Help with winter diet

[Crackers]

Hi everyone!

I’m looking for a little advice, please.

I’m a new tortoise mum to a little Horsfield, and our vet has mentioned she’s quite small for her age, so they’ve advised not to hibernate her this year.

Over the summer she was mainly eating flowers and leafy greens, but now that winter is here I’ve been struggling to keep up with that variety. Lately she’s been having lettuce and tortoise pellets with a sprinkle of calcium powder — but I’d love some guidance on anything more suitable or nutritious that’s easy to get hold of during winter!

Any general care tips are also very welcome.

Thank you so much — really appreciate the help!

Ps enjoy this photo of Crackers xxx

 

[The_Four_Toed_Edward]

Pretty much everything you get from the grocery store has to be amended with fiber and calcium.

Try to aim for as much variety as you can. For my own tortoise I use Agrobs pellets, since they have a lot of variety in them. I currently have the Agrobs herbs, which has over 60+ plant species. They also have one called Testudo Fibre that is good for Russian tortoises. They do often need some introduction, so your guy might not take on them immediately.

There are also different dried toppings you can sprinkle on their food to add variety. @Littleredfootbigredheart might have some UK based recommendations. There are also seed mixes you can buy and grow at home, or you can even dry or freeze plants yourself.

For me the bulk of my Russians diet during the winter consists of salad mixes, since that way I can get more rarer salads here in Finland. Aim for salads like frisee/escarole, lamb's lettuce, radicchio, rocket, dandelion greens or endive over ice berg lettuce when you can.

 

[Crackers]

Pretty much everything you get from the grocery store has to be amended with fiber and calcium.

Try to aim for as much variety as you can. For my own tortoise I use Agrobs pellets, since they have a lot of variety in them. I currently have the Agrobs herbs, which has over 60+ plant species. They also have one called Testudo Fibre that is good for Russian tortoises. They do often need some introduction, so your guy might not take on them immediately.

There are also different dried toppings you can sprinkle on their food to add variety. @Littleredfootbigredheart might have some UK based recommendations. There are also seed mixes you can buy and grow at home, or you can even dry or freeze plants yourself.

For me the bulk of my Russians diet during the winter consists of salad mixes, since that way I can get more rarer salads here in Finland. Aim for salads like frisee/escarole, lamb's lettuce, radicchio, rocket, dandelion greens or endive over ice berg lettuce when you can.

This I really helpful thank you !

 

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

Hello sorry for the delay! As mentioned above, most if not all store bought items do need things adding.
In terms of different recommendations, the tortoise table app will come in SO handy for you, there’s multiple categories to check out, I’d definitely have a look at the ‘wildflower’ section, there’s SO many weed varieties that grow perfectly in our climate! All the different plants also have rough guidelines for how often to feed.

Another product we personally really like is the Arcadia optimized, it’s such a great way for getting more variety in, especially during the winter months when things are harder to grow, you soak each cube in water(quantities on packet) until it’s a mushy grassy texture, and add it on top of the fresh stuff, any left over can be stored in the fridge. Most tortoises love it, but if your little guy hasn’t been used to the biggest variety, it could take a while for him to get used to, they’re very stubborn by nature, so don’t worry if it takes weeks/months of attempts for him to eat it.

The tortoise hut sell seed mixes, plug plants and lots of plants for indoor/outdoor enclosures

Tortoise Products | The Tortoise Hut | England

The Tortoise Hut is the leading online specialist tortoise shop supplying a range of products & supplies for the care of all species of tortoises. We have baby tortoises for sale which can be collected from us in Devon or couriered by our specialist Reptile courier service. We offer a nationwide...

www.tortoisehut.co.uk

Whilst we have you, I’d definitely recommend giving these thread a look over;

This thread covers correct equipment(uvb, heating bulbs, lighting etc, definitely double check bulb types, folks unfortunately sold the wrong ones often), correct levels, appropriately maintaining the humidity, safe substrates, there’s lots of visual examples for everything, and the tortoise table link

Housing adult Russian and Hermans indoors

Hello there! In this thread I’m going to include some information an example of an appropriate indoor set up for an older Herman/russian. As much as it’s encouraged to have tortoises in a safe outdoor enclosure, I understand being from the uk myself, that some climates make it difficult to...

tortoiseforum.org

This includes lots of inspiration for an adult set up both indoors and out! The indoor bit has some good ideas to tackle indoor space whilst still providing the needed roaming room! Check comments too, I’m always adding to it, I have a huge back log I need to add. I know the recommended adult size is intimidating to some, especially if you’ve been lead into thinking ahe’ll be fine in a smaller set up(very common) but tortoises long term health really does rely on lots of roaming room. If you’re unable to go that big, go as big as you can.

Enclosure inspiration

Howdy folks! Hope everyone is well! As you all know, I’m a big fan of making threads that cater more towards visual learners like myself, I’ve really been wanting to create a thread full of adult enclosure inspiration for a while now, I’ve managed to find some great references over time! I do...

tortoiseforum.org

Now that housing thread discusses an open top set up, which is fine for adult tortoises, but I will say, knowing how cold our uk winters get, for those who don’t brumate their temperate species, they can really struggle keeping their temperates where needed, a cover can come in really handy for maintaining your heat, the most efficient closed set ups are melamine/pvc vivs. A place called Southdown aquatics actually does custom sized vivs in the uk

Visual inspiration

Hi guys! I’ve had some lovely messages complimenting me on my care sheets I made for all the visuals they include! That makes me so happy because as a visual learner myself, that was my goal🥰 I’ve recently had some requests for some more visual inspiration for set ups that can house babies/...

tortoiseforum.org

Lastly, this one here is probably most important to go over and keep on hand, it’ll help you avoid the wrong bulbs, substrates, housing etc, I always encourage double checking purchases on the forum too before buying

Common keeping errors

Hello everyone! I’d been a long time lurker on this site long before joining just under a year ago now, over that time I’ve seen these husbandry issues come up time and time again, sometimes with dire consequences☹️ I thought this thread might serve as a good visual guide for these common...

tortoiseforum.org

Phew! Really hope this all helps! I know it’s a lot to go over sorrybut take all the time you need! They’ll always be folks to help with any further questions! We can break things down bit by bit. Welcome to the forum and congratulations on your new shelled companion

 

[RandyTortoise]

Hello sorry for the delay! As mentioned above, most if not all store bought items do need things adding.
In terms of different recommendations, the tortoise table app will come in SO handy for you, there’s multiple categories to check out, I’d definitely have a look at the ‘wildflower’ section, there’s SO many weed varieties that grow perfectly in our climate! All the different plants also have rough guidelines for how often to feed.

Another product we personally really like is the Arcadia optimized, it’s such a great way for getting more variety in, especially during the winter months when things are harder to grow, you soak each cube in water(quantities on packet) until it’s a mushy grassy texture, and add it on top of the fresh stuff, any left over can be stored in the fridge. Most tortoises love it, but if your little guy hasn’t been used to the biggest variety, it could take a while for him to get used to, they’re very stubborn by nature, so don’t worry if it takes weeks/months of attempts for him to eat it.
View attachment 396496
The tortoise hut sell seed mixes, plug plants and lots of plants for indoor/outdoor enclosures

Tortoise Products | The Tortoise Hut | England

The Tortoise Hut is the leading online specialist tortoise shop supplying a range of products & supplies for the care of all species of tortoises. We have baby tortoises for sale which can be collected from us in Devon or couriered by our specialist Reptile courier service. We offer a nationwide...

www.tortoisehut.co.uk

Whilst we have you, I’d definitely recommend giving these thread a look over;

This thread covers correct equipment(uvb, heating bulbs, lighting etc, definitely double check bulb types, folks unfortunately sold the wrong ones often), correct levels, appropriately maintaining the humidity, safe substrates, there’s lots of visual examples for everything, and the tortoise table link

Housing adult Russian and Hermans indoors

Hello there! In this thread I’m going to include some information an example of an appropriate indoor set up for an older Herman/russian. As much as it’s encouraged to have tortoises in a safe outdoor enclosure, I understand being from the uk myself, that some climates make it difficult to...

tortoiseforum.org

This includes lots of inspiration for an adult set up both indoors and out! The indoor bit has some good ideas to tackle indoor space whilst still providing the needed roaming room! Check comments too, I’m always adding to it, I have a huge back log I need to add. I know the recommended adult size is intimidating to some, especially if you’ve been lead into thinking ahe’ll be fine in a smaller set up(very common) but tortoises long term health really does rely on lots of roaming room. If you’re unable to go that big, go as big as you can.

Enclosure inspiration

Howdy folks! Hope everyone is well! As you all know, I’m a big fan of making threads that cater more towards visual learners like myself, I’ve really been wanting to create a thread full of adult enclosure inspiration for a while now, I’ve managed to find some great references over time! I do...

tortoiseforum.org

Now that housing thread discusses an open top set up, which is fine for adult tortoises, but I will say, knowing how cold our uk winters get, for those who don’t brumate their temperate species, they can really struggle keeping their temperates where needed, a cover can come in really handy for maintaining your heat, the most efficient closed set ups are melamine/pvc vivs. A place called Southdown aquatics actually does custom sized vivs in the uk

Visual inspiration

Hi guys! I’ve had some lovely messages complimenting me on my care sheets I made for all the visuals they include! That makes me so happy because as a visual learner myself, that was my goal🥰 I’ve recently had some requests for some more visual inspiration for set ups that can house babies/...

tortoiseforum.org

Lastly, this one here is probably most important to go over and keep on hand, it’ll help you avoid the wrong bulbs, substrates, housing etc, I always encourage double checking purchases on the forum too before buying

Common keeping errors

Hello everyone! I’d been a long time lurker on this site long before joining just under a year ago now, over that time I’ve seen these husbandry issues come up time and time again, sometimes with dire consequences☹️ I thought this thread might serve as a good visual guide for these common...

tortoiseforum.org

Phew! Really hope this all helps! I know it’s a lot to go over sorrybut take all the time you need! They’ll always be folks to help with any further questions! We can break things down bit by bit. Welcome to the forum and congratulations on your new shelled companion

It took some time, but my tortoises love Arcadia Optimised 52. It was a bit of a battle to mix it with other veggies until they took to it, but once they did, feeding is super simple as I am no longer worrying whether I had been to the store or not.

It can be a bit challenging to find in 1kg bags here in the USA but I stocked up for the winter.

 

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

It took some time, but my tortoises love Arcadia Optimised 52. It was a bit of a battle to mix it with other veggies until they took to it, but once they did, feeding is super simple as I am no longer worrying whether I had been to the store or not.

It can be a bit challenging to find in 1kg bags here in the USA but I stocked up for the winter.

It’s such a great tool once they take to it!