Re: Sulcatta baby help...

[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ The Tortoise Forum ] [ FAQ ]

Posted by tcc on November 29, 2000 at 18:52:59:

In Reply to: Sulcatta baby help... posted by Doug on November 29, 2000 at 14:21:00:

Hi Doug,
If your turtle is healthy, they require an overnight drop in temps for a healthy immune systerm. I let mine go as low as 65.
Many ppl use organic potting soil and sand. I myself prefer hay with newspaper underneath it.
Re eating:
What are the temps on the warm side? Is your tortoise drinking? Does it have th chance to thermoregulate?
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.

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

: Read the postings for info on my new baby Sulcatta, "Giles." Got him/her at a herp show on 11/25. I live in NJ so,this time of year there's no option of allowing stays outside. I prepared a 6"x12" tupperware container with bagged potting soil (no vermiculite or other moisture-holding substance) as bedding, a Snapple bottle lid as water dish and have provided the tort a diet of sunflower sprouts and kale for the past few days until I get to the store to get some organic veggies. Here's the questions: 1)is the potting soil OK for bedding? 2)I havent' observed Giles eating nor evidence of such. Change the food/water on a daily basis and I'm starting to get worried. The vendor had a few dozen so I trusted the source and Giles still has the remians of the "belly button" on the unserside. Should I be worried about the eating or is it sustaining on the yolk from it's pre-hatchling home? Giles looks healthy and is pretty active albeit the sleeping I observe a lot of. After reading the posts I intend on transferring to a larger enclosure. I keep tarantulas as well and have them in a closet that stays nice and warm at night (75-80 F) where I keep the container and take it out before I leave for work for sunlight. Any comment on what I'm doing right and wrong would be very much appreciated. Thanks in advance for any assistance.

Sulcata & Leopard Tortoise Forum

Follow Ups:

Sulcatta baby help... Doug 11/30/00 (0)

Post a Followup

Name:
E-Mail:

Subject:

Comments:
: Hi Doug, : If your turtle is healthy, they require an overnight drop in temps for a healthy immune systerm. I let mine go as low as 65. : Many ppl use organic potting soil and sand. I myself prefer hay with newspaper underneath it. : Re eating: : What are the temps on the warm side? Is your tortoise drinking? Does it have th chance to thermoregulate? : 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. : 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 : : : Read the postings for info on my new baby Sulcatta, "Giles." Got him/her at a herp show on 11/25. I live in NJ so,this time of year there's no option of allowing stays outside. I prepared a 6"x12" tupperware container with bagged potting soil (no vermiculite or other moisture-holding substance) as bedding, a Snapple bottle lid as water dish and have provided the tort a diet of sunflower sprouts and kale for the past few days until I get to the store to get some organic veggies. Here's the questions: 1)is the potting soil OK for bedding? 2)I havent' observed Giles eating nor evidence of such. Change the food/water on a daily basis and I'm starting to get worried. The vendor had a few dozen so I trusted the source and Giles still has the remians of the "belly button" on the unserside. Should I be worried about the eating or is it sustaining on the yolk from it's pre-hatchling home? Giles looks healthy and is pretty active albeit the sleeping I observe a lot of. After reading the posts I intend on transferring to a larger enclosure. I keep tarantulas as well and have them in a closet that stays nice and warm at night (75-80 F) where I keep the container and take it out before I leave for work for sunlight. Any comment on what I'm doing right and wrong would be very much appreciated. Thanks in advance for any assistance.

Optional Link URL:
Link Title:
Optional Image URL:

[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ The Tortoise Forum ] [ FAQ ]