Had anyone tried one of these "caged feeders"? It's been working great for me.

SanctuaryHills

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Before using this, inevitably one of the tortoises would always plop itself down on top of the food tray, or even worse the dish would become a toilet.

My only concern was that they wouldn't be able to reach all the food in the cage but pushing it to the sides like you see in the pictures they have always left it clean.

I'll have to come up with a bigger version in a few months as they grow so fast I'm afraid they won't all fit around the feeder anymore.

What methods are you guys using??

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Tom

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This is brilliant. Where did you get that?

I just finished cleaning out the food bowl/toilet in my baby enclosure before I read this. I was debating whether or not it is better that they potty in the food dish for me to clean and remove daily instead of voiding in their substrate which would make me have to replace it more frequently. They are soaked daily and make of mess of the soaking water, so I am amazed at what a mess they make in the food dishes as well.
 

SinLA

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OMG I need that, except don't want metal, but this is a great idea i can look around for
 

Tom

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OMG I need that, except don't want metal, but this is a great idea i can look around for
What is wrong with metal? It says it is stainless steel. What do you know about metal that I don't know?
 

dd33

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Its like a round bale hay ring for tortoises. I don't remember where but I saw something similar used for tortoises once. It was a flat metal plate with a bunch of 3/4" thick vertical metal posts that stuck up from the bottom. The plate had a ton of holes so it was adjustable outward as the food pile and necks grew.
I wanted to build one when I saw it because our Aldabras are terrible about sitting on top of the Mazuri pellets to lay claim to them.

I think if they were used extensively over time it may cause shell deformities though. @Tom , think about the notches in Herb's shell. I believe those were formed by having to eat food by reaching between two posts.
 

SinLA

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What is wrong with metal? It says it is stainless steel. What do you know about metal that I don't know?
My feeding area gets direct sun in the afternoon. It will ROAST any uneaten food before he comes back for it after his siesta... plus I'd worry about him burning himself on it
 

Tom

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I think if they were used extensively over time it may cause shell deformities though. @Tom , think about the notches in Herb's shell. I believe those were formed by having to eat food by reaching between two posts.
Good point. Perhaps just for babies in the indoor enclosures then...
 

Tom

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My feeding area gets direct sun in the afternoon. It will ROAST any uneaten food before he comes back for it after his siesta... plus I'd worry about him burning himself on it
Ahh I see... I prefer to keep my feeding areas shaded. This is a necessity up in SCV where its always so hot and sunny most of the year. I even build shade tables if there isn't a convenient shady place available.
 

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They have dishes like that for puppies. I used them when I was breeding dogs. Kept the puppies from walking all in the food. It was much bigger then what yours looks like, so you may be able to get a bigger one if needed.
I'm trying to make a self waterer for this exact reason. My leopards each have two water dishes. You'd think they could stay out of one of them.
 

SanctuaryHills

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I have measured through trial and error the amount of food they'll eat within an hour. I also put it out early before the sun gets too harsh. Also I'm not too worried about shell deformity since I do this type of feeding only once a week. The rest of the week I have them grazing.

But I won't be able to use use this feeder for much longer as they have nearly outgrown it so I'm thinking I'll end up switching to something like what @wellington shared.
 

SanctuaryHills

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@wellington you don't think the puppy bowls would be too tall for my size tortoises?

Although I suppose I can create some sort of crevice on their feeding spot to place the bowl in so that it sits mote flush. What are your thoughts?
 

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Ahh I see... I prefer to keep my feeding areas shaded. This is a necessity up in SCV where its always so hot and sunny most of the year. I even build shade tables if there isn't a convenient shady place available.
Yeah, that would be my goal too, but right now he only uses like 25% of his enclosure. I'll see how big it is, maybe I can get it in the shady part, but it would be better if I could find a nonmetal one, but I don't see one amazon. And most likely its b/c its more sanitary so that does make sense
 

SanctuaryHills

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Yeah, that would be my goal too, but right now he only uses like 25% of his enclosure. I'll see how big it is, maybe I can get it in the shady part, but it would be better if I could find a nonmetal one, but I don't see one amazon. And most likely its b/c its more sanitary so that does make sense
Just my 2 cents but I don't think you should shy away from metal. Specially if placed in a shaded spot.

It anything I would be more careful with the amount of food you are feeding them. My rule of thumb is that it should be enough to be eaten in one sitting. If there is food on the bowl throughout the day not only is it going to get sun naked but you'll also be attracting unwanted critters.
 

wellington

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@wellington you don't think the puppy bowls would be too tall for my size tortoises?

Although I suppose I can create some sort of crevice on their feeding spot to place the bowl in so that it sits mote flush. What are your thoughts?
Search puppy bowl on amazon. They have a couple different sizes and give the depth of them. I don't think they are that deep.
 

SinLA

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Just my 2 cents but I don't think you should shy away from metal. Specially if placed in a shaded spot.

It anything I would be more careful with the amount of food you are feeding them. My rule of thumb is that it should be enough to be eaten in one sitting. If there is food on the bowl throughout the day not only is it going to get sun naked but you'll also be attracting unwanted critters.

yeah that would be my ideal as well, but sometimes I don't have time to go and pick it up in the middle of the day. I have seen him sometime eat a bit, and then come back and eat more later, especially when its super hot right now and he burrows away the afternoon heat.

Not an issue with critters since there's no fruit or anything a bug would want, and the area is largely critter proof for other things (and most critters here would be more interested in him than squash blossoms, endive, and cactus pads).

Its in the shade for most of the day, its just afternoon maybe 2pm - 6pm. however the metal will still heat up even if not in direct sun, that would just be worse...
 

SanctuaryHills

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yeah that would be my ideal as well, but sometimes I don't have time to go and pick it up in the middle of the day. I have seen him sometime eat a bit, and then come back and eat more later, especially when its super hot right now and he burrows away the afternoon heat.

Not an issue with critters since there's no fruit or anything a bug would want, and the area is largely critter proof for other things (and most critters here would be more interested in him than squash blossoms, endive, and cactus pads).

Its in the shade for most of the day, its just afternoon maybe 2pm - 6pm. however the metal will still heat up even if not in direct sun, that would just be worse...
Yeah maybe mine are eating faster since there are 6 of them so competition probably kicks in.
 

SinLA

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I did just buy one, we'll see how it works out. Poor guy, normally I put food out around 7:30 before I start work but I had early meetings today so when I went out to feed him at 11:30, he was waiting for me right at the bowl. He's like "Servant! Why have the food gods not made my daily delivery today?!?!?"
 

SanctuaryHills

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I did just buy one, we'll see how it works out. Poor guy, normally I put food out around 7:30 before I start work but I had early meetings today so when I went out to feed him at 11:30, he was waiting for me right at the bowl. He's like "Servant! Why have the food gods not made my daily delivery today?!?!?"
Haha. That's pretty cool once they start recognizing you. How long have you had it, and what breed is it?
 

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