What species do you have? Some are more sensitive to these issues....

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Posted by Greg_978 on October 04, 2001 at 13:01:57:

In Reply to: I use Mazuri posted by Richard Ffie on October 04, 2001 at 12:16:17:

: Caution! All too often we compare two different means of determining the protein level of a food item, and then use them interchangeable.

: If the water is included as a percentage of the weight then nutritional charts show very low numbers for protein. If the water is not included as a percentage of the weight then the percentage of protein is very high. This gives drastically different protein levels for the same food item and cannot be compared to each other.

: Mazuri tortoise diet is 15 % protein. This compares to endive at 25.7 % protein, collards at 32.7 % protein, and squash at 22.9 % protein (calculated after removing the water). In this example a tortoise could not survive on a dry diet that is only 4 % protein. It would literally starve to death!

: Trained nutritionists have developed most commercially prepared tortoise diets and know what they are doing. I have found that most commercial diets are excellent and possibly better than a haphazard mix of what we might find at the grocery store. A well-planned and balanced mix of greens is excellent for our tortoises but lets keep things in prospective.

: I use over 100 pounds of Mazuri a month and have never had a problem with pyramiding. Don?t underestimate its value as an excellent food source. Protein is not the only factor that contributes to pyramiding. It is imperative that we look at the whole picture when we try to resolve pyramiding problems.

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Re: What species do you have? Some are more sensitive to these issues.... Richard Fife 10/04/01 (1)
- Thanks for the info, Richard DaviDC. 10/04/01 (0)

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: : Caution! All too often we compare two different means of determining the protein level of a food item, and then use them interchangeable. : : If the water is included as a percentage of the weight then nutritional charts show very low numbers for protein. If the water is not included as a percentage of the weight then the percentage of protein is very high. This gives drastically different protein levels for the same food item and cannot be compared to each other. : : Mazuri tortoise diet is 15 % protein. This compares to endive at 25.7 % protein, collards at 32.7 % protein, and squash at 22.9 % protein (calculated after removing the water). In this example a tortoise could not survive on a dry diet that is only 4 % protein. It would literally starve to death! : : Trained nutritionists have developed most commercially prepared tortoise diets and know what they are doing. I have found that most commercial diets are excellent and possibly better than a haphazard mix of what we might find at the grocery store. A well-planned and balanced mix of greens is excellent for our tortoises but lets keep things in prospective. : : I use over 100 pounds of Mazuri a month and have never had a problem with pyramiding. Don?t underestimate its value as an excellent food source. Protein is not the only factor that contributes to pyramiding. It is imperative that we look at the whole picture when we try to resolve pyramiding problems.

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