Aleksei loves Mazuri, too much?

[Aleksei]

My seven-and-a-half-month-old Russian tortoise loves Mazuri. I have the juvenile pellets; they're very small, and he eats them dry. He will happily eat as many as I give him. He is pretty good at eating his greens as well, as long as I don't put pellets down. I give him a pinch every other day. He tends to drag his back legs a little (and always sticks them out when he's not walking), so I dust his food with calcium powder once a week. (His poops are pretty regular, so I don't think that's the reason.) The Mazuri has calcium, according to the label. So I think that will help, too.

Does that sound right?


Here he is almost too big for his soak tank!

 

[RandyTortoise]

Everything seems fine to me. Maybe his back legs is extended is just his way to relax! I think you are doing a great job!

 

[COmtnLady]

My seven-and-a-half-month-old Russian tortoise loves Mazuri. I have the juvenile pellets; they're very small, and he eats them dry. He will happily eat as many as I give him.

I'm not trying to be harsh, just want to make sure your tort's not getting too much of a good thing. Its really good that (s)he eats so well for you!

First concern ~
They now discourage throwing rice or seeds at weddings as brides and grooms pass by. (It used to mean good wishes for abundance and to never want for food during their married lives, etc.) The reason it is now discouraged is that the little songbirds and such would clean it up after the humans were gone, and will eat as much as they can get (like you are saying your tortoise does with the small dry pellets). The problem occurs when they drink some water. The water makes the seeds and rice swell up, which ruptures the birds' stomachs and intestines and they die.

Second consideration ~
The Mazuri is a balanced diet if you follow the directions on the package. Feeding more than they recommend is not good for your tortoise.

It is important you to make sure your tort doesn't eat too many pellets. It could affect his health.

Lots of people from many different backgrounds come here; its tricky to know who understands what without talking about it. Please don't take the above in the wrong way. My intentions are only to help you keep your tortoise happy and healthy.

 

[The_Four_Toed_Edward]

First concern ~
They now discourage throwing rice or seeds at weddings as brides and grooms pass by. (It used to mean good wishes for abundance and to never want for food during their married lives, etc.) The reason it is now discouraged is that the little songbirds and such would clean it up after the humans were gone, and will eat as much as they can get (like you are saying your tortoise does with the small dry pellets). The problem occurs when they drink some water. The water makes the seeds and rice swell up, which ruptures the birds' stomachs and intestines and they die.

I agree with this, Mazuri is recommended to feed soaked.

 

[Aleksei]

@COmtnLady I appreciate your reply and I know you have the best intentions at heart! However, the package says that I can feed them dry. So I am following the directions as I read them. However, they don't say how much or how often, which is where my concern in the post comes from. I'm still new to this (I've only had him since February) so I'm always happy to hear advice!

 

[jaizei]

@COmtnLady I appreciate your reply and I know you have the best intentions at heart! However, the package says that I can feed them dry. So I am following the directions as I read them. However, they don't say how much or how often, which is where my concern in the post comes from. I'm still new to this (I've only had him since February) so I'm always happy to hear advice!

View attachment 392338

Between 1-4% of bodyweight daily is a rough guide.

 

[RandyTortoise]

@COmtnLady I appreciate your reply and I know you have the best intentions at heart! However, the package says that I can feed them dry. So I am following the directions as I read them. However, they don't say how much or how often, which is where my concern in the post comes from. I'm still new to this (I've only had him since February) so I'm always happy to hear advice!

View attachment 392338

Right. This is what it says. Personally, my tortoises won’t eat it dry at all. They will only eat it soaked and softened and only once have I seen one eat it dry and that was an experiment I did once. I won’t do it again as even though one ate it dry, I wondered if it was going to get stuck and not soften up in her belly