I was wandering around a pet store yesterday, looking at various dog/cat toys, collars, food, and it occurred to me that maybe there is a health benefit to encouraging exercise in tortoises. Essentially simulating foraging behavior. I feed my torts in a couple alternating places in their enclosures but for the most part, this doesn't require a lot of wandering around.
My parents used to use a treat dispenser, with their dog, that the dog had to push around to get the food to fall out. I was thinking of using pieces of carrot, pellet, or red pepper as the treat. Would it be too difficult to teach a tortoise to do this? Would the additional exercise be beneficial or is exercise not something to worry about?
I have attached a picture of the dispenser I thought might work. Any thoughts are welcome.
Indy and Zip's Mom
My parents used to use a treat dispenser, with their dog, that the dog had to push around to get the food to fall out. I was thinking of using pieces of carrot, pellet, or red pepper as the treat. Would it be too difficult to teach a tortoise to do this? Would the additional exercise be beneficial or is exercise not something to worry about?
I have attached a picture of the dispenser I thought might work. Any thoughts are welcome.
Indy and Zip's Mom