Re: Am I over or under feeding my Sulcatas????

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Posted by Terry on June 05, 2001 at 13:04:02:

In Reply to: Am I over or under feeding my Sulcatas???? posted by EnJay on June 04, 2001 at 21:03:37:

I agree with Marissa.
Over feeding AND feeding the wrong foods.

If they are housed outdoors, why don't they have have access to graze, a grassy area to spend the day grazing in?

My sulcatas are housed outdoors too, not in an enclosure, they have the run of the yard ( except for the baby).
They have a variety of grasses, clovers etc to graze on.The back yard is for the torts, grasses, clovers, weeds etc cover the entire area.

These tortoises will graze quite happily on lawn grass and edible weeds.
So I really recommend you rethink the enclosure and build it in an area where there is plenty of graze.
Or seed it with a variety of weeds/plants/grasses etc.
Check out Turtle Cafe, you can order seed mixes and check out edible plant lists:

http://www.turtlecafe.net/index.htm

IF there is plenty of graze, you don't need to suplement the diet too much.
My sulcatas get hibiscus flowers daily. In Arizona it should be easy to grow hibiscus.
I would plant at least 8 bushes, the flowers are a great food and supplement a grazing diet nicely.
You can grow most of your own food.
I also have a mulberry tree and feed the leaves. And spineless opuntia cactus.

I agree with Marissas post.
Discontinue the fruit and the pellets/biscuits.
Limit the alfalfa too or discontinue and instead as they're outdoors, get them on a grazing diet.
You can supplement the diet with foods grown right in your yard.

For example. My sulcatas spend a good part of the day grazing,(on lawn grass and weeds etc) even the 90 gram baby in his enclosure.
They get around 10 hibiscus flowers each daily, the baby gets one.
Every couple of days they get mulberry leaves or a small amount of leafy greens.Once a week they also get opuntia cactus.
Not only is this diet much cheaper, it's healthier for your torts.
Hope this helps.
Terry.

Sulcata care sheet.......

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Comments:
: I agree with Marissa. : Over feeding AND feeding the wrong foods. : If they are housed outdoors, why don't they have have access to graze, a grassy area to spend the day grazing in? : My sulcatas are housed outdoors too, not in an enclosure, they have the run of the yard ( except for the baby). : They have a variety of grasses, clovers etc to graze on.The back yard is for the torts, grasses, clovers, weeds etc cover the entire area. : These tortoises will graze quite happily on lawn grass and edible weeds. : So I really recommend you rethink the enclosure and build it in an area where there is plenty of graze. : Or seed it with a variety of weeds/plants/grasses etc. : Check out Turtle Cafe, you can order seed mixes and check out edible plant lists: : http://www.turtlecafe.net/index.htm : IF there is plenty of graze, you don't need to suplement the diet too much. : My sulcatas get hibiscus flowers daily. In Arizona it should be easy to grow hibiscus. : I would plant at least 8 bushes, the flowers are a great food and supplement a grazing diet nicely. : You can grow most of your own food. : I also have a mulberry tree and feed the leaves. And spineless opuntia cactus. : I agree with Marissas post. : Discontinue the fruit and the pellets/biscuits. : Limit the alfalfa too or discontinue and instead as they're outdoors, get them on a grazing diet. : You can supplement the diet with foods grown right in your yard. : For example. My sulcatas spend a good part of the day grazing,(on lawn grass and weeds etc) even the 90 gram baby in his enclosure. : They get around 10 hibiscus flowers each daily, the baby gets one. : Every couple of days they get mulberry leaves or a small amount of leafy greens.Once a week they also get opuntia cactus. : Not only is this diet much cheaper, it's healthier for your torts. : Hope this helps. : Terry.

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