Slates for Tortoises?

Question

Hello, can anyone tell me what the advantages are of having a slate in a tortoises enclosure? Does it help cut down their claws? and also where can i get one from? Thanx

Answer 1

You put a slate in the tortoise's enclosure so you can put their food on. Because if you put their food on the hay or hemp then they'll probably swallow some hay as well and will have problems with their stomach which will result into death in the end.

Don't cut down the claws. It's natural and it does not bother them.

If you have a broken tile in your house you can use it as slate.

Answer 2

i have a big bit of slate in my enclosure it can help with the claws but i have it in there in a position that gets the sun, the sun warms it up and my tortoises love to go on the slate and bask, so anything like slate or stones in a sun spot and the tortoises will love laying on it, if they start feeling a bit cool they go back to it as it holds the warmth for ages, my tortoises love their slate but they also have a concrete paving slab in there as well this does the same job and it can help maintain the claws as well, i don't have a problem with over grown claws and only trim them when they come out of hibernation, the rest of the time they are kept maintained by what is in the pen, best of luck with your tortoise honey,

Answer 3

Hi, I agree with all the above answers but they also need to scrape their beaks a little too.  Eating off slate is a useful way of keeping their beaks trim.  Cuttlefish is also a good way and it provides calcium.