Tortoise eating bedding

Frede811

New Member
Joined
Feb 6, 2021
Messages
12
Location (City and/or State)
Støvring
Hello tortoise gurus!
I just seperated my two tortoises and rehoused them but I have run into a problem of sorts? I just added a layer of cypress mulch and now one of my tortoises is just going into his hide and keeps digging and eating a bit of the bedding, is this dangerous for him? The other tortoise is doing good with the cypress, chilling and exploring.
 

Maro2Bear

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Joined
May 29, 2014
Messages
14,712
Location (City and/or State)
Glenn Dale, Maryland, USA
Greetings.

I’m sure all torts occasionally or better yet initially sample new substrate just to see if it’s food, tastes good, etc. Just make sure you have a proper place to feed (slate tile or terra cotta dish) & don’t feed right on the mulch. Should be fine.
 

Frede811

New Member
Joined
Feb 6, 2021
Messages
12
Location (City and/or State)
Støvring
Thanks for the reassurance, I will keep watching him the next couple of days and see if he doesn't fall into place with it.
 

Tom

The Dog Trainer
10 Year Member!
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Jan 9, 2010
Messages
63,265
Location (City and/or State)
Southern California
Whenever I move a tortoise into a new enclosure, I place food leaves all over the enclosure. Anywhere they turn there is food to eat. This lessens their desire to sample the new substrate.

Be sure you aren't using any colored lights, day or night.
 

Frede811

New Member
Joined
Feb 6, 2021
Messages
12
Location (City and/or State)
Støvring
Update, the tortoise is still VERY fond of digging and nipping at the cypress bedding, I am however not sure if he actually eats it. Does anybody have any advice or recommendations?
 

JoesMum

Well-Known Member
10 Year Member!
Joined
Oct 26, 2011
Messages
21,610
Location (City and/or State)
Kent, South East England
Update, the tortoise is still VERY fond of digging and nipping at the cypress bedding, I am however not sure if he actually eats it. Does anybody have any advice or recommendations?
Are you using any coloured bulbs?
Tortoises have excellent colour vision and are attracted to eat things that look like food. Red or purple light colours substrate and they eat that because they’re not intelligent enough to work out that it’s a bad idea.

Photos of your enclosure and lighting might give us some clues as to what is going on
 

TammyJ

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Jun 21, 2016
Messages
7,119
Location (City and/or State)
Jamaica
What is the humidity level in the enclosures? I like their size but they may be too dry.
 

Frede811

New Member
Joined
Feb 6, 2021
Messages
12
Location (City and/or State)
Støvring
The humidity is around 85% at the end enclosure, decreasing the closer you get to under the lamp, which is around 40%. I have given them ab extra watar bowl under the lamp to increase humidity through evaporation. The enclosure get misted a couple of times a day.
 
Top