General Care Discussion :: Get Rid Of the Gravel!!!!! ~ Really

Taking care of your turtle's overall health.

Post Posted: Thu Feb 11, 2010 12:40 am   

If a turtle eats gravel can it throw it up? I had a plant potted in gravel in the tank, with mesh covering the gravel, and my turtle managed to chew through the mesh and swallow a nice big hunk of gravel while I was watching. Can I make it throw up? Or just wait for it to come out the other end "naturally"?
Outlander
 
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Post Posted: Sun Feb 14, 2010 11:59 am   

You will have to wait for it to poop out, and make sure you get it quick before it's ingested again.
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steve
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Post Posted: Mon Mar 01, 2010 2:51 pm   

I'm so glad I read this! We just got our turtle a week ago from Pet Smart and they told me to put gravel in the bottom! :x ugh! As soon as I get home today I will scoop them all out...should I put anything on the bottom to replace it? Or is just the plain glass bottom ok? they also told me to only put 2-3 inches of water in the tank but I noticed that was incorrect after looking at the pics on this site! Where do they get their info from?!
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Post Posted: Mon Mar 01, 2010 3:01 pm   

you could put and on the bottom or keep it clean and the more water you have have is the best you should have gallons of water not inches
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coreyvht
 
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Post Posted: Mon Mar 01, 2010 4:50 pm   

Thanks for posting this and all the feedback on this topic! I am a new RES owner and my tank has gravel, which I plan to replace. Thanks for again for posting this!
Kacee
 
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Post Posted: Mon Mar 01, 2010 9:11 pm   

I used to have gravel in my tanks too. I got a new turtle recently and had gravel in there until someone pointed it out in a picture I posted. I had thought he was too little to eat any, but I've been finding small pieces of stray gravel in his tank.

A bare bottom is much easier to keep. I just scoop out the poop with a net whenever I see it so the tank doesn't look yucky.
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jwinters
 
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Post Posted: Wed Apr 07, 2010 12:02 pm   

so, the best way is, put rock bigger than your RES, so impossible for them to eat, or never put rock at all...
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Post Posted: Fri Apr 23, 2010 2:34 am   

watch out for the pet store guys....
please don't get me wrong here... yes they are there to help you...but they might not know enough about turtles....

since i joined this site... i became much more aware of how to keep my turtle healthy than any other place...

thank you redearedslider.com !!!
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TartarugaVerde
 
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Post Posted: Mon Apr 26, 2010 8:16 pm   

Update: Mr Pink FINALLY pooped out that piece of gravel he swallowed on feb 10th! That's a good 2 months its been sitting in his system. Stupid turtle.
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Post Posted: Tue Jun 29, 2010 3:50 pm   Re: Get Rid Of the Gravel!!!!! ~ Really

Thanks for the post. I removed mine some time after joining the forum and having people tell me to do so but I'm often tempted to put it back in, but if it's this serious then I definitely won't!
coopersnow
 
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Post Posted: Wed Jun 30, 2010 2:15 am   Re: Get Rid Of the Gravel!!!!! ~ Really

Yeah i bought some small gravel the first time and they where to small and he ate a bunch of them.
Few weeks later took him to the vet and they found them in his stomach.
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Ranger The Red Ear Slider
 
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Post Posted: Wed Jun 30, 2010 2:34 am   Re: Get Rid Of the Gravel!!!!! ~ Really

wow... so glad i found this site/forum! i had NO clue how to care for the turtle i saved. Tomorrow i will take the gravel out! I have been given the absolute worst care instructions from websites & pet stores.. Thank you all for such great advice and information.
nattymama
 
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Post Posted: Fri Jul 02, 2010 11:58 am   Re: Get Rid Of the Gravel!!!!! ~ Really

nattymama wrote:wow... so glad i found this site/forum! i had NO clue how to care for the turtle i saved. Tomorrow i will take the gravel out! I have been given the absolute worst care instructions from websites & pet stores.. Thank you all for such great advice and information.


Yeah the people at the pet store told me to get the gravel!
But luckily i was able to return it cause one of the lady's told me the gravel won't harm my turtle and will be good for him.
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Ranger The Red Ear Slider
 
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Post Posted: Fri Jul 02, 2010 5:30 pm   Re: Get Rid Of the Gravel!!!!! ~ Really

Ranger The Red Ear Slider wrote:
nattymama wrote:wow... so glad i found this site/forum! i had NO clue how to care for the turtle i saved. Tomorrow i will take the gravel out! I have been given the absolute worst care instructions from websites & pet stores.. Thank you all for such great advice and information.


Yeah the people at the pet store told me to get the gravel!
But luckily i was able to return it cause one of the lady's told me the gravel won't harm my turtle and will be good for him.


Yeah the pet store here has gravel in there turtle tank and they said it was fine :S
coopersnow
 
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Post Posted: Sat Jul 03, 2010 11:38 am   Re: Get Rid Of the Gravel!!!!! ~ Really

That would suck if someone bought a turtle that had already ate the gravel!
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