General Care Discussion :: Why you don't use gravel.

[Chrisbarnett]

Well, my gf's sister couldn't take care of her turtle at the moment so I am babysitting it for the time being, how long is a mystery.
Anyway, she had him in a tank with gravel... So soon as I got him I switched him to a larger tank with no gravel. That was a couple days ago. Now, fast forward, he has defecated 30 pieces of gravel!. He is doing okay, and eating as normal. Don't use gravel!

Here's some pics:

Here's 8 pieces of gravel sitting on his shell..

And to give you an idea of the sheer amount.. heres 20+ pieces.

[jenaero]

Been there. I had to board my turts at the pet store for a few days when I was moving. There was gravel in there but I didn't say anything because it was only for a few days and they weren't charging me. They were pooping gravel for about a month after that.

[Zeusy]

In the wild, RES eat small rocks and gravel. I can find the information, posted by a turtle expert and provide a link but basically it said that red eared slider and other turtle eat small rocks they find in their foraging. It has not been determined exactly why but observations have shown that the gravel may aid in the turtles digestion or to remove parasites.

Keep a close eye on the turtles scat and notice if there is any long white stingy looking things floating in the water.

[TheComputerGremlin]

Zeusy, turtle expert or not, we don't advocate the use of gravel because, while in the wild they may only occasionally eat a piece of gravel intentionally or accidentally, in captivity they can eat multiple pieces of gravel believing they are food.

More often than not, this leads to impaction, which requires either expensive and highly invasive surgery or the turtle will die. In the wild, turtles can eat whatever they want and can correct things to make sure their diet is working, but in our tanks, they have to rely on us and our commercial diet. Also, in our tanks, there should be no parasites!

[TerrapinStation]

I went to the local mom and pop pet shop today, and guess what littered the bottom of the RES tank? You guessed it - gravel. (Sure, I have it in our RES habitat and have to remove it, but I'm a noob, not a PET STORE.) I casually mentioned (based upon my research here) to an employee that you shouldn't keep RES in habitats with gravel. He rationalized that they feed them heavily to keep them full so they don't eat the gravel.



Puh-lease.

[Turtle_Man_Marc]

TerrapinStation: Try another approach. Try telling them that without gravel it'll be easier to clean and won't get smelly. Less work for them, they might go for it.

[Chrisbarnett]

Gravel total is now up to 35.

[Turtle_Man_Marc]

This came out of one 8 inch female slider that was surrendered to the rescue. I thought she was gravid by her weight. Then she started droppng these all over the tank. This is a good example as to why I quarantine them for a month before going into the community tanks.


And for you yanks, thats a Canadian quarter next to the pebbles. Same size as yours, lol.

[TerrapinStation]

This came out of one 8 inch female slider that was surrendered to the rescue. I thought she was gravid by her weight. Then she started droppng these all over the tank. This is a good example as to why I quarantine them for a month before going into the community tanks.


And for you yanks, thats a Canadian quarter next to the pebbles. Same size as yours, lol.

I can't believe your turtle pooped out a quarter - I don't care if it's Canadian OR U.S.!!


LOL

[Turtle_Man_Marc]

Lol sorry.. I should have explained that it's just for size comparison. My bad. She didn't pass the quarter. Oops.

[TerrapinStation]

Lol sorry.. I should have explained that it's just for size comparison. My bad. She didn't pass the quarter. Oops.

All in good fun, my friend. And regarding your suggestion to me above in regards to the local pet store, I will see what I can do to help out the resident RES's.

[Spike 7.62]

Water fowl will also swallow stones to aid in digestion. In captivity we feed them pellets and foods that don't need to "aided" in digestion even if it's "good" for them in the wild, it would not be in captivity. 4 of my current turtles are rescues and they came from a tank with a lot of the itty bitty blue gravel, but I haven't found any that they have passed.

I keep the painteds/RBS in a mostly bare bottom set up (large river rocks.. I'd like to see them swallow those!) and my baby RES has stones, but none of which are small enough to be eaten yet. When the time comes, he'll get a river rock set up too.

Good pictures, it drives the point home well. I'm sure those don't feel too good coming out either.

-Spike

[bradmeisel]

Wow some of those stones are large.

[mikee]

I have had gravel in my tanks for years and changed to river rocks a couple of years ago. My turtles have eaten and passed rocks for years with no trouble. I did it as a precaution. Turtles in the wild eat rocks; I have no idea if it kills them or what ever. I think the jury is still out on this.

[Chrisbarnett]

Gravel number is up to 45. Danggg.