Re: why is my baby sulcata pyramiding?

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Posted by ugh on May 10, 2000 at 13:38:38:

In Reply to: Re: why is my baby sulcata pyramiding? posted by Heather on May 10, 2000 at 02:11:05:

: Actually, Marissa is probably on the right track, the collards could be the culprit at 32.7% protein if they are fed daily as a staple. My info is found on the nutritional analysis chart listed on the California Turtle and Tortoise Club.
: FYI -
: Kale is 34.6% protein
: Mustard 28.5% protein
: Dandelions are 18.7%

: Grasses and hays are significantly lower than any grocer greens; alfalfa, the highest in protein runs about 17.3% protein, timothy and orchards are significantly lower.

I asked the administrator of the CTTC website
about those protein numbers, since they bear
no resemblance to the numbers on the USDA websites.

He said their numbers are for dehydrated foods.

While there may be a good reason for doing that,
possibly because the hydration of plants may vary,
I don't think it gives you a very accurate picture
of what you are feeding your tortoise.

I don't feed dehydrated kale, so saying kale
is 34% protein is no help at all. Kale,
as it is purchased from the store and fed
to your tortoise is about 3% protein. And
most plant proteins have incomplete amino
acid profiles, so less of the protein is
available compared to animal proteins or
things like tofu.

But if you feed too many greens to your
tortoise, he could end up getting too much
protein just from the sheer mass of the food.

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Comments:
: : Actually, Marissa is probably on the right track, the collards could be the culprit at 32.7% protein if they are fed daily as a staple. My info is found on the nutritional analysis chart listed on the California Turtle and Tortoise Club. : : FYI - : : Kale is 34.6% protein : : Mustard 28.5% protein : : Dandelions are 18.7% : : Grasses and hays are significantly lower than any grocer greens; alfalfa, the highest in protein runs about 17.3% protein, timothy and orchards are significantly lower. : : I asked the administrator of the CTTC website : about those protein numbers, since they bear : no resemblance to the numbers on the USDA websites. : He said their numbers are for dehydrated foods. : While there may be a good reason for doing that, : possibly because the hydration of plants may vary, : I don't think it gives you a very accurate picture : of what you are feeding your tortoise. : I don't feed dehydrated kale, so saying kale : is 34% protein is no help at all. Kale, : as it is purchased from the store and fed : to your tortoise is about 3% protein. And : most plant proteins have incomplete amino : acid profiles, so less of the protein is : available compared to animal proteins or : things like tofu. : But if you feed too many greens to your : tortoise, he could end up getting too much : protein just from the sheer mass of the food.

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