I don't think about the proportion of protein... I leave that to the people who developed it. They have a way better understanding of animal nutrition than I do and after corresponding with them over the year I trust their judgement over the average person in terms of nutritional knowledge.
I adjust the intake by the frequency of feeding. All my animals get as much as they can eat in one sitting. Some animals like the Russian tortoises and the Redfoots I will feed less frequently because I don't like the rate of growth... that's a personal choise and has no other reason.
I use the tortoise diet on everything. The only difference between them all is the ratio of the nutrients.
Again, that's just me and it works for me.
Itort Wrote:Ed, that's quite a list. By quantity do you mean proportion? You feed mazuri tortoise food to cyclura iguanas and new caledonia giant geckos? What proportion of protein is in this and how do you up it if needed? Are you talking of all the mazuri line or just tortoise food?
-EJ Wrote:I've sucessufully used Mazuri on...
Leopard, Russian, Chaco, Egyptian, Star, Desert, Flattail, Spider, Pancake, Redfoot, Sulcata, Aldabra, Greek, Hingeback tortoises, Chinese boxies, Eastern Boxies, Cayman Iguanas, Rachodactylus leachianus(dont' know the common name).
EJ, I'm assuming that if it's good for Russians, Egyptians & Greeks (all of them Testudos), it should be good for Hermann's, right?
Sorry... missed that one. Yup, definately good for Hermans. I have used it with Hermans and Marginateds.
TestudoGeek Wrote:-EJ Wrote:I've sucessufully used Mazuri on...
Leopard, Russian, Chaco, Egyptian, Star, Desert, Flattail, Spider, Pancake, Redfoot, Sulcata, Aldabra, Greek, Hingeback tortoises, Chinese boxies, Eastern Boxies, Cayman Iguanas, Rachodactylus leachianus(dont' know the common name).
EJ, I'm assuming that if it's good for Russians, Egyptians & Greeks (all of them Testudos), it should be good for Hermann's, right?
I personally wouldn't feed this exclusive but part of that is because I LOVE how some of my tortoises react to different food - like the "chow plow" that comes running when certain foods are put down. I personally like to feed them a varied diet. But I DO keep Mazuri on hand in case I need it, for instance if I'm out of greens and can't get to the store or the greens on hand mysteriously go bad before I planned... Not all of my torts will eat it, but many will if given nothing else. It is great to have as back-up, ESPECIALLY over the winter when I can't just go out in the yard and grab a handful of "lunch"! LOL!
cvalda Wrote:I personally wouldn't feed this exclusive but part of that is because I LOVE how some of my tortoises react to different food - like the "chow plow" that comes running when certain foods are put down. I personally like to feed them a varied diet. But I DO keep Mazuri on hand in case I need it, for instance if I'm out of greens and can't get to the store or the greens on hand mysteriously go bad before I planned... Not all of my torts will eat it, but many will if given nothing else. It is great to have as back-up, ESPECIALLY over the winter when I can't just go out in the yard and grab a handful of "lunch"! LOL!
Kelly, this is precisely why I came accross Mazuri.
This past week I had a hard time getting weeds (the one's I'm planting are still to small to keep up with my tort's apetite...) and had to feed him Watercress & Turnip Greens from the store. The thing is: after 1 week on these 2 veggies alone, the tort produces alot more Urates.
In situations like this, mazuri can be very convenient...
i'm still lucky enough to be finding enough weeds to feed 8 tortoises sometimes bulking out with romaine and other supermarket food. i know Ed will say something about nutritional value
i'm happy with how i feed my anilmals and won't feed manufactured muck that in my opinion has not been around long enough for people to be able to make such positive statements about it. How can one food be fed to such a large range of species with different diet requirements be good for each and every one?
Ed knows my views on this so i know he will know i mean no offence
25 years is not around long enough to provide positive statements Kelly? Seems like long enough to me personally.
well no not really i don't think it is long enough, and i wonder how many times the formula has changed in 25 years, and as far as i was aware it was made to "head start" Galapogus tortoises before release not to be fed their whole lives exclusively. How can it be fed to a redfoot and lets say a greek and be good for both when there dietry needs are completely different?
Their nutritional needs are identical. How they fullfil those needs in the wild are different.
I started using Mazuri as a supplement and very cautiously. I found that tortoises did great on the stuff and shifted the amount I used. On some tortoises I found that they did much better on the Mazuri than on the green diet I was providing.
Yes, the formula does change over time as more information is collected on the nutritional needs of these animals. That is the other thing that is a benefit.
With a green diet it's still all guesswork. As said before not all keepers can or want to blow more time obtaining food (which is still guesswork) than that spent on enjoying the charge.
stells Wrote:well no not really i don't think it is long enough, and i wonder how many times the formula has changed in 25 years, and as far as i was aware it was made to "head start" Galapogus tortoises before release not to be fed their whole lives exclusively. How can it be fed to a redfoot and lets say a greek and be good for both when there dietry needs are completely different?
but the green diet shown in your picture is the green diet i wouldn't feed, look likes a whole lot of cabbage and carrots. How can weeds be guesswork when the same weeds are found within a tortoises natural range???
I have been told by a reliable source that tortoises should be fed on a diet that they would eat in the wild and always ask my self:
Would tortoise eat this in the wild?
Well, I ask this question again, would they find Mazuri pellets in the wild? No.
People who are experience tortoise keepers tell me this but feed their redfooted tortoise boiled chicken for protein which they need....
So, I don't know who to believe anymore. I guess everyone is entitled to their opinion and I must say I think the mazuri diet would do real good for my tortoises.
