Feeding and Nutrition :: Do turtles eat their own poo?

[chicha]

Hi guys!! sorry it sounds gross but I've been noticing my turtles when i first got it. I saw its poo lookd like a poo log.. solid but once you touch it, it disintegrates. *yea i touched it* but later i net it out. thank god.

But lately, been a week or so i rarely see its poo anymore. The water's always crystal clear. Do u think it's possible that turtle eat their own poo? eeuuuuu.. I read in some other forums that say it might be yes..
lol lol lol

[Tenodera]

Yup! All turtles eat their own poop. Pretty nasty, eh? But usually they like to eat the flaky poo since the vegetable matter is not digested as well and I guess they want to digest it again?

[TheComputerGremlin]

Just hope your turtle never gets sick, otherwise the vet might as for a stool sample, and good luck getting it! Some people can get around the turtle eating it thing by feeding in a separate container and waiting til they poo and then replacing them in their tank and discarding the poo.

[vivian89]

yeah my does too they dig through the rocks and eat them ewwwww i know

[chicha]

What a Nasty lil fellaa!! Geez how i wish i cud see its stool floats again *LOL* before it's eaten by itself.
Yea i was afraid it's constipated or got ill. But it is always very active, they eyes alert, swimming, even basks every morning, and eat voraciously.

Oghh come onn turtle dont eat itttt.. eeeewwwww

i quote it from other forum that says
"
Their digestive system isnt the best, so the will eat it and get more nutrients out the second time through."

[TheComputerGremlin]

They aren't nasty, it's actually common in the animal world. Dogs will often eat their poo, though that's usually a sign of illness or lack of something. And turtles aren't cute and cuddly, they are cute, but you certainly wouldn't let the turtle kiss you! And if they don't eat it, that just means that it disintegrates and they are swimming in it, getting it all over their little bodies and shells.

[izziepop07]

My turtle pecks at her poo too...I thought it was gross too, but like TheComputerGremlin said I'm glad that it isn't in the water getting all over her shell and all that! Nasty, but oh well!! I still love her!