Re: Well...let me take a shot at it

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Posted by Dave Ennis on March 06, 2002 at 21:23:16:

In Reply to: Frustrated with website information about Russian tort.diet posted by Reptiles on March 06, 2002 at 20:48:26:

I have Russians and I experienced the same contradictions as I did my diet research. Here's what I found to be consistent though: Russians, like all herbivorous species of Tortoises, need lots of calcium, low protein, and lots of fibre. And we stay away from foods that contain high amounts of oxalic acid, which binds with calcium and renders it unabsorbable. Phosphorus also inhibits the absorption of calcium but phosphorus is needed too. So the calcium to phosphoru ratio should be better than 1:1, 2:1 or higher is desirable. I'm providing a link which I feel is solid info especially since some of it comes from Andy Highfield who has written numerous books on turtle and torts and is regarded as an authority on the subject.
I would also like to say that torts should not have a "main diet". There should be a variety of foods given to them. A different food for each day of the week lets say. I feed mine romaine Lettuce,dandelion greens,collard greens,sow thistle,fruitless mulberry leaves,tomatoes with calcium and vitamin supps sprinkled on,mixed vegatables with same supps,cranberries and/or strawberries as a treat,petunias(flowers and leaves),gaillardia flowers,rose petals,assorted weeds,orange honeysuckle flowers,canna lily flowers,coreopsis flowers,carrots. That's a pretty good diet, don't you think?
http://home.earthlink.net/~rednine/nutrient.htm

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and a good shot it is... EJ 03/07/02 (1)
- Re: and a good shot it is...right on EJ! np Dave Ennis 03/07/02 (0)

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: I have Russians and I experienced the same contradictions as I did my diet research. Here's what I found to be consistent though: Russians, like all herbivorous species of Tortoises, need lots of calcium, low protein, and lots of fibre. And we stay away from foods that contain high amounts of oxalic acid, which binds with calcium and renders it unabsorbable. Phosphorus also inhibits the absorption of calcium but phosphorus is needed too. So the calcium to phosphoru ratio should be better than 1:1, 2:1 or higher is desirable. I'm providing a link which I feel is solid info especially since some of it comes from Andy Highfield who has written numerous books on turtle and torts and is regarded as an authority on the subject. : I would also like to say that torts should not have a "main diet". There should be a variety of foods given to them. A different food for each day of the week lets say. I feed mine romaine Lettuce,dandelion greens,collard greens,sow thistle,fruitless mulberry leaves,tomatoes with calcium and vitamin supps sprinkled on,mixed vegatables with same supps,cranberries and/or strawberries as a treat,petunias(flowers and leaves),gaillardia flowers,rose petals,assorted weeds,orange honeysuckle flowers,canna lily flowers,coreopsis flowers,carrots. That's a pretty good diet, don't you think? : http://home.earthlink.net/~rednine/nutrient.htm

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