Re: One More Thing

[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ The Tortoise Forum ]

Posted by Giovanni on October 09, 2001 at 05:53:53:

In Reply to: One More Thing posted by Joe on October 08, 2001 at 21:54:19:

: So overall, what leafy green or vegetable besides grass and hay is the best to feed Sulcatas?

: Thanks Once Again,

: Joe

Read this from the Turtle Cafe

FEEDING:
In the wild, these herbivores species primarily on grass. In captivity the
ideal situation for these animals to sustain themselves, is to just allow
them to graze in a well planted chemically untreated area of your yard.
Fruit isn't something that is really native to these animals and can create
all kinds of gastric disturbances. Best to avoid. The only fruit they get in
the wild is the fruit of the opuntia (only in parts of their range and
seasonal).

Because providing a grazing area isn't always possible, its easy to over
rely on wet produce greens and intestinal problems and loose stools are
often encountered. Adding Hay to the diet to will balance this effect.
http://www.OxbowHay.com is a good source of Orchard and Timothy Hay (get the
early cutting or beardless kind). Long term ingestion of the chemicals
commonly sprayed on produce is a health concern. Choose organic greens when
possible or be sure to wash in mild soapy water and rinse well. Remove
plastic and metal wrappers so your torts don't accidentally ingest these.

Nutritious chemical free healthy foods are often freely available in your
yard or vacant lots.
Grasses, Clovers, Grape, Mulberry & Fig leaves, Dandelion, Plantain (the
weed) , Hibiscus (leaves and flowers), Opuntia, Thistles, Chickweed
This link will help you to be able to identify edible plants:
http://www.turtlecafe.net/ediblelandscaping.htm

Better of the easily obtainable grocery greens:
Aim for a high Calcium to Phosphorus ratio and low protein diet. When fed in
excess, foods high in Oxalates have been implicated in binding minerals
including calcium (marked with asterisk*).
Moderation and variety is the key.

Regularly: Dark Leafy Greens such as:
Endive, *Watercress, Romaine, *Collard Greens, *Kale, Dandelion, Chicory,
Escarole, Radicchio, Turnip Greens, Opuntia (smooth or despined)

Occasionally:
Cabbage, Squash, Carrots, Carrot Tops, Red Leaf Lettuce, Mustard Greens,
Alfalfa Hay, Parsley

Rarely:
Swiss Chard, Broccoli, Bokchoy, Iceberg lettuce, Sweet Potatoes, Sprouts of
any kind,
Corn, Cucumbers, Beet Greens, Fruit in general.

Never:
Spinach, Rhubarb, Beans of any kind, dog food, pasta

For more information on why foods above are listed as they are, please visit
the links below:
www.turtlecafe.net/vegstats.htm
http://home.earthlink.net/~rednine/nutrient.htm
http://www.tortoise.org/general/tntdiet.html
http://www.tortoisetrust.org/articles/dietcons.html
http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/Vines/5504/min.html

GETTING THEM TO EAT HEALTHIER FOODS:
Mixing larger portions of things your tort likes in chopped "salads" and
slowly cut back on "treat" foods in this mix, is one way to get them
adjusted to a better diet. If you tort is healthy and has water available at
all times, it wont hurt them to go a couple days w/o food, esp. if it helps
them to be hungry enough to appreciate a healthier diet. You might also try
putting a bit of squash (or some other foods that they especially like) in
the blender and pouring this over the new foods that you're introducing.
This is a good chance to sneak extra Calcium in if needed.

Ciao'

Giovanni

Follow Ups:

Post a Followup

Name:
E-Mail:

Subject:

Comments:
: : So overall, what leafy green or vegetable besides grass and hay is the best to feed Sulcatas? : : Thanks Once Again, : : Joe : Read this from the Turtle Cafe : FEEDING: : In the wild, these herbivores species primarily on grass. In captivity the : ideal situation for these animals to sustain themselves, is to just allow : them to graze in a well planted chemically untreated area of your yard. : Fruit isn't something that is really native to these animals and can create : all kinds of gastric disturbances. Best to avoid. The only fruit they get in : the wild is the fruit of the opuntia (only in parts of their range and : seasonal). : Because providing a grazing area isn't always possible, its easy to over : rely on wet produce greens and intestinal problems and loose stools are : often encountered. Adding Hay to the diet to will balance this effect. : http://www.OxbowHay.com is a good source of Orchard and Timothy Hay (get the : early cutting or beardless kind). Long term ingestion of the chemicals : commonly sprayed on produce is a health concern. Choose organic greens when : possible or be sure to wash in mild soapy water and rinse well. Remove : plastic and metal wrappers so your torts don't accidentally ingest these. : Nutritious chemical free healthy foods are often freely available in your : yard or vacant lots. : Grasses, Clovers, Grape, Mulberry & Fig leaves, Dandelion, Plantain (the : weed) , Hibiscus (leaves and flowers), Opuntia, Thistles, Chickweed : This link will help you to be able to identify edible plants: : http://www.turtlecafe.net/ediblelandscaping.htm : Better of the easily obtainable grocery greens: : Aim for a high Calcium to Phosphorus ratio and low protein diet. When fed in : excess, foods high in Oxalates have been implicated in binding minerals : including calcium (marked with asterisk*). : Moderation and variety is the key. : Regularly: Dark Leafy Greens such as: : Endive, *Watercress, Romaine, *Collard Greens, *Kale, Dandelion, Chicory, : Escarole, Radicchio, Turnip Greens, Opuntia (smooth or despined) : Occasionally: : Cabbage, Squash, Carrots, Carrot Tops, Red Leaf Lettuce, Mustard Greens, : Alfalfa Hay, Parsley : Rarely: : Swiss Chard, Broccoli, Bokchoy, Iceberg lettuce, Sweet Potatoes, Sprouts of : any kind, : Corn, Cucumbers, Beet Greens, Fruit in general. : Never: : Spinach, Rhubarb, Beans of any kind, dog food, pasta : For more information on why foods above are listed as they are, please visit : the links below: : www.turtlecafe.net/vegstats.htm : http://home.earthlink.net/~rednine/nutrient.htm : http://www.tortoise.org/general/tntdiet.html : http://www.tortoisetrust.org/articles/dietcons.html : http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/Vines/5504/min.html : GETTING THEM TO EAT HEALTHIER FOODS: : Mixing larger portions of things your tort likes in chopped "salads" and : slowly cut back on "treat" foods in this mix, is one way to get them : adjusted to a better diet. If you tort is healthy and has water available at : all times, it wont hurt them to go a couple days w/o food, esp. if it helps : them to be hungry enough to appreciate a healthier diet. You might also try : putting a bit of squash (or some other foods that they especially like) in : the blender and pouring this over the new foods that you're introducing. : This is a good chance to sneak extra Calcium in if needed. : Ciao' : Giovanni

Optional Link URL:
Link Title:
Optional Image URL:

[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ The Tortoise Forum ]