DBT Eating Rocks!

[jjchronowski]

jjchronowski

January 1, 2002 at 6:50 pm #16488

Hi Everyone, Yesterday I put new aquarium rocks into my tank with my turtles. They had never experienced rocks like these and naturally got curious. My larger DBT, approx 2 years, ate one rock. It was large enough for me to worry that he might not be able to pass it through his digestive track (I actually watched him eat it). Should I be worried? He is still eating normal. Is there anything I could do? Thanks alot. -Joe Chronowski St. Mary’s City, MD

[Julie Tougas]

Julie Tougas

January 1, 2002 at 7:02 pm #16489

My DBT eat the coral on the bottom often. I belive that it is ingested to help rub off any parasites that my be in their digestive tract. Julie jjchronowski wrote:

[Todd Stockwell]

Todd Stockwell

January 1, 2002 at 7:23 pm #16490

I kept turtles in aquariums with undergravel filters for a while before giving up on the UGFs and going back to plain bottoms. Most of my turtles ate rocks regularly when rocks were available. One Mississippi map spent most of her day eating rocks. None ever had a problem from the rocks. Just judging from posts to several of the lists I’m on, I think small, fine gravel might tend to cause more impaction problems than larger sizes such as you are describing. Keep an eye on his eating and activity, but I wouldn’t worry immediately. Todd jjchronowski wrote:

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