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After about a month of soaking a big log of mopani wood, I finally placed it in my turtle's tank last week. Today, I noticed that it briefly went from being Samuel's "love interest/scratching post" to being a "fun thing to bite." I definitely consider him a destructive turtle (we went through many a floating basking dock before I found his current plexiglass one), but I've never been bitten by him, so I'm not sure how strong his jaw really is. I know this type of wood is very dense, but do you think he could ever get a chunk off of it? I haven't seen him manage it yet, but it's a bit hard to tell. Thanks!

It's possible, I guess you can only wait and see. I use cork bark, so occasionally small, pellet sized pieces come off or rather is bitten off. He does it less now and it made some of his poop float

My turtles bite their mopani also. I'm not worried about it because I figure they might also do it in the wild. Maybe to keep their Beaks trimmed. Too much protien in the diet can cause excessive beak growth. Letting them chew cuttle bone can also help with this. I read somewhere that turtles in captivity don't have enought rough foods in their diet to keep their beaks trimmed. Maybe that's ehy they chew on things.

Thanks! I never thought of them as having beaks that need trimming (now the bird/turtle cuttlebone use makes even more sense). Unfortunately, it looks like my tank somehow got some practically-microscopic worms, and I'm not sure if I could ever fully clean the log. (We're going in for yet another vet visit about this tomorrow, hopefully they'll get to the bottom of things; still, I hate to lose the fancy decor!)

Kansasslider wrote: I read somewhere that turtles in captivity don't have enought rough foods in their diet to keep their beaks trimmed. Maybe that's ehy they chew on things.

This is very interesting to me. What is considered rough foods? How can we possibly replicate this for them in captivity besides cuttle bone? I have experienced up close and personal the difference in turtle's "beaks" so to speak. I didn't realize that they needed to somehow keep this trimmed up.

I'm not saying this is fact. My comments are based on articles I have read. Rough foods I assume would be things like crayfish, snails, fish bones. Ive read that My Diamondbacks like to eat coral. I guess for the same reason.

Well its an interesting theory.. I know birds beaks need to be sanded down.. Most times this is accomplished with cuttlebone and putting sandpaper coverings over their perches.. Some Parrots actually have to go to the vet and have it done with a sort of drummel tool. There could be some truth in it..

I think some older turtles need to have their beaks trimmed also.

My turtle used to bite the fake resin wood I had in my tank too. I thought they may just do this out of boredom. Have you considering buying some live food, like minnows, to feed to them from time to time?

I've thought about it, but always worried about them bringing in parasites or diseases (although it turns out I still got worm-like critters in there somehow :/ ). I'm also the kind of sappy person that will get attached to any animals that I keep, which is why I've stuck to dried crickets and worms as treats for now. He does have a couple of feeders like this, which he finds fascinating: http://www.amazon.com/Zoo-Med-Laborator ... B008729KUE

(not the same as a real fish, I know, but he still seems pretty entertained!)

I do to, that's why I rescued a vole the other day from the cat in the backyard.. Couldn't stand watching the cat throw it around and bat at it in fun. But I did buy Phil his first feeder fish couple days ago. I only bought one for just that reason, didn't want some to get away and watch them under stress untill he finally decided to grab em.. I put that fish in his tank and walked away.. wasn't five minutes he had it and it was gone.. I did feel a bit bad for the fish, but I had to let logic prevail. I also adopted Phil with the idea I wanted to give him as much of a natural life as possible. At least he didn't play around with his food like the cat

Hey don't wanna be a pest but this seems to have a lot of people talking umm I'm a newbie how do I post my own question hehe plz answer back

What is your question? Posting a new topic is easy, just go to the forum section that's relevant to your question, and click the little button near the top left that says "new topic*"

Or do as most and just ask right here

Heh, let's have a mega thread