Re: Pyramidded Sulcata/oh-oh

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Posted by EJ on June 14, 2000 at 12:34:35:

In Reply to: Pyramidded Sulcata? posted by Kim on June 14, 2000 at 01:50:48:

Kim, There is no direct answer to your question. This is a hotly debated subject among turtle and tortoise keepers. The best you can do is to first provide an optimal environment.(For a sulcata 75 - 95 F) That is, try to provide a good temperature gradient so the tortoise can control it's optimal body temperature. Make sure the tortoise has access to clean fresh water, daily.(a 1/4 inch high plant saucer, glazed, works well for this) Feed the tortoise a varied diet which is usually described as a high fiber low protein diet. Stay away from animal product foods(dog food, cat food and the like) Provide plenty of calcium carbonate in the form of cuttlebone or powder without supplements. Find a good multivitamin( I recomend Centrum) and use lightly on the food once a week. Finally there is no substitute for good ol sunshine. There is a new bulb on the market that is showing much promise that seems to come closest to the sunshine and that is this Active UV Heat bulb.
This is the basics or minimums. An important point that should be stressed is the varied diet. We really don't KNOW what nutritional needs there are for these animals. So by providing a varied diet you can't go wrong. For grazers such as the sulcata you really want to focus on weeds and grasses.
If you are interested in store bought greens. I can post a list that has given me some excellent results in combination with the above regime.

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Re: Pyramidded Sulcata/oh-oh Terry 06/14/00 (3)
- Re: Pyramidded Sulcata/oh-oh/Terry EJ 06/14/00 (2)
  - Re: Pyramidded Sulcata/oh-oh/Terry tERRY 06/14/00 (1)
    - Re: Pyramidded Sulcata/oh-oh/Terry EJ 06/14/00 (0)

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: Kim, There is no direct answer to your question. This is a hotly debated subject among turtle and tortoise keepers. The best you can do is to first provide an optimal environment.(For a sulcata 75 - 95 F) That is, try to provide a good temperature gradient so the tortoise can control it's optimal body temperature. Make sure the tortoise has access to clean fresh water, daily.(a 1/4 inch high plant saucer, glazed, works well for this) Feed the tortoise a varied diet which is usually described as a high fiber low protein diet. Stay away from animal product foods(dog food, cat food and the like) Provide plenty of calcium carbonate in the form of cuttlebone or powder without supplements. Find a good multivitamin( I recomend Centrum) and use lightly on the food once a week. Finally there is no substitute for good ol sunshine. There is a new bulb on the market that is showing much promise that seems to come closest to the sunshine and that is this Active UV Heat bulb. : This is the basics or minimums. An important point that should be stressed is the varied diet. We really don't KNOW what nutritional needs there are for these animals. So by providing a varied diet you can't go wrong. For grazers such as the sulcata you really want to focus on weeds and grasses. : If you are interested in store bought greens. I can post a list that has given me some excellent results in combination with the above regime.

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