General Care Discussion :: Eating sand

[Phedresmarque]

I know this topic has been brought up before but none of them sounded like the turtle was actually taking chomps out of the sand. My little guy is new to his tank since yesterday so he's still exploring. One other thing...his other tank was bare on the bottom, no substrate. At what point should I start to worry about him eating too much sand? Or can he eat too much sand? I'd like to keep the sand since he's just started to kind of dig in it (cute!). But obviously if this is a danger I will not hesitate to take the sand out.

Also, he is eating his actual food normally.

Thanks for any help/advice!

[steve]

I would remove it if he's constantly eating it. A little sand will pass through his digestive system.

[PridgNYC]

Mine took a few chomps in his first week or two with the sand, he usually spits them back out though. I haven't seen him eat sand in quite a while though, and he's been in there for 5 months now.