dry tortoise shell?

[Alex and the Redfoot]

oh okay thank you that makes sense. i suppose it is "hibiscus season" (i've never seen that many before!) so if she ate it for a month straight in captivity, she would done it anyway if she had access to the plant. i should stop though, because the plant said "not for human/animal consumption".

however, what about all the other plants in my yard? those could also have pesticides from a longtime ago (i'm not sure how long they last) despite them being here for years. i have a begonia that i give her every now and then, along with geraniums.

I'm not sure who labeled hibiscus as "unsafe for consumption". It's definitely a safe plant for tortoises and dried hibiscus flowers are commonly used for making tea. So, you can continue to feed it, just "as a part of varied diet"

I think if you see snails, aphids, caterpillars and other little critters chewing a plant then pesticides have been washed out and it's safe to feed. I would not expect pesticides to reside in soil for more than 3-5 years but I'm not an expert in agroculture.

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

that makes a lot of sense, thank you! i will feed her some (maybe 1/3 of her full meal) every day. do you know why there are molasses in this tortoise food? i thought that it is too sugary and they cannot process it.

Sounds fine to me. However, I would try to skip 2-3 days a week, especially when feeding plants rich in nutrients. Just to make sure tortoise eats not only pellets.

You are right, sugars aren't good for them in large amounts. But tortoises, like kids, always love sweets. So molasses is added to entice tortoises to eat the pellets. With Mazuri there is a long history of feeding tortoises so, I guess, it's safe enough.

 

[Yingg]

her poops are quite strange. kind of orange. some keep their shape in the water, some don't . do you think it's because of hibiscus by chance?

 

[Yingg]

her poops are quite strange. kind of orange. some keep their shape in the water, some don't . do you think it's because of hibiscus by chance?

outside is a bit soft, kind of orange yellow membrane. inside is green

 

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

outside is a bit soft, kind of orange yellow membrane. inside is green

Looks like bits of digested plant matter to me, wouldn’t worry

 

[Yingg]

Looks like bits of digested plant matter to me, wouldn’t worry

thank you everyone from this forum really saving me haha

 

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

thank you everyone from this forum really saving me haha

Bless you, we’ll always be here

 

[EppsDynasty]

@Yingg .... it is far better to be concerned and ask questions than just blow it off until there is something wrong. To me this shows your Love for your tort.

 

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

@Yingg .... it is far better to be concerned and ask questions than just blow it off until there is something wrong. To me this shows your Love for your tort.

Couldn’t agree more! If nearly 500 messages on a thread doesn’t show pure love and devotion idk what does

 

[Yingg]

haha thank you everyone. this is practically my personal (panic) thread now i will ask most if not all of my question here

 

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

haha thank you everyone. this is practically my personal (panic) thread now i will ask most if not all of my question here

lol I had a panic thread too a while ago! I totally get it

 

[EppsDynasty]

haha thank you everyone. this is practically my personal (panic) thread now i will ask most if not all of my question here

I would consider it 'Your Learning Thread' more than naming it a panic one. This is how we ALL learn, and this is why the TFO is such a special place. Just as you feel better helping your tort, we all feel good helping your tort as well. There will come a day when YOU are there for someone else and this cycle repeats itself, just hang around .... even when you rush off to college.

 

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

I would consider it 'Your Learning Thread' more than naming it a panic one. This is how we ALL learn, and this is why the TFO is such a special place. Just as you feel better helping your tort, we all feel good helping your tort as well. There will come a day when YOU are there for someone else and this cycle repeats itself, just hang around .... even when you rush off to college.

You’re right about the cycle! I was once doing all the asking, sometimes panicking lol, so it’s wonderful being able to pay things forward! Love how we all help one another here

 

[Yingg]

I would consider it 'Your Learning Thread' more than naming it a panic one. This is how we ALL learn, and this is why the TFO is such a special place. Just as you feel better helping your tort, we all feel good helping your tort as well. There will come a day when YOU are there for someone else and this cycle repeats itself, just hang around .... even when you rush off to college.

i'll probably be here for a while

 

[Yingg]

update: she pooped yesterday. at first it was hard and relatively normal looking, then it became diarrhea. i wonder if it was something i gave her?

 

[Yingg]

currently eating from her blue bowl. this is LS mazuri mixed with romaine lettuce. yeah that's it, i have to go to the market soon haha... it should be okay for a few days.

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

update: she pooped yesterday. at first it was hard and relatively normal looking, then it became diarrhea. i wonder if it was something i gave her?

One time is not an problem. Could be watery foods and etc.

Romaine + Mazuri LS - is a nice combination.

 

[Yingg]

One time is not an problem. Could be watery foods and etc.

Romaine + Mazuri LS - is a nice combination.

oh i see, thank you. i'll see what i have enough to buy at walmart. (she's been living off salad mix because it's cheap but i feel bad.... i'm trying to grow lettuce for her right now. i accidentally left one out and she ate it though)

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

oh i see, thank you. i'll see what i have enough to buy at walmart. (she's been living off salad mix because it's cheap but i feel bad.... i'm trying to grow lettuce for her right now. i accidentally left one out and she ate it though)

Romaine lettuce is high in water contents and not very nutritious. Only good when amended with high-fiber pellets, toppers, vitamin or calcium powder. Or to help with hydration in hot weather.

Instead of lettuce you can grow grocery greens - endive, cilantro, arugula and such (seeds are sold everywhere and usually cheap). Or, even better, plants from broadleaf seed mixes for tortoises.

 

[The_Four_Toed_Edward]

currently eating from her blue bowl. this is LS mazuri mixed with romaine lettuce. yeah that's it, i have to go to the market soon haha... it should be okay for a few days.

I am still baffled by her bowl preference, but it is fine as long as it works!