Feeding and Nutrition :: Poopie eater

[TNTurtles]

Just this week I started feeding my 2 RES in a seperate container at about 10 am every day. Later on that afternoon I sometimes see one of them eating poop. Now i heard someone else say something about this in another post, but is it ok that they do this? Should i try feeding them later on in the day? It just seems so weird to me lol

[missibsu]

I have never heard anyone say that it is bad for your turtle to eat a little poop...I mean come on doesn't everyone??? Just kidding, lol. It is kinda gross to watch. Just don't encourage it, maybe have other things available, like cuttlebone (since you feed in another container.)

[steve]

See if you can find out when your turtle will poop. Sometimes they poop right after eating, so having a regular feeding schedule and some patience might help you figure it out.

[ellman605]

Turtles eat poop, dogs eat poop, most animals eat poop. It's disgusting but i think that they think their poop looks like pellets so they eat it. Just a thought

[GMoneyjr]

I've heard that its normal....and even good for them? Some animals need the vitamins that are produced by their intestinal bacteria wall....and if they are not completely absorbed when passing through, they'll get their vitamins that were lost by eating their poop. I'm not sure if they are like rabbits, but many animals such as rabbits have their intake of nutrients after they pass through the large intestine....unlike humans who get all of their nutrients in the small intenstine before it goes on to become poop.

[TNTurtles]

soo yay! my turtle who eats poop is....normal! lol Thats so encouraging to hear about the ones you love

[fishandcandy]

Unless you scoop it out, they'll eat it.

[marisa]

I'd feed earlier in the day rather than later (I try to feed my turts mid - late morning). It would give them more time to bask and digest the food (they need heat to do this) and more time to swim/exercise to work off the calories.