Hi guys. been coming here for a long time before i got my tortoise and finally took the plunge. 7 month old sulcata showing a little pyramiding when i got him, seems twice the size of the one we saw in the shop (got him from a breeder?) but hay ho. Breeder sent tortoise pellets with him saying get him off of them soon they are no good for him (which we all know). Seemed to have problems with his eyes and vet said that it was probably vitamin problem so now give him/her (Sheldon) a drop of child's vitamin twice a week. Daily soaks and all temps are spot on. Highly active, comes out on his own in morning feeds basks then patrols for an hour then goes back to his bed (standard 4 foot tortoise table) until the next day, very active not head shy im happy! The only thing i have noticed is that im weaning him off the pellets and onto weeds and grass and occasional dark leaf of veg with no pellets at all and he seems to be getting a dirty bottom. Its obviously from the change in diet but its what iv read and what the vet recommended me to do grrr. Am i doing anything wrong and is this usual, he did not have this with the 50/50 greens and pellets diet. Thanks guys
Dirty bottom?
- Thread starter adamspun
- Start date
Hello and welcome.
Rather than repeating things, I thinkmthat you would do well to read a few threads that will answer many of your questions
Sulcata Diet Sheet
Beginner Mistakes
How to raise a healthy Sulcata
and use this to find healthy plant food for your tortoise The Tortoise Table Plant Database
Rather than repeating things, I thinkmthat you would do well to read a few threads that will answer many of your questions
Sulcata Diet Sheet
Beginner Mistakes
How to raise a healthy Sulcata
and use this to find healthy plant food for your tortoise The Tortoise Table Plant Database
Are you saying that the stool is thinner and messier now with this new diet? That means that you've taken out too much of the fiber. What brand of pellets were you using? Some of them are better than others.
I dont know the brand of pellets tbh but the guy i got him/her from apparently knows his stuff. He has been keeping/breeding sulcatas since before i was born, like many of you, and the animal courier said that he has been servicing this guy for years and he is top notch. so i guess the pellets were the best they could have been. No its ok they are not looser, somewhat more olive coloured than before which i take as a good sign but his tail seems to get dirtier than before. I can see what you are saying "its bitty and spraying" but its not, its the same fat little cigars it used to be just a greeny colour. If anything he seems MORE active and bright since the diet change but then there is my new owner paranoid mind thinking "is he hungry? desperately looking for food or what?" I was just wondering if its normal to get a bit of a dirty bottom i guess. Its hard to clean while he is so small. i have read all the help sheets and diet notes lighting etc and it says nothing about this possible issue so thank you for replying yvonne.
