Hay pellets and /or cubes ?

[Speedy-1]

We were at the Ranch place where we found our Mazuri pellets and saw some bags (50 lb,ers of course) of hay pellets and also hay cubes. I think it would be easy to use , since I now go through separating the good stuff from the straw before mixing it in Speedys food. I am just wondering about the nutritional value , and has anyone tried them ? I hesitate to ask at the store , #1 they know less then nothing about Torts , and # 2 I just cant see them telling me not to buy them !

 

[Kapidolo Farms]

Healthy pessimism is wonderful. I have tried both the cubes and the pellets. A little goes a long way. Soaking to moisten takes awhile, about 25 minutes with warm to the touch water, almost four times the volume of the pellets, I can't estimate how much water the cubes take, but it's alot. The soaking time is not a problem other than when I find still rock hard pellets and need to add a bit more water.

The tortoises (pancakes, neonate leopards, Egyptians, Speke's hingebacks, Forsten;s, and Manouria e.p.) seem to do okay with it. It is more convenient than hand chopping hay/dried grasses, and I am reasonable sure you still get long fiber activity, based on what the feces look like.

So the ingredients must be scrutinized on the bag label. Organic alfalfa and hays are available at a premium. Some mills ad bentonite clay as a binder, that's okay, it's is added mineral content and the amount they add is very very little. The concern for me is 50# all at one time is too much, like a whole bale of hay or alfalfa.

Will

 

[wellington]

If your feeding one or two torts, get a smaller bag if possible. If not, I would separate it into smaller bags a freeze it. Most hay and grass pellets is a good item to had to the wide variety of foods.

 

[Tom]

Yeah. What Will said…

 

[Speedy-1]

Okay guys thanks for the input I am going that way Thursday and will pick some up ! Hope the "little prince" likes em .

 

[Speedy-1]

Woo Hoo ! Success , Finally got some hay pellets (alfalfa) soaked some when we got home , and offered it to the little prince . He actually charged right over and started munching it like "about time you give me some good stuff !" . Forty lb. bag of course . Between the 30 lb. bag of Mazuri and the 40 lb. bag of pellets , he should have enough to make it into adulthood !

 

[dmmj]

Yeah. What Will said…

ditto

 

[Tom]

Woo Hoo ! Success , Finally got some hay pellets (alfalfa) soaked some when we got home , and offered it to the little prince . He actually charged right over and started munching it like "about time you give me some good stuff !" . Forty lb. bag of course . Between the 30 lb. bag of Mazuri and the 40 lb. bag of pellets , he should have enough to make it into adulthood !

I would take it easy with the alfalfa. Its very high in protein and not something I would offer on a daily basis.

When we say "hay" we are usually referring to grass hays like orchard grass and bermuda.