Re: Update on baby Sulcatta and a few concerns

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Posted by Terry on January 17, 2002 at 08:53:11:

In Reply to: Update on baby Sulcatta and a few concerns posted by Curt and Kelly on January 16, 2002 at 17:52:49:

NO fruit for sulcata.
Feeding fruit to these grazing herbivores can quickly cause intestinal problems even colic.

Tomatos and citrus are probably the worst type of fruit too. Banana equally bad and apples, well any fruit really is not a good idea.

Sulcata are grazing herbivores, fiber is one of the most important ingredients in their diet.
In the wild they survive on tough grasses and browse on other edible plants etc.

Allowing the sulcata to graze on grasses, vetches, clovers is the best way to provide the fiber it needs.

Even a tiny sulcata can be allowed to go outdoors and graze, if supervised and the weather permits.
Or if he/she has a safe outdoor enclosure, to spend time in during the day.

Other edible plants/flowers should also be added to the diet, such as dandelion, hibiscus leaves and flowers, mulberry leaves, fig leaves, opuntia cactus......

I would cut out the fruit totaly and add more greens to the diet, such as endive, turnip greens...

A little grated carrot is fine, so is a little grated yellow squash. But please no tomatos, banana, apple or citrus.

Veggies such as corn, peas, beans etc shouldn't be fed either.

If it's too cold to allow the tortoise out to graze
you can cut grass from your yard, snip it into tiny pieces and add it to the leafy greens.

Hope this helps.
Terry.

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Comments:
: NO fruit for sulcata. : Feeding fruit to these grazing herbivores can quickly cause intestinal problems even colic. : Tomatos and citrus are probably the worst type of fruit too. Banana equally bad and apples, well any fruit really is not a good idea. : Sulcata are grazing herbivores, fiber is one of the most important ingredients in their diet. : In the wild they survive on tough grasses and browse on other edible plants etc. : Allowing the sulcata to graze on grasses, vetches, clovers is the best way to provide the fiber it needs. : Even a tiny sulcata can be allowed to go outdoors and graze, if supervised and the weather permits. : Or if he/she has a safe outdoor enclosure, to spend time in during the day. : Other edible plants/flowers should also be added to the diet, such as dandelion, hibiscus leaves and flowers, mulberry leaves, fig leaves, opuntia cactus...... : I would cut out the fruit totaly and add more greens to the diet, such as endive, turnip greens... : A little grated carrot is fine, so is a little grated yellow squash. But please no tomatos, banana, apple or citrus. : Veggies such as corn, peas, beans etc shouldn't be fed either. : If it's too cold to allow the tortoise out to graze : you can cut grass from your yard, snip it into tiny pieces and add it to the leafy greens. : Hope this helps. : Terry.

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