Need helping gaining weight for a rescue!

What to feed?


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Cooksmorrell

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Hey all! I have a seven-month-old baby Leopard Tortoise. About a week ago I rescued a one-year-old baby Leopard Tortoise. My Leopard Tortoise is half the size of the one that I rescued and still weighs more than the rescue. I’m trying to help it put on a little weight as it feels really light when I pick it up almost as if it’s empty. What are some good things to feed that will help this baby quickly gain weight?

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Yvonne G

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Well, first of all, before you worry about putting weight on the new guy, set up a whole other enclosure and separate them! You should always quarantine new tortoises before putting them with your existing tortoises, but besides that, pairs never work. What you see in the second picture, the bigger one sleeping right next to, almost on top of, the smaller on is only one sign of bullying. It may look like they're cuddling, but believe me, they're not. It's a mental thing. The new tortoise is telling the smaller one that he wants that space. Get out.
 

Cooksmorrell

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Well, first of all, before you worry about putting weight on the new guy, set up a whole other enclosure and separate them! You should always quarantine new tortoises before putting them with your existing tortoises, but besides that, pairs never work. What you see in the second picture, the bigger one sleeping right next to, almost on top of, the smaller on is only one sign of bullying. It may look like they're cuddling, but believe me, they're not. It's a mental thing. The new tortoise is telling the smaller one that he wants that space. Get out.
I didn’t see an answer to the question I asked?
 

Yvonne G

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Once they're separated and each in their own enclosure, you can offer the new guy fresh greens with some moistened Mazuri pellets on top. You may have to ask the previous owner what the tortoise is used to eating, and give that to him too until he's used to the new, good food.
 
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Cooksmorrell

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Once they're separated and each in their own enclosure, you can offer the new guy fresh greens with some moistened Mazuri pellets on top. You may have to ask the previous owner what the tortoise is used to eating, and give that to him too until he's used to the new, good food.
Thank you so
Much!
 

Cooksmorrell

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. . . and then you would say, "Ok, I've got them separated, now what? How do I get him to put on weight?" ;)
I just don’t have the means to have them housed separately. I only had housing for one but decided to take this one because I know that I can give it a better life then it had.
 

Mrs.Jennifer

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And that’s great but that wasn’t my question.
Basically what everyone is trying to tell you is that you can not help a tortoise gain weight if two tortoises are competing for food. Your intentions are noble, but the habitat will not support adequate nutrition for both. I’m sorry that this reality is hard to hear....
 

Cooksmorrell

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Basically what everyone is trying to tell you is that you can not help a tortoise gain weight if two tortoises are competing for food. Your intentions are noble, but the habitat will not support adequate nutrition for both. I’m sorry that this reality is hard to hear....
That’s just not true.
 

sonjac

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I just don’t have the means to have them housed separately. I only had housing for one but decided to take this one because I know that I can give it a better life then it had.
You say you don't want to house them separately but what if the reason the rescue tortoise is under weight is because it is ill? New tortoises should always be quarantined for I think 6 months minimum. Your desire to keep them together without quarantining could cost your existing tortoise its life.
 

TammyJ

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It appears to me, and perhaps to others here, that you as the "rescuer" of this tortoise, should think about doing some listening and some careful and humble research, and that if you did that, and responded to knowledgeable advice, this would be a good start for your new tortoise towards a "better life".

Best of luck to you all.
 

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