Re: Sulcata diet

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Posted by Terry on June 20, 2000 at 16:12:59:

In Reply to: Sulcata diet posted by Jim F. on June 20, 2000 at 14:42:51:

Ok,
I'm just going to chime in, pretty much saying what everyone else has!!!

Sulcatas are grazing herbivores.
There should be not animal protein in their diet whatsover.
No cat food, dog food or meat of any kind.
Feeding animal protein not only contributes to pyramiding but can cause kidney and liver problems, resulting in an early death.

Fruits also should not be fed, feeding fruits leads to loose or runny stools diogestive problems and even colic.
A small piece of fruit once a month won't hurt, but it is not needed. The cactus is fine and is all the *fruit* this species really needs.

Sulcatas need a high fiber, low protein diet.

The ideal way to keep sulcatas is to allow them daily access to an outdoor grazing area.
Grazing on grasses, clovers and other safe/edible plants and weeds is the best diet you can have your sulcata on. No fruit, no animal protein.

If the sulcata is indoors for the winter you can feed it a variety of leafy greens:
Romaine, endive, watercress, mustard greens, escarole, chicory, dandelions and a small amount of collard greens.
Don't feed just one type of green, offer a variety of at least 2 - 3 differnt types each feeding. Add chopped/snipped fresh grass to the greens to provide the fiber. You can also add ground up Timothy Hay.
Remember fiber is the most important ingredient, you can't feed just the greens without adding some form of fiber. Grasses/ Clovers/ Timothy hay.

Hibiscus flowers are good the leaves too, mulberry leaves, grape leaves.

The stools should look like grassy, fat cigars and should be firm, formed and not too wet.

Heather already provided the URL to Sulcata Station but I've linked it for you below as well.
Take your time and explore the whole web site, it contains alot of great sulcata info.

Terry.

Sulcata Station

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: Ok, : I'm just going to chime in, pretty much saying what everyone else has!!! : Sulcatas are grazing herbivores. : There should be not animal protein in their diet whatsover. : No cat food, dog food or meat of any kind. : Feeding animal protein not only contributes to pyramiding but can cause kidney and liver problems, resulting in an early death. : Fruits also should not be fed, feeding fruits leads to loose or runny stools diogestive problems and even colic. : A small piece of fruit once a month won't hurt, but it is not needed. The cactus is fine and is all the *fruit* this species really needs. : Sulcatas need a high fiber, low protein diet. : The ideal way to keep sulcatas is to allow them daily access to an outdoor grazing area. : Grazing on grasses, clovers and other safe/edible plants and weeds is the best diet you can have your sulcata on. No fruit, no animal protein. : If the sulcata is indoors for the winter you can feed it a variety of leafy greens: : Romaine, endive, watercress, mustard greens, escarole, chicory, dandelions and a small amount of collard greens. : Don't feed just one type of green, offer a variety of at least 2 - 3 differnt types each feeding. Add chopped/snipped fresh grass to the greens to provide the fiber. You can also add ground up Timothy Hay. : Remember fiber is the most important ingredient, you can't feed just the greens without adding some form of fiber. Grasses/ Clovers/ Timothy hay. : Hibiscus flowers are good the leaves too, mulberry leaves, grape leaves. : The stools should look like grassy, fat cigars and should be firm, formed and not too wet. : Heather already provided the URL to Sulcata Station but I've linked it for you below as well. : Take your time and explore the whole web site, it contains alot of great sulcata info. : Terry.

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