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IS IT NORMAL FOR REPTILES TO EAT STONES OR SOIL ?

First broadcast on www.provet.co.uk .


This information is provided by Provet for educational purposes only.

You should seek the advice of your veterinarian if your pet is ill as only he or she can correctly advise on the diagnosis and recommend the treatment that is most appropriate for your pet.

Pet reptiles will sometimes be seen eating soil or small stones - but is this normal ?

Animals (including reptiles) will sometimes be observed eating unusual foods - and this is called pica. For most species of reptile it is not known whether soil or stone eating is normal or not. However, occasionally stones will obstruct the intestinal tract which may require surgery to correct, so the habit should be discouraged by removing them from  the environment - or change the size of the stones (to be very small or very large) so that they can not cause a problem.

When this form of pica is observed there are several possible explanations :

  • Accidental ingestion - soil or stones are being eaten accidentally with food intake
  • Stones may help to breakdown food in the alimentary tract
  • Stones may be important in controlling buoyancy in aquatic reptiles.
  • Soil/stones may contain nutrients (eg minerals) for the reptiles.

 

Updated October 2013