Hello and welcome!I've had Saphire since 2007 and his health has improved. So I know a little bit but...I will try to do what you suggested because I want him to be the best that he can be. Thanks.
He is a Horsefield. I joined to share info. I can't upload pictures yet. I don't really know how to use your forum yet. I actually researched before I bought him. I've never regretted buying him. He is at least16 years old and possibly more. But I always want to hear what other tortoise owners have to say. You can never get enough info and everyones experience matters.Hi Cathie, and welcome to the Forum!
We'll need to know what species of turtle/tortoise Saphire is before we can give you GOOD answers on how to care for him..
This is true. When I first joined the Forum, I had been keeping turtles and tortoises for many, many years - thought I knew it all!!! HA! Was I ever wrong. But we're happy you've found us and glad to have the chance to get to know you. Russian tortoises are wonderful little guys. Have a good time re-reading all the threads on the Forum, and don't be shy.He is a Horsefield. I joined to share info. I can't upload pictures yet. I don't really know how to use your forum yet. I actually researched before I bought him. I've never regretted buying him. He is at least16 years old and possibly more. But I always want to hear what other tortoise owners have to say. You can never get enough info and everyones experience matters.
I actually only have one Russian and one Eastern Box Turtle. My grandson talked me into taking her because he couldn't take care of her. Truthfully, I didn't really want a turtle. But I've grown to love her and have tried to give her a proper diet and good care. She has an interesting history. I've only recently found out that she could possibly be as much as 28 years old because she had three eggs shortly after she came to me three years ago. Russians are so easy compared to a box turtle. I was so ignorant about box turtles. I thought their eggs were like a chickens eggs and could be infertle. I hate to learn the hard way.This is true. When I first joined the Forum, I had been keeping turtles and tortoises for many, many years - thought I knew it all!!! HA! Was I ever wrong. But we're happy you've found us and glad to get to know your. Russian tortoises are wonderful little guys. Have a good time re-reading all the threads on the Forum, and don't be shy.
Quite a few of us have learned "the hard way."[/QU
You don't want to know how I found out that my Horsefield is a boy for sure. After I got over the initial shock, that time, 11 years ago, I still laugh about that hard time. Thank God Tortoises are pretty resilient if you can get the right food in them. Any suggestions that your critters like? Saphire actually likes cooked broccoli but I'm afraid to feed him cooked vegetables.Quite a few of us have learned "the hard way."
Yea but he likes it. I don't but what happens to veggies in the desert.Welcome
Cooking vegetables for pet tortoises is 100% unnecessary.
Yea but he likes it. I don't but what happens to veggies in the desert.
I actually don't feed him treats and that was 11years ago and before I could get any real information on what to feed him. My Horsefield won't eat just anything anyway. He's a total vegetarian and loves dandelion greens, plantain, fresh greens from the grocery etc. It was pretty frustrating to get the right information at first until I went online. And forget the commercial food for tortoises which aren't suited for him. It's just another example of what I went through as a new tortoise owner. All in all it's been an experience I don't regret even with the mistakes I made. He's a lot of fun and so much more intelligent then people give them credit for. He knows me and interacts with me. But this conversation has given me and idea. What vegetable would actually be comparable to a succulent?Plants such as succulents retain water from rainfall to survive in the desert.
I personally do not see the benefit in giving a tortoise cooked food. I prefer my tortoises to eat raw hard roughage so they're effectively working their beaks.
Just because a tortoise likes something doesn't mean it's good for their overall health. It would probably be quite easy to get a tortoise hooked on sugar if someone prepares them enough so they look enticing to tortoises. Do it enough (please don't feed tortoises candy) and their bodies will start to fail from not being able to process it all.
This is one of the many problems new owners often face when they notice their tortoises being stubborn or picky eaters. If "they're healthy", I would tell them to stop enabling them. healthy tortoises won't starve. If they're hungry enough, they will eat. Feeding these so called "treats" do not benefit them. It only benefits the owners that consider them treats.
But this conversation has given me and idea. What vegetable would actually be comparable to a succulent?