Eating new things...

[izzy2208]

Donatello,my sulcata will try to eat anything. But torty,my russian will only eat peAs and carrots. I figured out how to get torty to try new things... I would first give it to donatello, who would eat it right in front of torty. Then i would give torty the same thing... Torty now will eat hay,broccoli, dandelions,and thanks to donatello,the sides of the couch...

tortluvr

 

[hunterk997]

That's good, but I think it's best not to feed tortoises peas and broccoli. Carrots are okay now and then, maybe for a vitamin A boost.


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[EchoTheLeoTort]

Try and get more weeds and grasses into the diet as well as leafy greens

 

[izzy2208]

Ok:shy:

tortyluvr

 

[Tyrtle]

Try some spineless optunia cactus. You can order it online from a number of sources. How about radicchio ? That's available at most grocery stores. Also, this time of year there is a veritable tortoise buffet in the great outdoors. Seek out some nice abandoned field away from the manicured lawns and gather clover and dandelion leaves/flowers.

 

[Tom]

I guess you missed all the posts about not mixing species and not keeping aggressive species of tortoises in pairs...

Your russian needs a beak trim, and your sulcata would seriously benefit from some humidity, a substrate that can hold moisture, and some hydration.

Do you use night heat? Your sulcata needs it and your russian shouldn't have it...

 

[Vickie]

Sounds great that he is eating new things thanks to your other tortoise! However, I think I would skip the couch out of their diet. LOL

 

[Mrturtle527]

Tom I have a Russian and leave his heat on all night - should I turn both the uv and the heat off? Not sure how cool it would get but the house stays around 70 most nights and he's inside at night.


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[Tom]

Tom I have a Russian and leave his heat on all night - should I turn both the uv and the heat off? Not sure how cool it would get but the house stays around 70 most nights and he's inside at night.


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Yes. Temperate species of tortoise need a night time cool down and all tortoise need it dark at night. Unless you live inside of a refrigerator, russians do not need, and should not have, night heat. Young sulcatas on the other DO need night heat.

 

[izzy2208]

Sorry i took that picture during the last storm... Tornado... We only had the money for one extra tank for down in basement and only one light...but they got along rather well... I took torty,my russian, to the vet about 2weeks ago but they said his beek thing was fine but they did trim his nails. Donatello,my sulcata, is in a tank with cypress mulch. I also spray his shell with water a few times a day or when he starts to look alittle dry... Donatello's basking area is 92-103 degrees and the rest is about 87-91degrees...
tortyluvr

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Our vet told us that it would be good to get them to interact and that they could accually be housed together...

tortyluvr

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But they arent

tortyluvr

 

[jjsull33]

They can't be housed together, they need different diets, and housing requirements.

Plus Russians are fairly aggressive especially in pairs, and I'm not sure how a sulcata would take to being bitten/rammed.

 

[JoesMum]

Our vet told us that it would be good to get them to interact and that they could accually be housed together...

Get a new vet.. NOW!

1. Sulcatas and Russians have very different requirements for their care. e.g. temperature, humidity...

2. Mixing species is never recommended. Pathogens and germs that one tolerates could kill the other.

3. They are both solitary species that will defend their territories and both fight nasty. They are not social animals, they don't get lonely, they don't need or want company. A solitary tort is a happy tort.

I am appalled that a so called expert can suggest that they'd benefit from socialising. It will do mare harm than good.

Like I said, find an exotics vet that knows what they are talking about because, frankly, I would not trust yours anywhere near a tortoise for any kind of advice.

 

[izzy2208]

Our vet is the only exotic vet in town. The closest exotic vet other than her is 3 hours away...

tortyluvr