Squash

[blackTITAN]

I heard black greeks love squash, and that its a great veg to feed them- however no matter how small the piece Titan doesn't seem to touch it. He is a hatchlng, just fyi lol.

Is there a specific kind of squash, and how do you serve it? Should I boil it first? Maybe cut chuncky piences so he can just munch on it a little at a time? can they eat the exterior/skin as well? or just on the insides?

thanks for the help!
kat

[egyptiandan]

Butternut squash and Pumpkin are the best Kat. Cut the peel off and grate it fairly fine. He's more likely to eat it than.

Danny

[blackTITAN]

Thanks Danny While your browsing this lol, and since you are a great food expert! I read the thread about pumpkin that was posted recently. Is it easier for hatchlings to eat it canned if you can find it organic where its only the veg? And do you only feed it to them once a month, like you suggested about the pumpkin?

[egyptiandan]

In the winter I feed squash quite often, 2 to 3 times a week. I happen to use the frozen squash, which is so much easier to find and use. I get the one cut into chunks, but for hatchlings you can use Birds Eye that is pureed.

Danny

[blackTITAN]

cool thanks! does it do the same with preventing against worms as the pumpkin does?

[blackTITAN]

i also feel dumb now for asking this, but since their are reptile vets, do tortoises need shots like other animals do? i wouldn't think so but after thinking about it i thought i was ask just to be sure.

[jlyoncc1]

All of my torts looovvvvveeee butternut squash. They will usually bypass everything else and start chomping away. I grate up for my hatchlings. They don't eat it as crazy as my bigger guys but they will nibble on it. They also like sweet potato which I was told by the vet has a good amount of vitamins. (Hopefully he is right)

[egyptiandan]

It does do the same as pumpkin Kat for worms, but not as well.
No you don't have to get your tortoise shots like cats and dogs.

Sweet potato does Dee.

Danny

[Jacqui]

At Thanksgiving when my sister came over to join us, she saw the sweet taters on the counter and got really excited thinking I would be serving some. My kids broke the news that those are for the torts...along with all the other good veggies and fruits. Have to say they are right. Humans get iceburg lettuce, not the "good" stuff. My kids have learned to snitch things they like such as strawberries, mushrooms, and melons before feeding time.

[Cam]

In regards to the shots, I do not believe there are any immunizations they need that I have heard of...
But you should get a fecal check done to see if there are any internal critters.

By the way, here's what we do.
We have a little 7 yr old greek.
I cut up an entire butternut squash and shred/grate it.
Then divide it all out into snack size baggies and toss them in the freezer.
It takes only about 15 minutes on the counter to thaw or toss a couple bags in the fridge if you do not need it right away. It breaks down to a softer texture once frozen and our guy can't eat an entire squash before it would rot anyway.
It may just be he's not liking the smell...you could mix it in with his regular salad in a small amount to introduce it too

Good luck!

[Crazy1]

I love squash, just about any squash so around here there is usually some kind in the fridge. So my Greeks get squash when I get mine. The only thing I do differently is I don’t cook theirs. When I make butternut squash I cut it in half and skin it and shop or shred it and freeze it. Then feed it little by little. Or I just cut a few rings and feed it fresh same with zucchini or yellow squash or well just about any of them. Yum.
At first my Greeks didn’t seem to like them but now they look forward to getting squash every so often and they really chow down on it.

[AWAaviatrix]

egyptiandan Wrote:Butternut squash and Pumpkin are the best Kat. Cut the peel off and grate it fairly fine. He's more likely to eat it than.

Danny

I'll buy several pumpkins during season and slice them up and freeze in freezer ziplock bags. When defrosted the texture is soft which the smaller torts find easier to eat. Try dipping the slices in finely chopped hay for your desert torts.

Misty
5 Sulcata's
3 Leopard's
3 Indian Star's