Why did my star tortoise eat dog poop?

[Stoneman]

I have been extremely reluctant to allow my tortoises outside, because of countless risks of them being outside. Today I allowed a couple to do a little exploring in the yard. I turn away for five minutes, go and check on a tort and she is eating an old piece of dog poop. So much for ever giving them a chance of being outside on their own. They just ate, bathed, and there was grass all around. She also just laid a few eggs last week.

Does anyone have any articles or studies explaining why they do this? Could it be the fats or meats in the dog's diet they are craving? Micronutrients? Electrolytes?

 

[Tom]

Mammal feces is a fairly large part of the diet of at least some species of wild tortoises. The only field study I've seen referencing this was with leopard tortoises, but it makes sense that others species would have similar predilections.

You just need to make a large enclosure for them where the dogs don't have any access. Loose in the back yard is a recipe for disaster in many ways. Many ways to make a safe enclosure for them:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/cheap-easy-simple-sunning-enclosure.14680/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/simple-sunning-enclosure.104351/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/thread...table-but-safe-outdoor-baby-enclosures.30683/
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/outdoor-enclosures.121732/

 

[Cowboy_Ken]

And to think, a few short weeks ago we were talking about washing our hands after handling them. Now with Dog poo chances I think about washing his lips before I start kissing on him.

 

[Stoneman]

Mammal feces is a fairly large part of the diet of at least some species of wild tortoises. The only field study I've seen referencing this was with leopard tortoises, but it makes sense that others species would have similar predilections.

You just need to make a large enclosure for them where the dogs don't have any access. Loose in the back yard is a recipe for disaster in many ways. Many ways to make a safe enclosure for them:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/cheap-easy-simple-sunning-enclosure.14680/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/simple-sunning-enclosure.104351/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/thread...table-but-safe-outdoor-baby-enclosures.30683/
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/outdoor-enclosures.121732/

Yes, it was reckless indeed. I only let a couple out with three people on guard duty, so I was playing a little where's waldo but overall there was good coverage. I usually just bathe them outside when the weather is not extreme. But, I got a wild hair, which I regret now.

With chickens, in order to maintain biosecurity, part of what I do is keep them in an enclosed and covered area. Even wild bird poop could get all of my flocks sick and sent to their end after disease inspections. So I am extremely nervous and careful about their biosecurity. It makes me a little sick about what the tortoise could have picked up. The dog could have had latent salmonella. Pinworms for sure. Other parasites likely as well.

Tom did the field journal provide any explanations of a possible motive of the leopard tortoise? I know they are very similar to stars in a lot of ways. I have read it is common for tortoises to consume their own poop, and the poop of other members in the enclosure. I have witnessed this myslef. The explanation the author gave was "microbiological diversity." I am not sure if I buy the explanation. My guess is still electrolytes, micro or macronutrients. Like how elephants eat mud for the micronutrients they contain. It would be great if studies were conducted to determine recommended daily allowances of macro and micronutrients for all tortoise species. There has got to be a lot more to it than just calcium phosporus ratios that I can't stop seeing quoted as the primary nutrient concern.

 

[Stoneman]

Watching all those threads now too. Very clever and practical ideas.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

It goes both ways. So always be mindful.
Dogs also find tortoise poop to be delicious.

 

[galapagosgirl1]

Mammal feces is a fairly large part of the diet of at least some species of wild tortoises. The only field study I've seen referencing this was with leopard tortoises, but it makes sense that others species would have similar predilections.

You just need to make a large enclosure for them where the dogs don't have any access. Loose in the back yard is a recipe for disaster in many ways. Many ways to make a safe enclosure for them:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/cheap-easy-simple-sunning-enclosure.14680/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/simple-sunning-enclosure.104351/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/thread...table-but-safe-outdoor-baby-enclosures.30683/
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/outdoor-enclosures.121732/

Could you please provide us with the material referencing the "mammal feces as part of the diet" please? Thank you

 

[Tom]

Could you please provide us with the material referencing the "mammal feces as part of the diet" please? Thank you

Wish I could.

@Neal @Will @jaizei
Can one of you guys find that old thread with this study? I've lost track of it.

 

[Tom]

Y
Tom did the field journal provide any explanations of a possible motive of the leopard tortoise?

I think the motive would be hunger. Many ungulates do not have efficient digestive systems and they work more on bulk than on efficiency. Taller mammals can reach forage that is way out of reach for a little tortoise and then the mammals start the digestive process and leave behind convenient pellets for the tortoises to consume. The tortoises might also get higher levels of protein and/or calcium from some of the carnivore feces they might encounter.

 

[Neal]

Wish I could.

@Neal @Will @jaizei
Can one of you guys find that old thread with this study? I've lost track of it.

I don't recall that one exactly. Is it the study about the food habits of leopard tortoises in Tanzania? If so, the link is here: http://africantortoise.com/AfJEcoPardalis2001-1.pdf

I haven't read this in a long time, but I don't remember anything about them eating mammal feces, so this may not be the study you were thinking about.

 

[TammyJ]

I have been extremely reluctant to allow my tortoises outside, because of countless risks of them being outside. Today I allowed a couple to do a little exploring in the yard. I turn away for five minutes, go and check on a tort and she is eating an old piece of dog poop. So much for ever giving them a chance of being outside on their own. They just ate, bathed, and there was grass all around. She also just laid a few eggs last week.

Does anyone have any articles or studies explaining why they do this? Could it be the fats or meats in the dog's diet they are craving? Micronutrients? Electrolytes?

Why do tortoises eat dog poop? Because it is there.

 

[Kapidolo Farms]

Could you please provide us with the material referencing the "mammal feces as part of the diet" please? Thank you

I believe you Tom. Leopards and most african species that live where hyenas live also eat Hyena poop as they, the hyenas, chew bone for the marrow and poop out ground bone. Cal desert tortoises eat rabbit and rodent poop. Kalahari tent tortoises eat hoofstock poop. That's how they get nutrients when all the other stuff is gone. Many hoofstock that don't wander have communal pooping areas, but those that wander drop their load randomly, sorta like home delivery when your a tortoise with small legs and not much home range, while the hoofstock wander for miles everyday. You'd think the great plains of Africa would be knee deep in poop, but many many animals eat other animals' poop.

All this poop eating is why the old type of Mazuri is so well accepted, IMO, 'cause - well - it looks like poop.

 

[TammyJ]

I believe you Tom. Leopards and most african species that live where hyenas live also eat Hyena poop as they, the hyenas, chew bone for the marrow and poop out ground bone. Cal desert tortoises eat rabbit and rodent poop. Kalahari tent tortoises eat hoofstock poop. That's how they get nutrients when all the other stuff is gone. Many hoofstock that don't wander have communal pooping areas, but those that wander drop their load randomly, sorta like home delivery when your a tortoise with small legs and not much home range, while the hoofstock wander for miles everyday. You'd think the great plains of Africa would be knee deep in poop, but many many animals eat other animals' poop.

All this poop eating is why the old type of Mazuri is so well accepted, IMO, 'cause - well - it looks like poop.

Great information!

 

[Cowboy_Ken]

I believe you Tom,
All this poop eating is why the old type of Mazuri is so well accepted, IMO, 'cause - well - it looks like poop.

That’s the exact reason for me. It looks like crap!

 

[Iochroma]

Somewhere I have saved several papers documenting Mediterranean tortoises eating various animal craps. Also Kinyx reports.
Unpleasant it may be, but tortoises eat sh!t.
They clearly gain some kind of important nutrition from this.
Don’t freak out.

 

[Stoneman]

Somewhere I have saved several papers documenting Mediterranean tortoises eating various animal craps. Also Kinyx reports.
Unpleasant it may be, but tortoises eat sh!t.
They clearly gain some kind of important nutrition from this.
Don’t freak out.

Thank you. Could you message the papers, or their sources once you find them?

 

[King Arthur]

Thank you. Could you message the papers, or their sources once you find them?

I'm confused, I read dont let tortoise eat dog poo, to it's what they do, they get some type of nutrient from it. So which is it ?

 

[dmmj]

Avoid dog poop because of possible meds in said poop

 

[King Arthur]

Avoid dog poop because of possible meds in said poop

What other things could be a problem ?

 

[Tom]

I'm confused, I read dont let tortoise eat dog poo, to it's what they do, they get some type of nutrient from it. So which is it ?

We were talking about what wild tortoises do in the wild. This does not mean we should feed them dog crap in our back yards.