How much is too much?

[noved32]

Okay so I am a new mom to a Russian named bob.. He's been digging, walking around and overall been doing great. Not sure how old he is, he is about 6in long? Anyways my question is: I was told to feed him as much as he will eat in 20 mins. Well I put a handful down and he eats most of it but it takes him like an hour.. He does stop and leave food when he's done.. Am I over feeding him? I just worry about him eating for like an hour, should I stop him after 20 mins?

 

[Madkins007]

This is sort of like asking how much food to give a person. It really depends on the nutrients they get.

You can safely give them as much of the low nutrient, high fiber, high calcium food you want but then limit the more nutritious stuff to an amount about the size of the tortoise's head.

Low nutrient stuff is pretty much the green stuff- leaves, hays, grasses, stems, etc. It can also include mushrooms, etc.

The higher nutrient stuff would be stuff with more flavor, like any processed diet or 'chow', veggies, flowers, etc.

 

[wellington]

Most people also leaves the food until the evening or afternoon feeding. Most seem to feed twice daily. They will eat dried greens. I wouldn't just give them 20 mins. Mine, a leopard, would never gain weight if he only had 20 mins.

 

[ascott]

Well, if you give a pile that is the size of the torts complete shell that is a good starting point....if you choose to do a second feeding later in the day then go for it and see what your tort consumes as a norm...then you can figure what is the appropriate amount....again, this is a guideline and by no means a recipe for exact...as each tort is different

 

[noved32]

Thank you all!! He does love to eat!! Just don't want to get him sick lol!! Adding a new photo of him ..

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Oops guess his photo didn't load?

 

[JoesMum]

They rarely get sick from over-eating. Many of them eat some and then come back to it later. Torts don't seem to worry about wilted or dried up greens as much we do!

 

[noved32]

That's good to know cause we have to leave for an over night and I was just going to give him a huge pile but hide it around his home.. Lol

 

[Tom]

Tortoises are grazers. I really think they should be able to "graze" at will. Credit to my friend in Ohio again, cut them back if they are eating fat, not if they are growing. I don't think they can eat too much in a natural grazing situation in an outdoor pen. Indoors, it is possible to over feed, but if you see signs that your tortoise is becoming obese, simply cut back the amount of food offered.

 

[Jacob]

I Feed once a day a huge pile, sometimes i will feed twice a day.