ok hopefully I'll figure out the quirks of the grocery stores here and all this worry will have been for naught

Do they have any local markets, produce stands, or farmers markets there ? The locals must depend on a source besides the mainland. I suggest you research the local produce and it's nutrients.
Keep one thing in mind, the caresheets you are reading are written for we keepers who live in a temperate climate. You are on an island that RF's were introduced onto in the 1600s and became established. They are eating and breeding on the native flora. Ask around to the residents and see if they can give you observations.

Thalia Wrote:

ok hopefully I'll figure out the quirks of the grocery stores here and all this worry will have been for naught

Do they have any local markets, produce stands, or farmers markets there ? The locals must depend on a source besides the mainland. I suggest you research the local produce and it's nutrients.
Keep one thing in mind, the caresheets you are reading are written for we keepers who live in a temperate climate. You are on an island that RF's were introduced onto in the 1600s and became established. They are eating and breeding on the native flora. Ask around to the residents and see if they can give you observations.

Here's a link. http://www.chelonia.org/articles/nutrientanalysis.htm. Most of the foods listed are temperate but there are also some tropical, i.e mango, papaya, and figs.

I'm a very strong advocate of Mazuri tortoise diet.

What's interesting about this thread is that the OP is probably more qualified to answer their own question than anyone else who has posted.

I've tried to look into nutrition to see if I could figure it out... I gave up. I decided to trust those who really do know what they are talking about.

I have a Rottie (I know... not a tortoise) who gets fed an exclusively pelleted diet... IAMS... She is 10 and looks like 5 years old.

There are a few species of tortoises that I feed the Mazuri diet exclusively... the results are amazing.

Hey... I'm a simple minded person... results I can understand... theory... is just that... theory.

What's really ironic is those against commercial diets have never used it themselves for any length of time. Those that have used the stuff are usually supporters of these diets.

EJ, what tortoises do you feed Mazuri exclusivly to? Talai in another thread asked about feeding tortoises rice and nuts. What is your opinion on those food items? Also what is the differnce if any from Mazuri and Pretty Pets Tortoise Pelletes ( Those long colored things that look like puffy Cheetoes)

Golden Greeks, Chacos, Hingebacks, Egyptians, Stars, Pancakes, Flattails, Leopards, Spiders, Libyan greaca... I think that's it.

I realized that I did not post my manufactured diet post on this list. I'll try to repost it here.

I can't comment on Pretty Pets because I don't know anything about the product but I recently got an adoption which was raised on the product and the shape of the animal is amazing.

Rice and nuts... humm... interesting... starch, protein, oil... are the components that come to mind. The oil I don't think is good.

I would think the rice would expand in the stomach, causing problems.

If you check out the sulcatas in some of the pics I posted here, they ate their share of pretty pets tortoise food. And look amazing. I dont really feed it to them any more becasue it costs to much.

Here is the info link for Mazuri. Just click on the tort food for ingrediants and info.
I spoke with one of the sales Reps and they actually are used in Zoos
http://www.mazuri.com/Home.asp?Products=2&Opening=2

and Here is the one for Pretty Pets. Just click on More info tab.
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/pr...catid=6447

Why would you think this?... call me ignorant...

Ed, you're I think you are missing the point here. This person is living on a Carribean island, an independent nation with import duties ect, who can not depend on a constant source vegetibles in the grocery and can't afford to ship in petfood not in wide demand in this culture. She is trying to find local sources of food for her Redfoot tortoise. I am trying to help her find some. Now one thing I do want to point out is this island, St. Kitts, has supported Redfoot tortoises for approximately 400 years longer than Purina Mills (Mazuri) has been in existence. The food is there, she just needs to recognize it.

Perhaps when they said rice they meant cooked rice. Which will not expand.