Protein options?

tortoisetime565

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What do you guys use for protein for your tortoises? I normally use red wigglers. One of my red foot lives the other one is scared of them.... So what do you guys use?
 

Yvonne G

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I'm babysitting two RF tortoises for Dr. Cosmonaut. When I feed them protein, which is about once a week, my usual choices are:

hard boiled egg in the shell
Purina Pro Plan cat food - moistened
meal worms
occasionally, and VERY RARELY, canned dog food
 

tortoisetime565

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Yvonne G said:
I'm babysitting two RF tortoises for Dr. Cosmonaut. When I feed them protein, which is about once a week, my usual choices are:

hard boiled egg in the shell
Purina Pro Plan cat food - moistened
meal worms
occasionally, and VERY RARELY, canned dog food

I did not know they could eat eggs!!! And I heard cat food was bad for them. I'll have to try it! What kind of cat food?
 

New2reds

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Here's my red foot enjoying some egg!
ImageUploadedByTortForum1391712583.084020.jpg
 
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pfara

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There's also boiled chicken or shrimp. I tried tuna twice but I heard that it's too fatty.
 

tortoisetime565

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Okay. How do you prepare the eggs... I've never really cooked eggs.... Do I just boil it? Then chop it up?
 

pfara

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Bring water to a boil. About 13 minutes. Then chop up as big as you want. I have 4 juvie reds and I only use about half an egg for all. A little egg goes a long way.
 

muu

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My wee boy loves raw steak mince. But I worry when I give it to him. But then I think well they wouldn't get their meat cooked for them in the wild would they?
 

pfara

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muu said:
My wee boy loves raw steak mince. But I worry when I give it to him. But then I think well they wouldn't get their meat cooked for them in the wild would they?

To be honest, I wouldn't feed raw steak. However, I would love to see a herd of redfoots take down a cow in the wild. :D
 

tortoisetime565

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pfara said:
Bring water to a boil. About 13 minutes. Then chop up as big as you want. I have 4 juvie reds and I only use about half an egg for all. A little egg goes a long way.

Okay! Thanks!
 

jackmeggers

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Lmao pfara! That is a great image. Poor cow though. Trying out the egg right now with Itzl, she took a bite but seems to still be way off anything "the hands" give her :p


"wary"
 

pfara

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jackmeggers said:
Lmao pfara! That is a great image. Poor cow though. Trying out the egg right now with Itzl, she took a bite but seems to still be way off anything "the hands" give her :p


"wary"



Anything new for torts is like an acquired taste. Mine were like that too. But I left the egg in there and left the room. 30 minutes later and the slate was scraped clean. They definitely doubled back :p
 

TortLaw

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I feed mine shrimp. I just buy a bag of frozen shrimp and defrost a few at a time for him.
 

jackmeggers

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She seems to like it. But the "hands" keep taking pics which she doesn't like lol. I put her on my stomach with a piece and she nibbled at it now, she is staring at it and judging it.
1391720501364.jpg
 
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mightymizz

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Can a tortoise safely eat hard egg shell? I would think that since they don't really chew, it would be sharp going down and moving through the intestines?
 

Holycow

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I have seen my redfoot eat eggs that fell from a dove nest in my yard, shells and all. I would imagine they would eat eggs if they came across them in the wild. Most opportunistic feeders do not pass up eggs. I don't see the shell really being a problem, it is calcium and eggs themselves are rich with all vitamins except C ( I think). I think people boil them to make it less likely you will give the tort. salmonella from a potentially contaminated raw egg. Also not as messy.
 

kathyth

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I also use Pro Plan weight management cat food as recommended by Terry K. ( turtletery). Low fat, high protein and clean. He really does his research. :)
 

T33's Torts

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Isaiah, never cook eggs, you say? In high school I lived off eggs. And bread. "Study food", aka "I'm too lazy to kake actual food so dont judge"
 

CharlieM

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I have started using Orejen dog or puppy food sparingly.
My box turtles and redfoots love it. It's grain free and is non GMO.

Designed to match your puppy's natural diet, Orijen Puppy Grain-Free Dry Dog Food replicates the healthy and diverse balance of proteins like free-run chicken and turkey, whole eggs and wild-caught fish along with fruits and vegetables to perfectly support the growth of puppies and young dogs. These world-class ingredients are all sustainably farmed or fished within Canada and arrive FRESH each day, so they're preservative-free, never frozen and brimming with the proteins and fats that nourish your puppy completely. Orijen benefits puppies of every breed and size. Like people, your dog is a unique individual and his feeding requirements will vary with his breed, environment, age and activity.

Key Benefits

  • 80% premium animal ingredients
  • 20% fresh fruits, vegetables and botanicals
  • Grain-free and carbohydrate-limited
  • Infused with marine-source DHA and EPA Omega-3 Fatty Acids to support peak skin and coat conditioning
  • Veterinarian-selected botanicals help support metabolism, strengthen organs and cleanse the body of toxins
  • Sun-cured alfalfa is a rich source of calcium to develop healthy bones
  • Chicory Root reduces the risk of worms
  • Pumpkin helps regulate digestive system
  • Mixed tocopherols protect the eye
 
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