Basic feeding help

[Taz3388]

Hi all.
In no rush but soon I'll be looking to hopefully buy a western Hermann.
After reading a lot of different posts on here, shared web links and random Google searching I have a rough idea on what to feed him/her.
The problem I have is that I am unable to grow weeds myself nor do I know what weeds are what buy picking any myself. I dont want to just pick anything as I'm more likely to poison the poor thing.
A local pet shop just said to feed their tortoise pellet food but I've not read anywhere that that's a good thing.
I don't want to buy a tortoise until I'm happy that I can give him a good home so any help is perfect

Many thanks
Connor (UK)

 

[RosemaryDW]

Welcome Conner!

The pet shop is wrong.

Sounds like you don't have a garden? So yes, that does limit your options for growing your own.

If you have a window, an outdoor crevice, an outdoor waste bin, you've probably got a spot for an opuntia cactus (opuntia have no spines). They require very little care and can be grown as a houseplant. It won't happen overnight but in a few months it will take off and give you a good source of calcium.

What kind of grocery stores do you have access to? Any ethnic groceries?

I'm calling in @JoesMum, she's in the UK and can give specific pointers.

As for learning to identify weeds, it''s not easy at first but most things aren't. Just start observing plants as you are outside--just look. Over time you will learn to tell one from another. Once you've got a general sense of a few different weeds, you can post pictures of them in the "plant identification" subforum and members can help you figure things out. There is no rush, so you've got some time to look.

Until then, you've got plenty of options to add to pellets.

Here is a good list for foods that was written for another type of tortoise but if you skip the first bit about grass, all the foods below it are great for your tortoise: http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/for-those-who-have-a-young-sulcata.76744/.

You may need to rely on grocery store foods at the beginning. Good foods for tortoises are "chicories," types of lettuce that are likely to be on the far side of the more common floppy green heads of lettuce most people buy. Anything labeled as simply "chicory" is good, as are radiccio, frisee, escarole, and endive; you might even find something labeled as dandelions. I will have JoesMum remind me; I think there is a salad mix named "crispy florets" or something that is available and is a good mix.

The leaves (just the leaves) of turnips and radishes are also good, as are carrot tops. Rocket, cress, collards, mustard greens, bok or any choy, and other dark, leafy greens are okay as well.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

@JoesMum
@Lyn W
@Anyfoot
All live in your general neck of the globe and all scrounge up tortoise food.
There are many others.
Maybe they can provide you with tips.

 

[JoesMum]

Hello Connor and welcome from Kent, UK.

It is very confusing when you start out and you soon learn that most pet stores actually know next to nothing about the correct care of tortoises. Sadly, the same applies to some vets and breeders too.

The good news is that you found us

Our very helpful species experts have put together care sheets and I suggest you read these and largely ignore what the pet store told you or you have found on the internet

Start with Beginner Mistakes
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/

If your Hermann's is a baby as I suspect then Baby Testudo Tortoise Care
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/thread...or-other-herbivorous-tortoise-species.107734/

If it's bigger Hermann's Care
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/sticky-hermanns-tortoise-care-sheet-updated.101410/

For your specific question about food... Your Hermann's diet should be principally weedy leafy greens. Your tort cannot digest sugars properly- they cause digestive and kidney problems - so fruit, pepper, tomato and carrot should only be fed very sparingly and very occasionally if at all.

That said, few of us manage through the winter months without supplementing with a good quality pellet which you soften with plain tap water (not fruit juice which some brands suggest); I use Komodo. You can now buy Mazuri, which is highly regarded overseas, online from The Shelled Warriors shop - this shop is a great source of seeds for growing tort safe plants too
http://www.shelledwarriorsshop.co.uk/

Make a list of the greens that grow around you and those that you can buy in the shops and look them up on The Tortoise Table Plant Database for suitability to feed.
http://thetortoisetable.org.uk/

The above site is wonderful. They have a "plant booklet" that you can download to help you identify plants.

Variety means variety over time. Don't panic about getting lots of variety in every meal. If you have a glut of dandelions and clover then use those and when they're out of season find something else.

 

[Grandpa Turtle 144]

Hi Conner

 

[Korall]

You can also grow plants completely indoors with one of those plant lamps. I use this to give my tortoise hibiscus even in the winter, just make sure they don't have any pesticides. Most of the time it's best to wait for new growth.

 

[Taz3388]

Hi @RosemaryDW and @JoesMum
Thanks for the tips and recomendation.

Would it be ok/worth feeding a part weed and part pellet meal, at least just to start with? The pellets being more just to bulk up the quantity of his meal rather than a main food sourse. If Komodo and Mazuri are ones that you recomend then im happy to use either of them

Thank you
Connor

 

[RosemaryDW]

Of course you can. Many owners do.

Weeds and other safe foods are good, of course, but you won't necessarily be able to find them all year.

Actually, if you read that thread I mentioned, you'll see several owners of multiple tortoises mixing it in with their foods, and explaining why. The very first posts in that thread also have links to other similar posts about mixing in Mazuri.

I don't have to use it, in my climate, but I certainly would use it elsewhere.

 

[Taz3388]

Hello Connor and welcome from Kent, UK.

It is very confusing when you start out and you soon learn that most pet stores actually know next to nothing about the correct care of tortoises. Sadly, the same applies to some vets and breeders too.

The good news is that you found us

Our very helpful species experts have put together care sheets and I suggest you read these and largely ignore what the pet store told you or you have found on the internet

Start with Beginner Mistakes
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/

If your Hermann's is a baby as I suspect then Baby Testudo Tortoise Care
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/thread...or-other-herbivorous-tortoise-species.107734/

If it's bigger Hermann's Care
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/sticky-hermanns-tortoise-care-sheet-updated.101410/

For your specific question about food... Your Hermann's diet should be principally weedy leafy greens. Your tort cannot digest sugars properly- they cause digestive and kidney problems - so fruit, pepper, tomato and carrot should only be fed very sparingly and very occasionally if at all.

That said, few of us manage through the winter months without supplementing with a good quality pellet which you soften with plain tap water (not fruit juice which some brands suggest); I use Komodo. You can now buy Mazuri, which is highly regarded overseas, online from The Shelled Warriors shop - this shop is a great source of seeds for growing tort safe plants too
http://www.shelledwarriorsshop.co.uk/

Make a list of the greens that grow around you and those that you can buy in the shops and look them up on The Tortoise Table Plant Database for suitability to feed.
http://thetortoisetable.org.uk/

The above site is wonderful. They have a "plant booklet" that you can download to help you identify plants.

Variety means variety over time. Don't panic about getting lots of variety in every meal. If you have a glut of dandelions and clover then use those and when they're out of season find something @Joesmum is this what you was referring to?

 

[JoesMum]

That's what I use. You put a little in dish and use tap water to soften it.

Your tort must still eat plant matter as well. Tearing at plants helps to stop the beak overgrowing. This is important as otherwise you'll end up having to clip the beak at regular intervals or find a vet that can do it for you.

Using a piece of flat rock or slate, or even the back of a ceramic tile (not the pretty shiny side), as a food plate helps to keep the beak in check too.

Please read those threads I linked carefully. The information on the type of enclosure, space and humidity/heat/light requirements to stop pyramidding are very important

 

[daniellenc]

You can also find tons of greens at the grocery store, farmers markets, and Asian/Hispanic markets to supplement and provide variety. Take picture of weeds in your area and post them here, also you can grow plants in small outdoor and indoor planters!