General Care Discussion :: turtle nips floating ramp

[taxman48]

We have a 8" RES, lately I find little pieces of the floating dock when I go down in the mourning..I have to use the net to get them all out. Never had this problem before. We have had him for over 18 years now..what is he tryng to tell us?..

one of these:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Zoo-Med-Turtle- ... 1c3ce8d05d

[steve]

It's pretty common with this dock. You can use a different type and some have said that cuttlebone has helped too. If there is algae on it, I would clean that off as well.

[MyTurtleMartina]

I had the same problem with my Turtle. My turtle constantly nipped and even ate tiny pieces of this basking dock. Supposedly it's safe if digested.

[steve]

I don't know about being safe to digest... a lot of it is styrofoam.

[MyTurtleMartina]

I don't know about being safe to digest... a lot of it is styrofoam.

Well when I asked the reptile pet store, they said it was safe to digest, I did not really believe it.

[steve]

Right, a small amount might pass safely but what if a lot is consumed? That could cause a serious impaction.

[MyTurtleMartina]

Right, a small amount might pass safely but what if a lot is consumed? That could cause a serious impaction.

Same thing I was worried about, which is why I removed mines and went looking for a better one, well that was part of the reason.

[penelope]

Another turtle dock eater here. Just keep using the net and get it out when you see it. Penelope went on an "eat the dock" campaign a couple years ago. She eventually got tired with that and moved on to fighting the heater. Hopefully it is just a phase that will pass soon. If it is just little nips, then give it a couple weeks and see how it goes. If big hunks are missing and you only see a tiny bit floating on the tank, then that would infer that a lot is going in the belly. If that is the case then yank it.

[MyTurtleMartina]

Another turtle dock eater here. Just keep using the net and get it out when you see it. Penelope went on an "eat the dock" campaign a couple years ago. She eventually got tired with that and moved on to fighting the heater. Hopefully it is just a phase that will pass soon. If it is just little nips, then give it a couple weeks and see how it goes. If big hunks are missing and you only see a tiny bit floating on the tank, then that would infer that a lot is going in the belly. If that is the case then yank it.

I don't get why turtles have to munch on everything, my Turtle is the same way, always bothering the heater or the filter... occasionally the rocks.

[steve]

Some think that they are just bored. Turtles in larger tanks and ponds don't usually have the same problem, but then again, some have aggressive personalities.