Re: Thanks Terry

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Posted by Terry on December 26, 2000 at 12:21:19:

In Reply to: Thanks Terry posted by hedvika on December 25, 2000 at 11:36:25:

You're welcome.
When we got our first sulcata a fully grown male, we were told by the pet store to feed it cabbage, veggies, fruits, everything it shouldn't be fed.
We had done no real research and had no idea about tortoises.

We took him to the vet a couple of days after purchasing him as he was lethargic and we thought a check up would be a good idea.
Blood tests revealed that his liver and kidney were shot, the vet gave him six months to live :(

The vet told us that he'd seen this many times, as people fed totally the wrong foods to these tortoises. Which resulted in kidney/liver failure and early death.
Interestingly this sulcatas shell was absolutely perfect, no pyramiding, not a bump or even a scratch.
Maybe because he'd been kept outdoors all his life in a large area.
But he had been kept mainly on concrete, not grass.
Such a shame when we live in Hawaii and there's so much natural grass/graze available.

Anyway, the wrong diet can cause all kinds of problems, pyramiding or digestive. It broke our hearts to have to take this sulcata back to the pet store.
But we did our research before getting the next one, I'd hate to see anybody lose their tort simply because the diet was incorrect.
Pet stores often give terrible advise when it comes to housing/diets etc.

Anyway, I'm rambling again, glad I could help a bit!!
Terry.

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: You're welcome. : When we got our first sulcata a fully grown male, we were told by the pet store to feed it cabbage, veggies, fruits, everything it shouldn't be fed. : We had done no real research and had no idea about tortoises. : We took him to the vet a couple of days after purchasing him as he was lethargic and we thought a check up would be a good idea. : Blood tests revealed that his liver and kidney were shot, the vet gave him six months to live :( : The vet told us that he'd seen this many times, as people fed totally the wrong foods to these tortoises. Which resulted in kidney/liver failure and early death. : Interestingly this sulcatas shell was absolutely perfect, no pyramiding, not a bump or even a scratch. : Maybe because he'd been kept outdoors all his life in a large area. : But he had been kept mainly on concrete, not grass. : Such a shame when we live in Hawaii and there's so much natural grass/graze available. : Anyway, the wrong diet can cause all kinds of problems, pyramiding or digestive. It broke our hearts to have to take this sulcata back to the pet store. : But we did our research before getting the next one, I'd hate to see anybody lose their tort simply because the diet was incorrect. : Pet stores often give terrible advise when it comes to housing/diets etc. : Anyway, I'm rambling again, glad I could help a bit!! : Terry.

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