dry tortoise shell?

[Yingg]

hello, some of the leaves that i grew from tortoise supply's mix are prickly (the turnip/radish green). is it ok to feed? i noticed bc my hands hurt when i washed it today.

 

[EppsDynasty]

I say NO .... but it is pretty common for tort owners to feed things that have 'Spikes' like Opuntia. My thoughts are this "If it sticks in your hand it's gotta stick in their mouths PERIOD. For this reason we do not feed anything that is just as you say 'Prickly'. Great job hesitating and then asking. I am impressed with your attention to detail and just absolutely Love the care you care about for her. Great Job!

Others that are far more of an expert than I may have a different thought on this.

 

[The_Four_Toed_Edward]

I say NO .... but it is pretty common for tort owners to feed things that have 'Spikes' like Opuntia. My thoughts are this "If it sticks in your hand it's gotta stick in their mouths PERIOD. For this reason we do not feed anything that is just as you say 'Prickly'. Great job hesitating and then asking. I am impressed with your attention to detail and just absolutely Love the care you care about for her. Great Job!

Others that are far more of an expert than I may have a different thought on this.

I believe some also feed raw stinging nettle to tortoises.

hello, some of the leaves that i grew from tortoise supply's mix are prickly (the turnip/radish green). is it ok to feed? i noticed bc my hands hurt when i washed it today.

I know people eat raw prickly turnip greens, but not sure about radish greens.

 

[Yingg]

I say NO .... but it is pretty common for tort owners to feed things that have 'Spikes' like Opuntia. My thoughts are this "If it sticks in your hand it's gotta stick in their mouths PERIOD. For this reason we do not feed anything that is just as you say 'Prickly'. Great job hesitating and then asking. I am impressed with your attention to detail and just absolutely Love the care you care about for her. Great Job!

Others that are far more of an expert than I may have a different thought on this.

when i fed ít to her, i scraped off the needles with my nails and made sure none were left. I'm just confused because everything is said to be edible in this seed mix! if i shouldn't be feeding "prickly" food, why is it in the mix?

and thank you! i improved a lot since i first created this thread

 

[Yingg]

I believe some also feed raw stinging nettle to tortoises.

I know people eat raw prickly turnip greens, but not sure about radish greens.

i figured tortoises would have some form of anatomy inside their mouths which allow for more spiky food. (like a camel?)

one thing to note is that my skin is very sensitive and soft because I don't do a single bit of labor, not even for my job. I think my hands may be sensitive to spikes but i figured i would ask here!

 

[Yingg]

healthy poop and urates. i dissected her poop a bit and found no hair. goodie

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

i figured tortoises would have some form of anatomy inside their mouths which allow for more spiky food. (like a camel?)

one thing to note is that my skin is very sensitive and soft because I don't do a single bit of labor, not even for my job. I think my hands may be sensitive to spikes but i figured i would ask here!

That's true, tortoises eat foods with raphides (like stinging nettle) and small spines (like opuntia pads) just fine. But in mammals these plant defence cause all sorts of problems.

 

[Yingg]

Saturday: healthy urates and poop

 

[Yingg]

Today: healthy urates, poo is healthy but slightly greener. I think it's still ok though

 

[EppsDynasty]

@Yingg .....
It's great that you pay such close attention to her. On the 'Poop' issues this is how we deal/think of it ....
The process of digestion takes up to 2 weeks if everything is going well and feeding is consistent and proper items. When you see a poop it can be affected by so many things that it really is not reliable to make a judgement on that day using said poop. We really focus on getting a regular feeding with the same foods for at least 2 weeks (more like 3-4) before we try and use the poop as a indicator. Even if you have to find 2,3 or even 4 foods that she will eat regularly without any issues then feed for 2 weeks and THEN start looking at poop for indicators. If you cannot get her to eat everyday regularly for 2 weeks then there is some other issues that need attention .... heat, stress, sunlight, etc. Are you using Mazuri? if not then that needs to be a 'Must' .... it is a balanced nutritional feed and should be a part of your schedule. if you can get her to eat even a few bites everyday you will get more consistent and healthier poops.
Pick a time of the day that you have 30-45 minutes to spend with her, everyday. At this exact same time everyday do your soak (15 minutes) then feed your small amount of food. Do this everyday at the same time for 2 weeks, then make a plan based on the behavior. You may need to do this for 3,4 or 5 weeks to get her used to the schedule before she is comfortable, then you can start to add foods or different things in her environment.

 

[Yingg]

@Yingg .....
It's great that you pay such close attention to her. On the 'Poop' issues this is how we deal/think of it ....
The process of digestion takes up to 2 weeks if everything is going well and feeding is consistent and proper items. When you see a poop it can be affected by so many things that it really is not reliable to make a judgement on that day using said poop. We really focus on getting a regular feeding with the same foods for at least 2 weeks (more like 3-4) before we try and use the poop as a indicator. Even if you have to find 2,3 or even 4 foods that she will eat regularly without any issues then feed for 2 weeks and THEN start looking at poop for indicators. If you cannot get her to eat everyday regularly for 2 weeks then there is some other issues that need attention .... heat, stress, sunlight, etc. Are you using Mazuri? if not then that needs to be a 'Must' .... it is a balanced nutritional feed and should be a part of your schedule. if you can get her to eat even a few bites everyday you will get more consistent and healthier poops.
Pick a time of the day that you have 30-45 minutes to spend with her, everyday. At this exact same time everyday do your soak (15 minutes) then feed your small amount of food. Do this everyday at the same time for 2 weeks, then make a plan based on the behavior. You may need to do this for 3,4 or 5 weeks to get her used to the schedule before she is comfortable, then you can start to add foods or different things in her environment.

hello. I have considered using mazuri but she keeps spitting it out, no matter what i try. I am currently using romaine lettuce as a "base" then rotating turnip/mustard green, parsley, cilantro, dandelion greens, frisée, radicchio, mizuna, endives and those kinds of things. i use romaine as a base because she will start eating if she smells it. then i cut everything up small so she can't pick it out!

i originally tried mazuri a few times. once i just left it there, and assumed that she would eat once she was hungry (she did not) and then i tried to hand feed it to her by putting it in a lettuce wrap. she spat the whole thing out. i was thinking about mazuri actually, quite a lot too. but i really can't get her to eat it.

 

[Yingg]

second question, her beak is getting a bit long.

she can eat alright . still active. is it okay to leave it for a bit instead of immediately getting it trimmed? I need to get my finances in check

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

second question, her beak is getting a bit long.

she can eat alright . still active. is it okay to leave it for a bit instead of immediately getting it trimmed? I need to get my finances in check

I think it's okay. You can try to trim it yourself with a nail file - unless the beak has seriously overgrown, it's doable without a dremel and special skills.

 

[EppsDynasty]

i was thinking about mazuri actually, quite a lot too. but i really can't get her to eat it.

We have over 100 torts now and EVERY one eats Mazuri, no 1 will not eat it. Within 2 weeks we can get a tort to eat it and then eat it consistently. Russians are the hardest though to get to eat it. You just have to be prepared to waste a bunch of food and keep doing it everyday.

 

[Yingg]

We have over 100 torts now and EVERY one eats Mazuri, no 1 will not eat it. Within 2 weeks we can get a tort to eat it and then eat it consistently. Russians are the hardest though to get to eat it. You just have to be prepared to waste a bunch of food and keep doing it everyday.

i'll try my best lol. how much per day? i'll start off with a few pellets mixed in with her usual greens

 

[Yingg]

i'll try my best lol. how much per day? i'll start off with a few pellets mixed in with her usual greens

haha she picked everything else out

 

[EppsDynasty]

Just a pellet or two at first.

 

[Yingg]

Hi, @Yvonne G I am tagging you because I think you mentioned something about Brassicas being okay to feed. If it wasn't you, feel free to reply anyway anyone too!

I've been growing what looks to be wild radish from the testudo seed mix. I give her 3-4 leaves every other day, or maybe twice a week. The other days she has frisée.

I'm aware that brassica warnings "goitrogens and glusinolates" are pretty out of date, but I'm wondering if how I am feeding her is ok . thanks!

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

Hi, @Yvonne G I am tagging you because I think you mentioned something about Brassicas being okay to feed. If it wasn't you, feel free to reply anyway anyone too!

I've been growing what looks to be wild radish from the testudo seed mix. I give her 3-4 leaves every other day, or maybe twice a week. The other days she has frisée.

I'm aware that brassica warnings "goitrogens and glusinolates" are pretty out of date, but I'm wondering if how I am feeding her is ok . thanks!

Brassicas are fine to feed as a part of varied diet. Goiterogens warning is based on one observation of goiter, as far as I know (and probably brassicas weren't the cause even then).

Kale has some iodine contents and loaded with calcium. Mizuna/rocket/arugula are brassicas too. All are fine to feed.

 

[The_Four_Toed_Edward]

Hi, @Yvonne G I am tagging you because I think you mentioned something about Brassicas being okay to feed. If it wasn't you, feel free to reply anyway anyone too!

I've been growing what looks to be wild radish from the testudo seed mix. I give her 3-4 leaves every other day, or maybe twice a week. The other days she has frisée.

I'm aware that brassica warnings "goitrogens and glusinolates" are pretty out of date, but I'm wondering if how I am feeding her is ok . thanks!

@RosemaryDW is also of the opinion since Russian tortoises eat quite a lot of brassicas in the wild.