Are pellets good for him?

dfree

New Member
Joined
Jul 28, 2017
Messages
13
Location (City and/or State)
Ga
Ad I said before, I just got my baby. He seems to be doing great. I Bouygues some Muzri pellets for him (for now it's a he). He seems to like these better than his greens as he chooses them first. He also eats dandelions, romaine (what he was mostly fed) mix of greens, and grass. Doesn't seem to like the grass as much. LOVES the pellets. Is this ok?
 

wellington

Well-Known Member
Moderator
10 Year Member!
Tortoise Club
Joined
Sep 6, 2011
Messages
49,658
Location (City and/or State)
Chicago, Illinois, USA
It's okay as a small part of his diet. Not the main source of his food. Take the mazuri and soak it until soft and then mix it with his greens, smearing the mazuri all over his greens. He will have to eat the greens to get the mazuri. For a baby just a couple pellets a day is enough, or a little bit more just a couple times a week.
 

Gillian M

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Aug 28, 2014
Messages
15,417
Location (City and/or State)
Jordan
It's okay as a small part of his diet. Not the main source of his food. Take the mazuri and soak it until soft and then mix it with his greens, smearing the mazuri all over his greens. He will have to eat the greens to get the mazuri. For a baby just a couple pellets a day is enough, or a little bit more just a couple times a week.
Thanks very much your prompt reply.
 

Yvonne G

Old Timer
TFO Admin
10 Year Member!
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Jan 23, 2008
Messages
93,388
Location (City and/or State)
Clovis, CA
I soak the Mazuri then mash it up with a fork. I also chop greens for babies into very snall pieces. Then I mix the greens and Mazuri until the greens are all coated with the Mazuri. Another pellet I like to feed to babies with their greens is Zoo Med Grassland Tortoise Diet. I alternate.
 

Gillian M

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Aug 28, 2014
Messages
15,417
Location (City and/or State)
Jordan
I soak the Mazuri then mash it up with a fork. I also chop greens for babies into very snall pieces. Then I mix the greens and Mazuri until the greens are all coated with the Mazuri. Another pellet I like to feed to babies with their greens is Zoo Med Grassland Tortoise Diet. I alternate.
Thanks very much your answer.
 

dfree

New Member
Joined
Jul 28, 2017
Messages
13
Location (City and/or State)
Ga
What's different about these? How often should I put the calcium powder on his food?
 

Tom

The Dog Trainer
10 Year Member!
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Jan 9, 2010
Messages
63,264
Location (City and/or State)
Southern California
What's different about these? How often should I put the calcium powder on his food?

What species are we talking about?

Generally, I like to feed them some Mazuri twice a week and us a small amount of calcium supplement twice a week.

Baby tortoises like to eat what they've eaten before. I can take time to get them used to a new food that they have not eaten before. Things like grass, leaves and weeds are better for them, but if the breeder didn't introduce these things, it can takes weeks or months of effort for you to introduce them.
 

dfree

New Member
Joined
Jul 28, 2017
Messages
13
Location (City and/or State)
Ga
What species are we talking about?

Generally, I like to feed them some Mazuri twice a week and us a small amount of calcium supplement twice a week.

Baby tortoises like to eat what they've eaten before. I can take time to get them used to a new food that they have not eaten before. Things like grass, leaves and weeds are better for them, but if the breeder didn't introduce these things, it can takes weeks or months of effort for you to introduce them.
I have a sulcata. He eats dandelions, turnips well. I've given him rose leaves that he likes and some grape leaves. He seems to eat all these pretty good. So I shouldn't give him calcium every day?
 

dfree

New Member
Joined
Jul 28, 2017
Messages
13
Location (City and/or State)
Ga
What species are we talking about?

Generally, I like to feed them some Mazuri twice a week and us a small amount of calcium supplement twice a week.

Baby tortoises like to eat what they've eaten before. I can take time to get them used to a new food that they have not eaten before. Things like grass, leaves and weeds are better for them, but if the breeder didn't introduce these things, it can takes weeks or months of effort for you to introduce them.
 

dfree

New Member
Joined
Jul 28, 2017
Messages
13
Location (City and/or State)
Ga
I've read everything I can find that you post. What leaves and grasses are the best? Can I just pick anything for him or are a lot of plants dangerous to them?
 

Tropics

Member
Joined
Mar 26, 2017
Messages
56
Location (City and/or State)
San Diego, CA
Mine at wheatgrass very eagerly. Super easy to grow too. Loves the plantain that was recently given to me, I’m starting to plant them now. Gave some guava leaves and those were a no go. There are some tortoise grazing seed mixes on eBay and some websites. Give them a try.
 

Tom

The Dog Trainer
10 Year Member!
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Jan 9, 2010
Messages
63,264
Location (City and/or State)
Southern California
I've read everything I can find that you post. What leaves and grasses are the best? Can I just pick anything for him or are a lot of plants dangerous to them?

Calcium interferes with the absorption of other important minerals and trace elements. Too much calcium, like everyday, creates deficits in other important areas. Once or twice a week is plenty, especially when you are feeding a good diet.

Here is the sulcata info. The last one explains feeding and has a list of suggestions. You have to use the correct plants to feed your tortoise.
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/how-to-raise-a-healthy-sulcata-or-leopard-version-2-0.79895/
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/for-those-who-have-a-young-sulcata.76744/
 

Redfool

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Jul 11, 2017
Messages
379
Location (City and/or State)
Central Florida
Just dust with calcium like you would salt your own food, not like powdered sugar. It’s a supplement, more is not better.
 

Yvonne G

Old Timer
TFO Admin
10 Year Member!
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Jan 23, 2008
Messages
93,388
Location (City and/or State)
Clovis, CA
What's different about these? How often should I put the calcium powder on his food?

Are you asking what's different between the Mazuri and the Zoo Med? I really like the Zoo Med better because it seems to contain a lot more grass. But the price makes it prohibitive to buy in large quantities, so I only use it for the babies. Mazuri costs about $25 for a 25lb bag, but the Zoo Med costs over $100 for a large bag. So I buy the small 60 oz jar for about $15.

Mazuri: Ground soybean hulls, ground corn, dehulled soybean meal, ground oats, wheat middlings, cane molasses, wheat germ, dehydrated alfalfa meal, dicalcium phosphate, soybean oil, brewers dried yeast, calcium carbonate, salt, dl-methionine, choline chloride, pyridoxine hydrochloride, mixed tocopherols (preservative, form of vitamin E; citric acid, rosemary extract), d-alpha-tocopheryl acetate (form of vitamin E), manganous oxide, zinc oxide, ferrous carbonate, calcium pantothenate, niacin, copper sulfate, menadione sodium bisulfite complex (source of vitamin K), riboflavin, l-lysine, zinc sulfate, thiamine mononitrate, calcium iodate, folic acid, vitamin a acetate, sodium selenite, cobalt carbonate, biotin, vitamin B12 supplement, cholecalciferol (vitamin D3).


Zoo Med: Suncured Timothy Hay, Wheat Middlings, Almond Hull Meal, Miscanthus Ground Grass, Suncured Alfalfa Meal, Ground Wheat, Calcium Carbonate, Escarole, Endive, Monocalcium Phosphate, Dicalcium Phosphate, Dried Dandelion Greens, Sodium Bicarbonate, Dried Lactobacillus acidophilus Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus casei Fermentation Product, Dried Bifidobacterium bifidum Fermentation Product, Dried Enterococcus faecium Fermentation Product, Hydrated Sodium Calcium Aluminosilicate, Hydrolyzed Yeast, Brewers Dried Yeast, Yeast Culture, Garlic Extract, Anise Extract, Chinese Cassia Bark Extract, Ginger Extract, Horseradish, Juniper Extract, Yucca schidigera Extract, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (source of stabilized Vitamin C), Vitamin E Supplement, Zinc Methionine Complex, Mixed Tocopherols (a preservative), Rosemary Extract, Ascorbic Acid, Citric Acid (a preservative), Lecithin, Silicon Dioxide, Choline Chloride, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Niacin Supplement, d-Calcium Pantothenate (source of Vitamin B5), Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (source of Vitamin K activity), Riboflavin Supplement (source of Vitamin B2), Thiamine Mononitrate (source of Vitamin B1), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (source of Vitamin B6), Biotin, Folic Acid, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Zinc Oxide, Manganous Oxide, Ferrous Sulfate, Copper Chloride, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite.


Calcium: I take a very small pinch of calcium powder between my thumb and index finger and mix it in with a wet ingredient so it can no longer be seen. They don't like it and too much turns them off from eating. I only do this twice a week.
 

Tropics

Member
Joined
Mar 26, 2017
Messages
56
Location (City and/or State)
San Diego, CA
Are you asking what's different between the Mazuri and the Zoo Med? I really like the Zoo Med better because it seems to contain a lot more grass. But the price makes it prohibitive to buy in large quantities, so I only use it for the babies. Mazuri costs about $25 for a 25lb bag, but the Zoo Med costs over $100 for a large bag. So I buy the small 60 oz jar for about $15.

Mazuri: Ground soybean hulls, ground corn, dehulled soybean meal, ground oats, wheat middlings, cane molasses, wheat germ, dehydrated alfalfa meal, dicalcium phosphate, soybean oil, brewers dried yeast, calcium carbonate, salt, dl-methionine, choline chloride, pyridoxine hydrochloride, mixed tocopherols (preservative, form of vitamin E; citric acid, rosemary extract), d-alpha-tocopheryl acetate (form of vitamin E), manganous oxide, zinc oxide, ferrous carbonate, calcium pantothenate, niacin, copper sulfate, menadione sodium bisulfite complex (source of vitamin K), riboflavin, l-lysine, zinc sulfate, thiamine mononitrate, calcium iodate, folic acid, vitamin a acetate, sodium selenite, cobalt carbonate, biotin, vitamin B12 supplement, cholecalciferol (vitamin D3).


Zoo Med: Suncured Timothy Hay, Wheat Middlings, Almond Hull Meal, Miscanthus Ground Grass, Suncured Alfalfa Meal, Ground Wheat, Calcium Carbonate, Escarole, Endive, Monocalcium Phosphate, Dicalcium Phosphate, Dried Dandelion Greens, Sodium Bicarbonate, Dried Lactobacillus acidophilus Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus casei Fermentation Product, Dried Bifidobacterium bifidum Fermentation Product, Dried Enterococcus faecium Fermentation Product, Hydrated Sodium Calcium Aluminosilicate, Hydrolyzed Yeast, Brewers Dried Yeast, Yeast Culture, Garlic Extract, Anise Extract, Chinese Cassia Bark Extract, Ginger Extract, Horseradish, Juniper Extract, Yucca schidigera Extract, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (source of stabilized Vitamin C), Vitamin E Supplement, Zinc Methionine Complex, Mixed Tocopherols (a preservative), Rosemary Extract, Ascorbic Acid, Citric Acid (a preservative), Lecithin, Silicon Dioxide, Choline Chloride, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Niacin Supplement, d-Calcium Pantothenate (source of Vitamin B5), Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (source of Vitamin K activity), Riboflavin Supplement (source of Vitamin B2), Thiamine Mononitrate (source of Vitamin B1), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (source of Vitamin B6), Biotin, Folic Acid, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Zinc Oxide, Manganous Oxide, Ferrous Sulfate, Copper Chloride, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite.


Calcium: I take a very small pinch of calcium powder between my thumb and index finger and mix it in with a wet ingredient so it can no longer be seen. They don't like it and too much turns them off from eating. I only do this twice a week.


I don’t know if it’s still available, but an eBay seller had the 15oz of zoomed for I think $4. Gave it a try and it was delivered by amazon.
 

dfree

New Member
Joined
Jul 28, 2017
Messages
13
Location (City and/or State)
Ga
Are you asking what's different between the Mazuri and the Zoo Med? I really like the Zoo Med better because it seems to contain a lot more grass. But the price makes it prohibitive to buy in large quantities, so I only use it for the babies. Mazuri costs about $25 for a 25lb bag, but the Zoo Med costs over $100 for a large bag. So I buy the small 60 oz jar for about $15.

Mazuri: Ground soybean hulls, ground corn, dehulled soybean meal, ground oats, wheat middlings, cane molasses, wheat germ, dehydrated alfalfa meal, dicalcium phosphate, soybean oil, brewers dried yeast, calcium carbonate, salt, dl-methionine, choline chloride, pyridoxine hydrochloride, mixed tocopherols (preservative, form of vitamin E; citric acid, rosemary extract), d-alpha-tocopheryl acetate (form of vitamin E), manganous oxide, zinc oxide, ferrous carbonate, calcium pantothenate, niacin, copper sulfate, menadione sodium bisulfite complex (source of vitamin K), riboflavin, l-lysine, zinc sulfate, thiamine mononitrate, calcium iodate, folic acid, vitamin a acetate, sodium selenite, cobalt carbonate, biotin, vitamin B12 supplement, cholecalciferol (vitamin D3).


Zoo Med: Suncured Timothy Hay, Wheat Middlings, Almond Hull Meal, Miscanthus Ground Grass, Suncured Alfalfa Meal, Ground Wheat, Calcium Carbonate, Escarole, Endive, Monocalcium Phosphate, Dicalcium Phosphate, Dried Dandelion Greens, Sodium Bicarbonate, Dried Lactobacillus acidophilus Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus casei Fermentation Product, Dried Bifidobacterium bifidum Fermentation Product, Dried Enterococcus faecium Fermentation Product, Hydrated Sodium Calcium Aluminosilicate, Hydrolyzed Yeast, Brewers Dried Yeast, Yeast Culture, Garlic Extract, Anise Extract, Chinese Cassia Bark Extract, Ginger Extract, Horseradish, Juniper Extract, Yucca schidigera Extract, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (source of stabilized Vitamin C), Vitamin E Supplement, Zinc Methionine Complex, Mixed Tocopherols (a preservative), Rosemary Extract, Ascorbic Acid, Citric Acid (a preservative), Lecithin, Silicon Dioxide, Choline Chloride, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Niacin Supplement, d-Calcium Pantothenate (source of Vitamin B5), Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (source of Vitamin K activity), Riboflavin Supplement (source of Vitamin B2), Thiamine Mononitrate (source of Vitamin B1), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (source of Vitamin B6), Biotin, Folic Acid, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Zinc Oxide, Manganous Oxide, Ferrous Sulfate, Copper Chloride, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite.


Calcium: I take a very small pinch of calcium powder between my thumb and index finger and mix it in with a wet ingredient so it can no longer be seen. They don't like it and too much turns them off from eating. I only do this twice a week.
Thank you
 
Top