But our lil boy isnt the same.. We're wondering if it will be a certain amount of time for the acids in his stomach to break it down before hes himself again? Has anyone else had a similar episode..? We obviously dont want to hibernate him later in the year, when he doesnt appear to be himself. (We could go back and get a blood test done, or another xray to see if the stone is getting smaller) but wanted to ask any other advice first..
Thanks. Rob
A couple of months ago, whilst playing out, Mikey, our russian horsefield, decided his wide selection of weeds and salad wasnt enough, and took it upon himself to eat stone. We do sprinkle his food with calcium powder and nutrobal.
After the initial worry and panic, I discovered that tortoises do sometimes do this (to supplement their diets of calcium). The stone was white, and likely to be lime.. We monitered him for a week, and he continued to eat and poo, though not like he used to. (Im guessing hes thinking that his little tummy feels full, so no need to eat as much)
Before eating the stone, he used to be waiting for us at 7AM when we got up, sit around in his box and bask under his lamp for hours each day.. Since eating it, (its been two months now) we have to encourage him to get up when its nearly noon, and usually have to encourage him with food too.. He doesnt eat everyday currently, despite the food being available to him.
If its a nice day, we take him outside, and once hes got used to the idea, will roam around and climb for 3-5 hours. If its not as nice outside, we let him out in the dining room where he'll wander around but quickly try and find somewhere to hide and sleep. If we then put him back in his box, its straight to bed, no matter what. (Temps are 30degs in the hot area)
He did goto the vet a month ago (a month after eating the stone), she said he appeared ok, xray'd him, where she said it didnt look the biggest stone, and the fact he did eat and poo something was good news. She also checked his poo for worms, and passed it clear. But our lil boy isnt the same.. We're wondering if it will be a certain amount of time for the acids in his stomach to break it down before hes himself again? Has anyone else had a similar episode..? We obviously dont want to hibernate him later in the year, when he doesnt appear to be himself. (We could go back and get a blood test done, or another xray to see if the stone is getting smaller) but wanted to ask any other advice first..
Thanks. Rob
