Re: sulcata questions

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Posted by tcc on November 09, 2000 at 00:15:07:

In Reply to: sulcata questions posted by oo7 on November 08, 2000 at 21:54:59:

: what benefit is it to add a cuttlebone to their pen?...also, they are eating hardy on romain and green leaf lettuce. i have tried chopped carrots and yellow squash but they arent to crazy about it. does anyone else have any suggestions as to what i can add to their diet?.oh, and does anyone know where i can get that dried food that looks like dog kibble but its for tortoises?..thanx.

Hi,
The cuttle bone is good for a readily available calcium source and it also helps to keep their beaks nice and trim.
Here is some feeding info ok?
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 plastic and
metal wrappers so your torts don't accidentally ingest these.
These tortoises are grazing animals by nature and require about 70% grasses
and 30% weeds, cactus 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,Plantain, Chickweed, Other misc. edible
weeds- (not chemically treated) Hibiscus flowers and leaves, Grape leaves,
Mulberry leaves, Sow thistle and Romaine, Orchard and Timothy Hay.

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.

GETTING THEM TO EAT HEALTHIER FOODS:
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.
You might also try putting a bit of squash (or some other foods that they
especially like) in the blender and pouring this over the new foods that
your introducing. This is a good chance to sneak extra Calcium in if needed.

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Comments:
: : what benefit is it to add a cuttlebone to their pen?...also, they are eating hardy on romain and green leaf lettuce. i have tried chopped carrots and yellow squash but they arent to crazy about it. does anyone else have any suggestions as to what i can add to their diet?.oh, and does anyone know where i can get that dried food that looks like dog kibble but its for tortoises?..thanx. : Hi, : The cuttle bone is good for a readily available calcium source and it also helps to keep their beaks nice and trim. : Here is some feeding info ok? : 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 plastic and : metal wrappers so your torts don't accidentally ingest these. : These tortoises are grazing animals by nature and require about 70% grasses : and 30% weeds, cactus 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,Plantain, Chickweed, Other misc. edible : weeds- (not chemically treated) Hibiscus flowers and leaves, Grape leaves, : Mulberry leaves, Sow thistle and Romaine, Orchard and Timothy Hay. : 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. : GETTING THEM TO EAT HEALTHIER FOODS: : 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. : You might also try putting a bit of squash (or some other foods that they : especially like) in the blender and pouring this over the new foods that : your introducing. This is a good chance to sneak extra Calcium in if needed.

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