Tortoise Enrichment

2turtletom

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I developed a way for my captive tortoises to stretch a little bit in order to eat their food. Have you done something similar? I figure it gives them exercise and helps them use more muscles than just eating from a plate of chopped food. I'll probably do this about twice a week.

 

Maggie3fan

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I don't do that with food, but I spent a lot of time with my big Sulcata teaching him how to play soccer with a 5 gallon bucket, I taught him how to follow my wiggling fingers when I take him somewhere which really helps when they are over 100 pounds...I spent my time with him trying to enrich him mentally and to make him use his brain. I think some worked as he was a very smart and very outgoing...
 

2turtletom

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Akron, Ohio
I don't do that with food, but I spent a lot of time with my big Sulcata teaching him how to play soccer with a 5 gallon bucket, I taught him how to follow my wiggling fingers when I take him somewhere which really helps when they are over 100 pounds...I spent my time with him trying to enrich him mentally and to make him use his brain. I think some worked as he was a very smart and very outgoing...
That's awesome Maggie. I would love to see a video of your Sulcata playing soccer with a bucket!
 

2turtletom

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Nice. We also let our tortoise roam the yard to have their excises.
My guys are outside for summer, where they get a ton of enrichment, but in the winter, they don't get nearly the exercise, hence this little experiment.
 

Venetia

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Jul 25, 2018
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My 100lb boy “ pretzelgriff” gets quite a bit of enrichment from 2 stacked bags of G&B organic farmyard blend (garden soil ). And n
 

Maggie3fan

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My 100lb boy “ pretzelgriff” gets quite a bit of enrichment from 2 stacked bags of G&B organic farmyard blend (garden soil ). And n
How about some photos of him...? I love seeing bigger tortoises instead of cute hatchlings all the time...my Bob was abt 125 lbs when he died...
 

Venetia

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Bishop California
My 100lb boy “ pretzelgriff” gets quite a bit of enrichment from 2 stacked bags of G&B organic farmyard blend (garden soil ). I like your 5 gallon bucket idea, (much easier to explain to the neighborhood kids if they ever come back again). Thanks for sharing.
 

Cathie G

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If I can figure out how to add pictures using only my I phone I will.
I figured out a way on my little phone. Either send a text or email of your pictures. Then download it. When you want to upload a photo on TFO choose documents. It will let you post a photo.
 
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