Re: How much food should I give?

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Posted by tcc on October 19, 2000 at 16:06:36:

In Reply to: How much food should I give? posted by Lyan on October 18, 2000 at 21:55:25:

Hi Lyan,
Twice a day sounds like allot. You might try a even/odd day feeding schedule and allow him to graze on edible weeds and stuff in your yard if its untreated. The fresh air exercise and sun is so important for these little guys.
Im going to paste a list of some of the better foods that are easy to find ok?
Enjoy your new friend,
Theresa aka tcc :)

FEEDING:
Be aware that heavily sprayed pesticides in the grocery store can potently
have long tern effects, esp. to a animal that is entirely vegetarian. If
your feeding grocery produce, chose organic or wash and rinse well with mild
soapy water.
Also when feeding grocery produce, take care to remove any plastics and
metal wrappers so your torts don't accidentally ingest these.
Russian Tortoises are grazing animals by nature and prefer broad leafed
grasses and weeds and edible flowers. In the wild they are known to eat as
many as 150 different plants a day- its this variety that many believe is to
be the key
to their longevity.
I recommend providing a grazing area for as much of the year as possible.
The combination of proper diet, exercise, daily Calcium supplementation and
sunshine are crucial to these guys health.
An all grocery food diet lacks fiber and trace minerals and are too high in
sugars and water. This often causes digestion problems, loose stools,
parasitic problems etc.
Tortoises are known to be quite sensitive, In a grazing area, or when
collecting wild foods, be cautious of areas that are chemically treated.
Clovers, Dandelions, Opuntia and Plantain (the weed) and other nutritious
weeds and grasses may be available right in your yard or on a nearby vacant
lot. Here is a link the will help you to collect great natural foods with a
link to a picture to identify it on many of the Latin names:
http://www.turtlecafe.net/ediblelandscaping.htm
This is also a wonderful link for landscaping an enclosure :)
The prepared food that the pet shops sell are an awful diet for any
tortoise!
These are the better of the easily obtainable foods:
(Remember, think variety)
Regularly:
Dandelion, Chicory, Clover, Escarole, Radicchio, Endive, Opuntia Cactus
(despined or smooth) Watercress, lawn grasses and weeds- (not chemically
treated) Hibiscus flowers and leaves, Grape leaves, Plantain, Mulberry
leaves, Sow thistle, Romaine,

Occasionally: Squash, Sweet Potatoes, Fig leaves, Carrots, Carrot
Tops,Romaine, Red Leaf Lettuce, Turnip Greens, Apples, Collard greens,
Mustard Greens,

Rarely: Kale, Swiss chard, Broccoli, Bokchoy, Iceberg lettuce, Parsley,Beet
Greens, Fruit in general.

*Never* feed Spinach, Cabbage, Green Beans, Or any kind of beans for that
matter.

Mixing larger portions of things your tort likes in chopped "salads"
and slowly cut back on "treat"foods in this mix, is one way to get them
adjusted to a better diet.
If you tort is healthy and has water available at all times, it wont hurt
them to go a couple days w/o food, esp. if it helps them
to be hungry enough to appreciate a healthier diet.

For more information on why foods above are listed as they are, please visit
the links below.
http://www.micronet.net/users/~turtles/turtlefood.html
http://home.earthlink.net/~rednine/nutrient.htm
http://www.tortoise.org/general/tntdiet.html
http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/Vines/5504/min.html
Tortoises Trust FAQ Turtle / tortoise frequently asked questions:
http://www.tortoisetrust.org/care/faq.html

<~~~>x<�>x<~~~>x<�>x<~~~>x<�>x<~~~>
tcc266@swbell.net
Keeper of Guacu & Denver
http://www.TurtleCafe.net
Sulcata & Leopard Tortoise Forum:
http://www.egroups.com/group/African-Tortoise
<~~~>x<�>x<~~~>x<�>x<~~~>x<�>x<~~~>

: My Russian tortoise is about 3 inches long, and I guess he might be about 3 years old. I feed him twice to three times a day. I have the following questions: 1. How much food should I feed him so that I am not overfeeding or underfeeding him? 2. What are the good times to feed Russian tortoise? 3. I feed him broccoli, carrot, tomato, red-leaf lettuce, and romaine lettuce. Sometimes I also feed him grapes. Are there anything I just mentioned not appropriate for a Russian tortoise? Thank you very much for your suggestions.

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Comments:
: Hi Lyan, : Twice a day sounds like allot. You might try a even/odd day feeding schedule and allow him to graze on edible weeds and stuff in your yard if its untreated. The fresh air exercise and sun is so important for these little guys. : Im going to paste a list of some of the better foods that are easy to find ok? : Enjoy your new friend, : Theresa aka tcc :) : : FEEDING: : Be aware that heavily sprayed pesticides in the grocery store can potently : have long tern effects, esp. to a animal that is entirely vegetarian. If : your feeding grocery produce, chose organic or wash and rinse well with mild : soapy water. : Also when feeding grocery produce, take care to remove any plastics and : metal wrappers so your torts don't accidentally ingest these. : Russian Tortoises are grazing animals by nature and prefer broad leafed : grasses and weeds and edible flowers. In the wild they are known to eat as : many as 150 different plants a day- its this variety that many believe is to : be the key : to their longevity. : I recommend providing a grazing area for as much of the year as possible. : The combination of proper diet, exercise, daily Calcium supplementation and : sunshine are crucial to these guys health. : An all grocery food diet lacks fiber and trace minerals and are too high in : sugars and water. This often causes digestion problems, loose stools, : parasitic problems etc. : Tortoises are known to be quite sensitive, In a grazing area, or when : collecting wild foods, be cautious of areas that are chemically treated. : Clovers, Dandelions, Opuntia and Plantain (the weed) and other nutritious : weeds and grasses may be available right in your yard or on a nearby vacant : lot. Here is a link the will help you to collect great natural foods with a : link to a picture to identify it on many of the Latin names: : http://www.turtlecafe.net/ediblelandscaping.htm : This is also a wonderful link for landscaping an enclosure :) : The prepared food that the pet shops sell are an awful diet for any : tortoise! : These are the better of the easily obtainable foods: : (Remember, think variety) : Regularly: : Dandelion, Chicory, Clover, Escarole, Radicchio, Endive, Opuntia Cactus : (despined or smooth) Watercress, lawn grasses and weeds- (not chemically : treated) Hibiscus flowers and leaves, Grape leaves, Plantain, Mulberry : leaves, Sow thistle, Romaine, : Occasionally: Squash, Sweet Potatoes, Fig leaves, Carrots, Carrot : Tops,Romaine, Red Leaf Lettuce, Turnip Greens, Apples, Collard greens, : Mustard Greens, : Rarely: Kale, Swiss chard, Broccoli, Bokchoy, Iceberg lettuce, Parsley,Beet : Greens, Fruit in general. : *Never* feed Spinach, Cabbage, Green Beans, Or any kind of beans for that : matter. : : Mixing larger portions of things your tort likes in chopped "salads" : and slowly cut back on "treat"foods in this mix, is one way to get them : adjusted to a better diet. : If you tort is healthy and has water available at all times, it wont hurt : them to go a couple days w/o food, esp. if it helps them : to be hungry enough to appreciate a healthier diet. : For more information on why foods above are listed as they are, please visit : the links below. : http://www.micronet.net/users/~turtles/turtlefood.html : http://home.earthlink.net/~rednine/nutrient.htm : http://www.tortoise.org/general/tntdiet.html : http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/Vines/5504/min.html : Tortoises Trust FAQ Turtle / tortoise frequently asked questions: : http://www.tortoisetrust.org/care/faq.html : : <~~~>x<�>x<~~~>x<�>x<~~~>x<�>x<~~~> : tcc266@swbell.net : Keeper of Guacu & Denver : http://www.TurtleCafe.net : Sulcata & Leopard Tortoise Forum: : http://www.egroups.com/group/African-Tortoise : <~~~>x<�>x<~~~>x<�>x<~~~>x<�>x<~~~> : : My Russian tortoise is about 3 inches long, and I guess he might be about 3 years old. I feed him twice to three times a day. I have the following questions: 1. How much food should I feed him so that I am not overfeeding or underfeeding him? 2. What are the good times to feed Russian tortoise? 3. I feed him broccoli, carrot, tomato, red-leaf lettuce, and romaine lettuce. Sometimes I also feed him grapes. Are there anything I just mentioned not appropriate for a Russian tortoise? Thank you very much for your suggestions.

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