Hi guys,
I am having fun with discovering and experimenting with food for my Russian Tsarina Queen Yoshi
Yesterday I went out and bought some dfferent sort of greens.
Then I went out into Nature and got me some Clover, red and white.
People commented I was giving a lot for my tortoise, scouting Nature in the burning heat, and that was so sweet to hear and motivating. Some people I saw actually helped a bit.
(I was at a lake where people recreate) .
I am experimenting with different kinds of food.
Also with members of the Brassica family, but avoiding large quantities.
I read on Russiantortoise.net, and here, that even though Brassica members can contain goitrogens, if you mix these with other greens, and not solely rely on this for a diet, it makes for a good variety, and also makes for a valuable nutritional addition. Avoiding it completely seems like an overstatement. However I would
not go out and by specific ones like Cauliflower, but should it be in a mix then I would offer it anyway.
There is an interesting thread here that shows the diet of steppe torts in the wild, and I was surprised that I actually saw some Brassica members there, so I decided to moderately add it to her diet.
I have presented Queen (Yes Queen because she is spoiled ) Yoshi with the following a la cart menu:
Her behavior changed
She was almost, what I would call, enthusiastic!
Sniffing, crawling all over her repti dish, sampling different things, she looked like she was enjoying herself.
I observed her eating, and I found myself regularly eye to eye with her, I am fascinated by how charismatic she is. I notice she notices me, observes me as I observe her,, and is aware of me standing there, in a way almost like, silent communication. Non verbal communication as you will. I got the impression she was a bit like...
" Do you always stare at someone eating" that was kind of the feeling I got LOL
I must be insane.
Back to the food.
I thought maybe it would be fun to show the results of my little experiment.
She ate for almost 20 minutes, then went back to her hide to sleep, we are having very hot days and my apartment can become very warm in the summer so I notice she tends to dig herself in for a few hours more a day.
I will now look at every part of the meal specifically:
Wikipedia:
She almost always beelines for this and eats it with enthusiasm, and I dare say of all things I have presented this is the most successful until now. So that is a definite + for the future, and as I can get this very easily I can give this regularly.
Currently, I am gathering as much information about edible plants and trying to find out where to get them, and trying to find out which greens I find in Nature are ok, I have a lot of info on that, and I am trying to learn as fast as I can, but due to the complex variety in herbs and greens available, I find it quite a challenge to learn to recognize them in the field, so many look alike, but for now I am getting the things I do know.
Today I am going to scout for some dandelion leaves.
I hope this food analyses was helpful/informative for anybody who is interested.
I got so much out of this forum already I decided to share this to give something back to the community.
Take care,
Joey
I am having fun with discovering and experimenting with food for my Russian Tsarina Queen Yoshi
Yesterday I went out and bought some dfferent sort of greens.
Then I went out into Nature and got me some Clover, red and white.
People commented I was giving a lot for my tortoise, scouting Nature in the burning heat, and that was so sweet to hear and motivating. Some people I saw actually helped a bit.
(I was at a lake where people recreate) .
I am experimenting with different kinds of food.
Also with members of the Brassica family, but avoiding large quantities.
I read on Russiantortoise.net, and here, that even though Brassica members can contain goitrogens, if you mix these with other greens, and not solely rely on this for a diet, it makes for a good variety, and also makes for a valuable nutritional addition. Avoiding it completely seems like an overstatement. However I would
not go out and by specific ones like Cauliflower, but should it be in a mix then I would offer it anyway.
There is an interesting thread here that shows the diet of steppe torts in the wild, and I was surprised that I actually saw some Brassica members there, so I decided to moderately add it to her diet.
I have presented Queen (Yes Queen because she is spoiled ) Yoshi with the following a la cart menu:
- Endive (Cichorium intybus var. foliosum)
- Mint (Mentha)
- Watercress (Nasturtium)
- Thyme (Thymus)
- Red and White Clover (Trifolium)
- Cornsalad /Field lettuce (Valerianella locusta)
Her behavior changed
She was almost, what I would call, enthusiastic!
Sniffing, crawling all over her repti dish, sampling different things, she looked like she was enjoying herself.
I observed her eating, and I found myself regularly eye to eye with her, I am fascinated by how charismatic she is. I notice she notices me, observes me as I observe her,, and is aware of me standing there, in a way almost like, silent communication. Non verbal communication as you will. I got the impression she was a bit like...
" Do you always stare at someone eating" that was kind of the feeling I got LOL
I must be insane.
Back to the food.
I thought maybe it would be fun to show the results of my little experiment.
She ate for almost 20 minutes, then went back to her hide to sleep, we are having very hot days and my apartment can become very warm in the summer so I notice she tends to dig herself in for a few hours more a day.
I will now look at every part of the meal specifically:
- Endive (Cichorium intybus var. foliosum)
- Mint (Mentha)
- Watercress (Nasturtium)
- Thyme (Thymus)
- Red and White Clover (Trifolium)
- Cornsalad /Field lettuce (Valerianella locusta)
Wikipedia:
Like other formerly foraged greens, corn salad has many nutrients, including three times as much vitamin C as lettuce, beta-carotene, B6, iron, and potassium. It is best if gathered before flowers appear.[12]
She almost always beelines for this and eats it with enthusiasm, and I dare say of all things I have presented this is the most successful until now. So that is a definite + for the future, and as I can get this very easily I can give this regularly.
Currently, I am gathering as much information about edible plants and trying to find out where to get them, and trying to find out which greens I find in Nature are ok, I have a lot of info on that, and I am trying to learn as fast as I can, but due to the complex variety in herbs and greens available, I find it quite a challenge to learn to recognize them in the field, so many look alike, but for now I am getting the things I do know.
Today I am going to scout for some dandelion leaves.
I hope this food analyses was helpful/informative for anybody who is interested.
I got so much out of this forum already I decided to share this to give something back to the community.
Take care,
Joey