Re: just a couple of questions

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Posted by Terry on December 01, 2000 at 17:44:46:

In Reply to: Re: just a couple of questions posted by christy on December 01, 2000 at 15:31:32:

Hi,
you need to offer a bigger variety of food.
When it's not possible for the tortoise to go outdoors and graze there are other foods you can feed.
Try a mixture of Romaine Lettuce and Endive, or dandelions.
You can cut grass from your yard with scissors, then snip it into small pieces and add it to the Endive/Romaine mix.
You can also feed chicory, collard greens ( in small amounts) Red and Green leaf lettuce, watercress, mustard greens.
However I've found with all my tortoises that Endive and Romaine are a great favorite.
So maybe make those two the base and mix in small amounts of other recommended greens.
Rose petals are okay but not favored by my sulcatas, Red hibiscus flowers are though, so give them a try. Mixed in with the greens.

Do you have UV lighting?
Also you need a heat gradient during the day.
Around 86-88 degrees in the warm end (under the basking lamp), but there must also be a cooler side around 75-77 degrees.
The heat gradient is important, as the tortoise must be able to choose and move between the warmer and cooler areas.

In a small fish tank it's hard to create a heat gradient, as tanks heat up quickly.
If it's too hot the tortoise will suffer, if it's too cool it won't be able to get it's body temperature up enough to be interested in food.
So put a thermometer in both ends and monitor the temperatures.
Around 86-88 under the heat lamp in the warm end, but there MUST also be a cooler side, around 75 degrees.

Do you soak the tortoise at all?
If not soak it in very shallow (only up to the bottom of it's chin) luke warm water, every other day for around 10 minutes.
As it gets older/bigger you won't need to soak it as much.

Check out sulcata station, I've linked it below, explore the whole site, you'll find a lot of good info.
You can also subscribe to the Sulcata Station email list, another great way to get hands on advise.
Hope this helps.
Terry.

Sulcata Station

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: Hi, : you need to offer a bigger variety of food. : When it's not possible for the tortoise to go outdoors and graze there are other foods you can feed. : Try a mixture of Romaine Lettuce and Endive, or dandelions. : You can cut grass from your yard with scissors, then snip it into small pieces and add it to the Endive/Romaine mix. : You can also feed chicory, collard greens ( in small amounts) Red and Green leaf lettuce, watercress, mustard greens. : However I've found with all my tortoises that Endive and Romaine are a great favorite. : So maybe make those two the base and mix in small amounts of other recommended greens. : Rose petals are okay but not favored by my sulcatas, Red hibiscus flowers are though, so give them a try. Mixed in with the greens. : Do you have UV lighting? : Also you need a heat gradient during the day. : Around 86-88 degrees in the warm end (under the basking lamp), but there must also be a cooler side around 75-77 degrees. : The heat gradient is important, as the tortoise must be able to choose and move between the warmer and cooler areas. : In a small fish tank it's hard to create a heat gradient, as tanks heat up quickly. : If it's too hot the tortoise will suffer, if it's too cool it won't be able to get it's body temperature up enough to be interested in food. : So put a thermometer in both ends and monitor the temperatures. : Around 86-88 under the heat lamp in the warm end, but there MUST also be a cooler side, around 75 degrees. : Do you soak the tortoise at all? : If not soak it in very shallow (only up to the bottom of it's chin) luke warm water, every other day for around 10 minutes. : As it gets older/bigger you won't need to soak it as much. : Check out sulcata station, I've linked it below, explore the whole site, you'll find a lot of good info. : You can also subscribe to the Sulcata Station email list, another great way to get hands on advise. : Hope this helps. : Terry.

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