Can a tortoise have too much fiber?

TammyJ

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Jun 21, 2016
Messages
7,120
Location (City and/or State)
Jamaica
Wow. Guess this one stumped 'em!
What species of tortoises, what do you call "fiber"? Recommended food for a specific tortoise, yes, that food being high in fiber...I don't see a problem if the overall diet is a good one.
 

Ben02

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 21, 2018
Messages
1,830
Location (City and/or State)
Brighton, Southcoast, UK
Wow. Guess this one stumped 'em!
What species of tortoises, what do you call "fiber"? Recommended food for a specific tortoise, yes, that food being high in fiber...I don't see a problem if the overall diet is a good one.
Ahh so many responses, thank you all. I’m talking about Mediterranean species, Greek tortoises to be specific. I’ve noticed that if I feed mine too many fiber rich pellets they get constipated. What’s that all about?
 

TammyJ

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Jun 21, 2016
Messages
7,120
Location (City and/or State)
Jamaica
Ahh so many responses, thank you all. I’m talking about Mediterranean species, Greek tortoises to be specific. I’ve noticed that if I feed mine too many fiber rich pellets they get constipated. What’s that all about?
Over to the experts!!!
 

Maro2Bear

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Joined
May 29, 2014
Messages
14,712
Location (City and/or State)
Glenn Dale, Maryland, USA
Pellets vs natural grass and weeds. Pellets are very dry....so, I’m sure they suck a lot of the moisture out of a torts digestive system and cause constipation. If feeding lots of pelleted food, id supplement with lots of opuntia and aloe and other moisture rich food sources.
 

Ben02

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 21, 2018
Messages
1,830
Location (City and/or State)
Brighton, Southcoast, UK
Pellets vs natural grass and weeds. Pellets are very dry....so, I’m sure they suck a lot of the moisture out of a torts digestive system and cause constipation. If feeding lots of pelleted food, id supplement with lots of opuntia and aloe and other moisture rich food sources.
That’s very interesting, I’ve got to own up to the fact that last winter (my first winter with the torts) I did use a lot of store bought greens as there was literally no weeds about. I used Zoo med grassland tortoise diet as a fiber supplement and as you said, this did make the stools a little dry and firmer than I would like. Now that it’s warmer I have access to a whole load of weeds and so those pellets are in a draw for next winter:D

Thanks everyone

Ben
 

Cowboy_Ken

Well-Known Member
10 Year Member!
Joined
Nov 18, 2011
Messages
17,560
Location (City and/or State)
Suburban-life in Salem, Oregon
so those pellets are in a draw for next winter:D

Thanks everyone

Ben

Ben,
Throughout the year I supplement my tortoises food with Mazuri tortoise chow. These are dry pellets. Before feeding them I soak the pellets until they are good and mushy. No lack of water in those although the stool is still solid.
 
Top