Hello again everyone,

Over the weekend Mr Brown ( Hermans, nearly two) was out in the garden when my husband noticed that he had something in his mouth that he appeared not to be able to swallow due to the size of it, it was a big piece of what looked like dry cat poo or a dried up slug , it really looked like he was choking, he couldn't close his mouth and was moving his little head up and down as if struggling... so my husband removed it gently from his mouth, he seemed fine and went on wondering around the garden without any problems,  The same thing happened the following day, different part of the garden, what looked like a different substance, but he had a massive amount in his mouth for such a little chap, and seemed to be struggling again, so hubby did his stuff and took it out of his mouth, is this normal, do tortoises stuff that much into there mouths that they can't shut it, he seems ok, but now i'm worried about leaving him incase he does it again ... 

So any theories greatly received

Thanks

Debi 

I have the same problem sometime with noris he eats ought he can get in his mouth,its a worry and i dont know why they do it but like you i would like to know.,so sorry i cant answer your question but i know how you are feeling.

This is not text book but what i think they are doing is 'tasteing' just what like babies do when they learn textures ect. especially if they have not been out doors a great deal. The other thing it MAY be is seaking out calcium, so provide plenty of cuttlebone around the tortoise area to allow it to munch freely and try to lift any small stones that could cause impaction until the 'baby' stage is over.

Hopefully someone will provide a more proven theory .

Good luck to you both with your outdoor trips,

Regards Elaine

Thanks chaps,

he hasnt done it again so fingers crossed...he seems fine, and i have done as suggested re the cuttle fish, so lets hope that will sort it out.

it was quite scary, i think he might have choked if we hadn't seem him, it really was that big !!, any how looks like were gonna be spending lots of time tortoise sitting as i'm too scared to leave him alone. 

cheers

Debi 

Hi my tort does this all the time. I have her in a tabletop home and no matter what bedding i put in with her she has to eat it. I caught her with a gob full of grass pellet and she was obviously distressed. Needless to say i am putting her on a sand soil mix. With the biggest dish of food she will eat anything else (including pebbles) I was told this was down to her checking out the environment i just think its greed!!!

Last year one of my russians was eating something and ripping it apart, on close inspection i noticed it was the guts of a dead mouse that one of my cats had left in the outside enclosure and she wasnt impressed when we pulled it from her mouth. Tortoises will eat anything including cat/dog poo so make sure you check around your garden before putting your tort out. If they are seeking out pebbles the chances are they are lacking in calcium so as Elaine says cuttle bone is good for this.

Ali

Hi she has cuttle bone it is litterally anything she stands on she gets an urge to eat it!

Hiya,

Has her weight been ok please?

Hi

my tortoise has just had an awful choking experience he was spinning round and round with his head fully inside his shell so i couldnt get near him to pull out the offending object, talk about stressed out!!! Anyway he is ok now thanks to a tiny knife and a bit of patience but I was wondering if anyone could tell me where i can get some cuttlebone from i havent seen any anywhere - many thanks

Hi, if you go into Etsy, a person down south sells cuttlefish cheap. A big bag, and they've not been killed, just washed up on the beach with the weather. And I've had a fight with my Tommy to get to let go of slugs and cat poo. I want to be sick writing it.