How frequent to feed these items?

Runnergirl31

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I am new and have a baby Sulcata. I am wondering how often I should give him pellets and if his diet each morning should have Greens + Pellet (Smashed right now) and some ground (finely) egg shells? I have heard off of these are important to give your tort but I dont know what frequency I need to feed it to Scout. I have been giving him one mushed up pellet with his morning greens (kale and other leafy greens) and he seems to be eating very well. I am seeing that I can add other veggies as well? What veggies and greens are your go to?

Thank you!

MK
 

daniellenc

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Dandelion, plantain, mulberry, hasta, hibiscus, endive, radicchio, radish and turnip greens, cactus, and many more. If you read the sulcata forum you’ll find tons more as they need grasses and hays as well.
 

Runnergirl31

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daniellenc

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Yup, I have that printed out but it doesn't mention anything about the frequency of feeding things like pellets and calcium. I am working on a weekly diet chart to keep things clear to my household when and what to feed Scout.

Thank you.

MK
Calcium can be sprinkled 1-2 times per week using a tiny pinch.....a little goes a long way and they tend not to eat if too much is used. For pellets I feed them with two meals a week, but some add it daily to meals. This is a preference thing. Pellets have grains which are actually bad for tortoises and the reason many people do not feed pellets at all so use your own discretion on that one.
 

Yvonne G

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Hi MK:

Pellets aren't a necessary food item. So there is no set rule as to how often they should be fed. I like to get my tortoises used to the taste of pellets so that if I ever run out of greens or fresh foods, I know he'll eat the pellets. For a very tiny baby tortoise, one soaked pellet a week or twice a week would be good. . . and none would be ok too.

I take a pinch of calcium between my thumb and index finger and sprinkle it on the food. Then I take a fork and mash it into the food so it can't be seen, and mix it all up. I do this twice a week.
 

Tom

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Yup, I have that printed out but it doesn't mention anything about the frequency of feeding things like pellets and calcium. I am working on a weekly diet chart to keep things clear to my household when and what to feed Scout.

Thank you.

MK
Hi! If you are feeding things from that list, you really don't need a lot of calcium supplementation. A tiny pinch twice a week should do it. I am aware that some people like to use egg shells, but that is not the best source for tortoises. A calcium carbonate source, like Rep-Cal, is much better. You can also leave a cuttle bone so your tortoise can self-supplelment its calcium needs.

What kind of pellets are you using? That makes a difference in how often you should offer it.

Have you also seen these? There is a lot of old incorrect info out there on care for this species.
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/how-to-raise-a-healthy-sulcata-or-leopard-version-2-0.79895/
 

Runnergirl31

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Hi! If you are feeding things from that list, you really don't need a lot of calcium supplementation. A tiny pinch twice a week should do it. I am aware that some people like to use egg shells, but that is not the best source for tortoises. A calcium carbonate source, like Rep-Cal, is much better. You can also leave a cuttle bone so your tortoise can self-supplelment its calcium needs.

What kind of pellets are you using? That makes a difference in how often you should offer it.

Have you also seen these? There is a lot of old incorrect info out there on care for this species.
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/how-to-raise-a-healthy-sulcata-or-leopard-version-2-0.79895/

Thank you sooo much!! The first link I have seen the second was really helpful!

I am using the Mazuri pellets (I cannot remember the name but they are popular with some here. They are expensive but for now we have quite a few that were given to me by my mother. I give one to Scout, smashed up with his greens twice a day. I will look into getting Rep-Cal as well.

I got scared of cuttle bones because some people said their tort bit off to large a piece and was suffering because of it. I will happily get him one though.

I want to make sure I'm giving him the best home possible and thank you all so much for taking the time to respond to me. I know I'm not as experienced as some but I am taking all your wonderful advice to heart and appreciate it very much!!
 

Tom

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Thank you sooo much!! The first link I have seen the second was really helpful!

I am using the Mazuri pellets (I cannot remember the name but they are popular with some here. They are expensive but for now we have quite a few that were given to me by my mother. I give one to Scout, smashed up with his greens twice a day. I will look into getting Rep-Cal as well.

I got scared of cuttle bones because some people said their tort bit off to large a piece and was suffering because of it. I will happily get him one though.

I want to make sure I'm giving him the best home possible and thank you all so much for taking the time to respond to me. I know I'm not as experienced as some but I am taking all your wonderful advice to heart and appreciate it very much!!
Mazuri is a good food to supplement their normal diet with. I like to offer it a couple of times a week.
 

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