Leopard Diet

[kingstonsdad]

Hello all-

I'm the new owner of a beautiful Leopard ( Pickle -pics to come) and have read a lot about substrates- he lives in a plastic baby pool, and I'm using wood shavings and hay- is that ok, or would something else be better?

Also, he loves dandelion greens, collards, mustard, and peppers- what else is good for him? Can he eat Camelia flowers? We're in Portland, Oregon, and the Camelias are just getting ready to bloom, so we'll have tons-

My Marginated, Kingston, might like them too-

Thanks-

[JustAnja]

What kind of shavings are you using? I use a mix of play sand and bedabeast, about 70% sand and 30% bedabeast for my Leopards with Cypress Mulch thrown on top.

Here are some helpful links for edible plants and landscaping.

http://africantortoise.com/edible_plants.htm

http://africantortoise.com/edible_landscaping.htm

http://africantortoise.com/diet.htm

Im in a cold/snowy climate so I have to provide all foods the majority of the year. Currently I feed Spring Mix, Dandelion Greens, winter squashes about once every 2 weeks, chickweed, wheat grass and I have a shipment of the Grassland Mix sent every 2 weeks from ReptileEats.com which has a mix of grasses, weeds and greens in it. I mix in chopped up hay with everything above so that they are getting a high fiber diet. You can mix in the Salad Hay Mix at Carolina Pet Supply. Just mist the greens/weeds with a little water and toss with the hay or you can soak the hay before mixing it with the greens/weeds, be sure to wring out the excess water.

I also use the TNT supplement several times per week from Carolina Pet Supply as well.

This should give you a good start to a healthy diet for you Leopard. Welcome to TFO, I hope you enjoy your stay here. Cant wait to see pics of your Leo! You can find pics of mine in the Leopard boards.

[Crazy1]

Camelia flowers were discussed in another thread here. Here's the link to the thread http://tortoiseforum.org/camilla-flowers-t-1094.html I understand they can be eaten by torts but most won't eat them, I hear they taste pretty foul.

[JustAnja]

I forgot to mention that I do also use Mazuri Tortoise Chow about once or twice a week for all of my tortoises. (Well except my one finicky Leopard male that wont touch the stuff with a 10ft pole!) lol I mist it with a little water to moisten it a bit for them.

[kingstonsdad]

Thanks everyone for your responses- I'll post pics of both Pickle( my Leopard) and Kingston, my Marginated-

He does have some significant pyramiding- I rescued him from a bad situation- he didn't want to eat or even come out of his shell ( he's about 10" or so) - but now, he's eating like mad and happy as a clam-

[cvalda]

I just have to say that it is so cool that you have a "Kingston", I had a Russian with that name but he was very sick and I had to take him back to the place I got him, and I think he passed shortly thereafter. I just LOVE the name!

[JustAnja]

kingstonsdad Wrote:Thanks everyone for your responses- I'll post pics of both Pickle( my Leopard) and Kingston, my Marginated-

He does have some significant pyramiding- I rescued him from a bad situation- he didn't want to eat or even come out of his shell ( he's about 10" or so) - but now, he's eating like mad and happy as a clam-

Its great you were able to take him out of a bad situation, kudos to you. Cant wait for pics of both torts!

[emysemys]

Look at the label on your wood shavings. You should NOT be using pine. The oil causes eye problems in torts.

Yvonne

[Hunter]

What is bedabeast?

[JustAnja]

Hunter Wrote:What is bedabeast?

Its an organic shredded coconut bedding. It comes in a brick and you add a gallon of water and let it soak and it expands.

Many brand names and common names

BedABeast
EcoEarth
coir fiber
coco fiber

[Hunter]

Oh, ok Anja, I am familiar with that. Thank you

[kingstonsdad]

Thanks for all your info, everyone-

Here's a picture of Pickle (Leopard) and Kingston (Marginated).
Can't wait till summer so they can spend some time in the sun!

[Nay]

Nice looking torts! Welcome! Na

[Marley]

I do like that name too!

cvalda Wrote:I just have to say that it is so cool that you have a "Kingston", I had a Russian with that name but he was very sick and I had to take him back to the place I got him, and I think he passed shortly thereafter. I just LOVE the name!

[kingstonsdad]

Hello everyone,
As promised, here are pics of Pickle, and Kingston ( with ruler)

Good boys, and they can't wait to get outside when our Portland winter is over! Thankfully the dandelions have come on in earnest- they LOVE them-