General Care Discussion :: Turtle not pooping?

[KimxxBunnie]

Ive recently started to notice that my RES has not been pooping, and if she is, its maybe once a day. The tank use to have poop on the bottom every day. Now i dont ever see any. Ive just noticed this within the past 3 or 4 days. I use to have gravel in there, before i found out about how harmful it is. I took it out and now I have nothing on the bottom.
Anybody have any ideas? Could it be she ate a rock and is not able to pass it? She seems fine, still swimming and eating, though she seems to be begging alot more than usual. I know they sometimes eat their poop, but ive never noticed her doing that before. Im really worried, think she needs a vet visit? thanks.

[twyangzii]

Is she warmed up enough?

[KimxxBunnie]

the water temp the past few days has been about 80

shes never been a big one on basking, i keep that around 90. she still goes up there normally.

[SpotsMama]

Try feeding her in a separate container. Often (but not always) turtles poop shortly after eating. If she does, then you know she's ok.

Turtles can get constipated. If that's going on, you should see him/her kicking at the tail area with his/her back feet.

If a rock or rocks are stopping her up, she should stop eating pretty soon. Is she still eating normally?

If you continue to be concerned, the only sure way to know if there is gravel inside is get a vet to xray her.

Good luck - keep us posted.

[KimxxBunnie]

well she seems to be eating alot more and not "chewing" she keeps trying to swallow everything whole. Like i feed her the reptomin sticks and she swallows them whole, which it looks painful to me, but i dont know. She use to just bite pieces off. Other than that her eating is normal.

[mike hill]

Kim-Bun -- A couple of things to consider: 1. She may be eating her own poop but eventually she should poop something especially if she is eating regularly. 2. When my turtles get constipated I do this: I dip two pellets or soak them in mineral oil and feed that to them along with other pellets and usually in a day they start moving. It may be a little messy but what the heck. Check with your vet before you try this. They cannot digest the mineral oil and it passes right through. M.