My baby red ear slider ate small pebbles?

Question

The pet store said the pebbles were fine to put in the tank. They started eating them. What should I do?

Answer 1

Do not use the small colored pebbles meant for fish tanks. Replace them with pebbles large enough they can't swallow. You can get a 50lb sack of such pebbles in the garden section of Home Depot or Wal Mart for about $2-$3.

If they have not eaten too many of them, and the pebbles are small enough, they may pass safely. Turtles and other reptiles commonly eat pebbles to aid in digestion. If they are jagged though or too large, they may cause an intestinal impaction.

I suggest you watch them for defecation to ensure that they pass and that the tutles are going to the bathroom regularly. The minute they stop going to the bathroom, or are not interested in eating, become less active, or sitting with their eyes closed most of the time...YOU NEED TO GET THEM TO A VET. It can kill them if these pebbles don't pass. I would also suggest a trip to the vet anyway before it gets that bad and take a sample of the pebbles they were eating. Return the pebbles to the pet store, find out who told you that they were ok, and demand that they pay for any vet charges. ( if you were indeed accurate in your explanation of the situation to the employee, which most customers are not. )

Also, make sure you have UVB lighting.

Answer 2

Immediately take the pebbles out of the tank! Whoever told you this was a moron. Pebbles are about the worst thing you can do for a turtle. They'll get into the digestive system and can potentially cause respiratory problems and digestive problems which will lead to it not eating, become malnurited and can potentially be deadly. Replace the pebbles with river rocks which are big enough for them not to swallow and more natural for them.

Answer 3

Colored fish tank pebbles look like food. If you need something on the bottom, try either sand or larger pea-size natural color pebbles.

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