Re: I live near dallas...

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Posted by tcc on April 23, 2001 at 22:05:28:

In Reply to: I live near dallas... posted by Billy88 on April 23, 2001 at 15:09:18:

: What about you?

Hey,
Im about 20 miles N of Austin :)

: It has been pretty humid here lately.
: The red foot was what drew me too tortoises. It is so beautiful. I'll have to look into it.
: Could you give me some sites? I'm going to the library today to get a book on tortoises if they have any.
: could you give me some sites on the leps too? I don't know much about them.

I can only fit so much into one post but this is the Refoot saved info that i have ok?
I'll send you gobs of leop stuff offlist.
tcc :)

http://www.tortoisetrust.org/articles/feeding_redfoots.html

REDFOOT
http://atschool.eduweb.co.uk/bcgonweb/southam.html
http://geocities.com/Heartland/Meadows/4159/beasley.html
http://www.tortoise.org/archives/carbonar.html
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/thott/care.htm
http://www.kingsnake.com/rockymountain/RMHPages/RMHredfoot.htm
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Meadows/4159/beasley.html
http://www.collieworld.com/nada/
http://www.angelfire.com/on3/pardalis/Redfoot.html
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/thott/schildk.htm
Saved info from the Tortoise Trust:
_________________________
TT Newsletter - current issue: Feeding the Redfoot Tortoise.

Synopsis: G. carbonaria and G. denticulata are both opportunistic omnivores
in nature. Herbivorous composition of diet varies seasonally (wet
season/dry season). Fruit can constitute up to 70% of intake in the wet
season - in the dry season, fruit comprises about 40% of the diet. Green
vegetation is also consumed, along with a high percentage of flowers.
Animal protein is consumed as available. Termites are consumed regularly.
In captivity: We found that 25 g (1 oz) of low fat rehydrated dog chow per
week was about right for a 9 kg (20 pound) adult. For a juvenile, a
really, really small amount is called for - otherwise, the problems you
describe are commonplace. You may ask.... why bother at all? Well, I
*think* they can suffer an amino acid deficiency on a 100% herbivore diet.
I say *think*. I cannot conclusively prove this - but I have studied these
in some detail now, and I strongly suspect that this is the case.

Andy
http://www.tortoisetrust.org
-----------------

"Castano and Lugo (1981) reported a preference in G. carbonaria for red and
yellow flowers. Pritchard and Trebbau (1984) confirmed this by observing G.
carbonaria in Venezuela. Fruits remain the main component in the diet of
this species, however, comprising up to 70% of the total intake during the
wet season and approximately 40% during the dry season. Fruits are normally
consumed in a very ripe state after they have fallen from the tree. Some
wild species consumed include: Pasiflora coccinea, P. vespertilio, Ficus
sp., Philodendron sp., Spondias luteas, Duguetia surinamensis, Mauritia
flexuosa, Pouteria hirta and Brosimum potabile. After fruits, flowers are
the second most popular food of the Red-foot tortoise. Favoured flowers in
the wild include Jacaranda copaia, Mauritia flexuosa and Cholospermum
orinocense. During the dry season, such flowers constitute up to about 25%
of the diet of this species. The rest of the diet (about 20%) is comprised
of green leaves and stems and, (a further 20%) miscellaneous fungi, mosses,
termites and carrion. .....

.... unlike Leopard or African spurred tortoises, their digestive tract
copes easily with this richer, sweeter, higher carbohydrate intake. In
captivity, avoid over-reliance on banana: watermelon, papaya, guava, plums,
pineapple and cantaloupe are all far more suitable.....

A diet that would prove disastrous to a Leopard tortoise is likely to prove
optimal for a Red-foot or Yellow-foot tortoise. For the same reason,
attempting to sustain a Red-foot tortoise on a diet of mixed grasses would
not be advisable; this species is ill equipped to effectively metabolise
large quantities of silica-rich grass".

Extracts from: Feeding the Redfoot Tortoise (shortly to be posted on TT
website) and "Tortoise and Turtle Feeding Manual" (Carapace Press
http://www.vidi-herp.com)

Andy Highfield
Tortoise Trust

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Comments:
: : What about you? : : Hey, : Im about 20 miles N of Austin :) : : It has been pretty humid here lately. : : The red foot was what drew me too tortoises. It is so beautiful. I'll have to look into it. : : Could you give me some sites? I'm going to the library today to get a book on tortoises if they have any. : : could you give me some sites on the leps too? I don't know much about them. : I can only fit so much into one post but this is the Refoot saved info that i have ok? : I'll send you gobs of leop stuff offlist. : tcc :) : http://www.tortoisetrust.org/articles/feeding_redfoots.html : REDFOOT : http://atschool.eduweb.co.uk/bcgonweb/southam.html : http://geocities.com/Heartland/Meadows/4159/beasley.html : http://www.tortoise.org/archives/carbonar.html : http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/thott/care.htm : http://www.kingsnake.com/rockymountain/RMHPages/RMHredfoot.htm : http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Meadows/4159/beasley.html : http://www.collieworld.com/nada/ : http://www.angelfire.com/on3/pardalis/Redfoot.html : http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/thott/schildk.htm : Saved info from the Tortoise Trust: : _________________________ : TT Newsletter - current issue: Feeding the Redfoot Tortoise. : Synopsis: G. carbonaria and G. denticulata are both opportunistic omnivores : in nature. Herbivorous composition of diet varies seasonally (wet : season/dry season). Fruit can constitute up to 70% of intake in the wet : season - in the dry season, fruit comprises about 40% of the diet. Green : vegetation is also consumed, along with a high percentage of flowers. : Animal protein is consumed as available. Termites are consumed regularly. : In captivity: We found that 25 g (1 oz) of low fat rehydrated dog chow per : week was about right for a 9 kg (20 pound) adult. For a juvenile, a : really, really small amount is called for - otherwise, the problems you : describe are commonplace. You may ask.... why bother at all? Well, I : *think* they can suffer an amino acid deficiency on a 100% herbivore diet. : I say *think*. I cannot conclusively prove this - but I have studied these : in some detail now, and I strongly suspect that this is the case. : Andy : http://www.tortoisetrust.org : ----------------- : "Castano and Lugo (1981) reported a preference in G. carbonaria for red and : yellow flowers. Pritchard and Trebbau (1984) confirmed this by observing G. : carbonaria in Venezuela. Fruits remain the main component in the diet of : this species, however, comprising up to 70% of the total intake during the : wet season and approximately 40% during the dry season. Fruits are normally : consumed in a very ripe state after they have fallen from the tree. Some : wild species consumed include: Pasiflora coccinea, P. vespertilio, Ficus : sp., Philodendron sp., Spondias luteas, Duguetia surinamensis, Mauritia : flexuosa, Pouteria hirta and Brosimum potabile. After fruits, flowers are : the second most popular food of the Red-foot tortoise. Favoured flowers in : the wild include Jacaranda copaia, Mauritia flexuosa and Cholospermum : orinocense. During the dry season, such flowers constitute up to about 25% : of the diet of this species. The rest of the diet (about 20%) is comprised : of green leaves and stems and, (a further 20%) miscellaneous fungi, mosses, : termites and carrion. ..... : .... unlike Leopard or African spurred tortoises, their digestive tract : copes easily with this richer, sweeter, higher carbohydrate intake. In : captivity, avoid over-reliance on banana: watermelon, papaya, guava, plums, : pineapple and cantaloupe are all far more suitable..... : A diet that would prove disastrous to a Leopard tortoise is likely to prove : optimal for a Red-foot or Yellow-foot tortoise. For the same reason, : attempting to sustain a Red-foot tortoise on a diet of mixed grasses would : not be advisable; this species is ill equipped to effectively metabolise : large quantities of silica-rich grass". : Extracts from: Feeding the Redfoot Tortoise (shortly to be posted on TT : website) and "Tortoise and Turtle Feeding Manual" (Carapace Press : http://www.vidi-herp.com) : Andy Highfield : Tortoise Trust

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