Habitat - Indoor :: HELP! Sand Problem

[theturtlekeeper]

I just bought another turtle yesterday and his name is fast and he is eating the sand!! is this normal? my other turtle never ate sand,but fast is and he isn't eating the turtle pellets! please answer quick i don't want him to choke

[adam85491]

The sand should pass through..mine ate sand for the first hour I put it in the tank and off and on the rest of the day...if he doesn't stop by tomorrow, you should probably take it out, but it is a judgment thing.

Also, I found that turtle bone (cuttlebone) distracted him from the sand for a little while..put some fresh pieces in the tank.

[theturtlekeeper]

why isn't he eating the pellets i gave him? and he only ate 2 fishes yesterday and thats it...

[adam85491]

The sand is new and he's more interested in that...if he has never eaten them then try different pellets or soak them in tuna juice.

If your turtle is small, two fish might be a lot.

[jozzep]

He's not eating the pellets cause you just got him...It usually takes a week or 2 for new turtles to start eating.
It's fine if he eats the sand....It will pass.That's why most people advise it.