General Care Discussion :: help my turtle keeps on digging under the rocks

[bri456789]

help my turtle squrit keeps digging under the rocks
he wont stop.

[Shavannah]

Hello Bri. Are they larger than his head, or are they gravel? If it's gravel, you need to remove all of it because he could eat it and become impacted. It's dangerous. If they are river rocks bigger than his head, then he's fine, he's just playing or scrounging for leftovers.

[grey goose]

My little guys {aprox 5 mos old) love to dig and poke around in the rocks I've set up in little tupperware containers in the bottom of thier tank. On the weekends, I'll tuck "treats" (fish, carrots, maybe a pellet or two) in the rocks, which are much larger than thier heads, so they don't swollow them. They are like little buldosers digging and poking thru the rocks looking for treats! A good way to keep them busy!

[cprcheetah]

They love to dig in the rocks. Zeke digs if I give him some brine shrimp.

[bri456789]

ohh ok and by the way there tiny rocks but nothing he could eat i feed him every day so he should not be hungey but i thing they do that to get cool right

[bri456789]

ohh ok and by the way there tiny rocks but nothing he could eat i feed him every day so he should not be hungey but i thing they do that to get cool right

[grey goose]

I also give them cuttle bone, the stuff for parakeets, Just remember to remove the hard, brittle backing (they could choke on it). Break it up into 1/4 in. pecies and toss it in!

[Shavannah]

My little guys {aprox 5 mos old) love to dig and poke around in the rocks I've set up in little tupperware containers in the bottom of thier tank. On the weekends, I'll tuck "treats" (fish, carrots, maybe a pellet or two) in the rocks, which are much larger than thier heads, so they don't swollow them. They are like little buldosers digging and poking thru the rocks looking for treats! A good way to keep them busy!

Hi Grey! Do you have a picture of what you described? It sounds interesting, and I am always looking for new ideas to keep Gandalf entertained. Thanks!

[bri456789]

hey i need help hes or her rocks are smaller then him or her but he dont eat them i feed him everyday so he shoulden eat them if he does then i will take him to the vet please pm me on turtle talk please i need help

[marisa]

What kind of help do you need? Even though your turtle doesn't seem to be eating the rocks (gravel? pebbles?) that doesn't mean he won't be tempted to in the future...Since when are turtles full on the food they're given? They're beggers and the majority will continue to eat even when they've realistically had enough. You'll save yourself heartache and money (no vet bill, which can get expensive) if you just take them out of the tank and replace them with something larger (you don't need to even cover the bottom completely).

[Shavannah]

You will not always be watching him/her. The small rocks could be eaten without your knowledge and the turtle can become very sick before you realize what it did. It would save you an expensive vet bill, and possibly the life of your turle if you don't remove the small rocks/gravel. They don't mind if the bottom of tank is empty. Check your dollar stores or craft stores for river rock. They sell it in bags of about 6-12 rocks. Plan ahead for the size, I would get ones that are 2" in diameter and scatter them on the bottom of the tank. The turtle will love to play with them and can't accidentally ingest them.

[grey goose]

My little guys {aprox 5 mos old) love to dig and poke around in the rocks I've set up in little tupperware containers in the bottom of thier tank. On the weekends, I'll tuck "treats" (fish, carrots, maybe a pellet or two) in the rocks, which are much larger than thier heads, so they don't swollow them. They are like little buldosers digging and poking thru the rocks looking for treats! A good way to keep them busy!

Hi Grey! Do you have a picture of what you described? It sounds interesting, and I am always looking for new ideas to keep Gandalf entertained. Thanks!

My niece "borrowed" my camera about a month ago...I haven't seen her or it since (the little stinker). Any how all I did was buy some shallow tupperware, about the size of a sandwich (square) drilled some holes in the bottom so the water would drain out, then, on cleaning day, just rinse them, rocks and all! The rocks are aprox 1" in size, small enough to dig in, too large to swallow.

[Shavannah]

That sounds like a fun idea! I'll have to try that out, thank you!