Hermann diet

[Alexx24]

I've got a 4 year old Hermann, he's very fussy with his food but I want him to try and eat some more variety, has anyone got any advice on what he can eat and how I can get him to eat more thank you

 

[Tom]

First make sure his temps and hydration are good, and then make sure his enclosure is super huge for exercise. Locomotion helps tortoises in many ways. Burning calories and creating appetite is one way, but the movement also helps digestion in much the same way as it does in horses. Large safe outdoor enclosures are best when weather permits.

Next, understand that tortoises are creatures of habit. They don't like change and often don't take to it well. Remember that they can live more than 100 years, so they aren't in a hurry. Introduce new foods by finely mincing them and mixing tiny amounts of the new stuff with a bunch of the finely minced old stuff. Your tortoise may have to see and smell the new thing for weeks before it will sample it. Keep doing this and with success with several items, your tortoise will begin to generalize more.

Here is a list of good stuff:
Mulberry leaves
Grape vine leaves
Hibiscus leaves
African hibiscus leaves
Blue hibiscus leaves
Rose of Sharon leaves
Rose leaves
Geraniums
Gazanias
Lavatera
Pansies
Petunias
Hostas
Honeysuckle
Cape honeysuckle
Leaves and blooms from any squash plant, like pumpkin, cucumber, summer squash, etc...
Young spineless opuntia cactus pads

Weeds:
There are soooooooo many...
Dandelion
Mallow
Filaree
Smooth Sow thistle
Prickly Sow thistle
Milk thistle
Goat head weed
Cats ear
Nettles
Trefoil
Wild onion
Wild mustard
Wild Garlic
Clovers
Broadleaf plantain
Narrow leaf plantain
Chick weed
Hawksbit
Hensbit
Hawksbeard

Other good stuff:
"Testudo Seed Mix" from http://www.tortoisesupply.com/SeedMixes
Pasture mixes or other seeds from http://www.groworganic.com/seeds.html
Homegrown alfalfa
Mazuri Tortoise Chow