Indian Star Diet - Protien

[Flimeney]

Hey everyone,

So I'm relatively new to owning a tortoise. I have a approximately 2 year old tortoise, got him at a year and a half about four months ago. I've been feeding him Timothy hay, Mulberific Delite pellets, leafy greens, and a dried flower mix. While at the store today getting some more of the dried flower, the owner asked what I've been giving for protien and suggested meal worms. All of my research has said Indian Stars are 100% herbivores. So if that's true, should I ignore the advice or should my little buddy be getting meal worms? The guy suggested just a couple every week and he seems pretty knowledgeable, but I can't find anywhere to back him up. So here I am. Should I be feeding my tortoise meal worms?

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

Hey everyone,

So I'm relatively new to owning a tortoise. I have a approximately 2 year old tortoise, got him at a year and a half about four months ago. I've been feeding him Timothy hay, Mulberific Delite pellets, leafy greens, and a dried flower mix. While at the store today getting some more of the dried flower, the owner asked what I've been giving for protien and suggested meal worms. All of my research has said Indian Stars are 100% herbivores. So if that's true, should I ignore the advice or should my little buddy be getting meal worms? The guy suggested just a couple every week and he seems pretty knowledgeable, but I can't find anywhere to back him up. So here I am. Should I be feeding my tortoise meal worms?

Hello!
There is no need to feed animal protein to herbivores. It's true that tortoises are opportunistic eaters and can grab a grub or two in the wild or feast on a carrion but they grow just fine without it. They can get fair amount of protein from vegetable sources (e.g. clover).

@Tom can correct me on that, but you should not feed hay to Star tortoises. Except tiny amounts to enhance fiber contents of grocery store foods (soaked horse hay pellets are what is used for that purpose).

 

[Flimeney]

Hello!
There is no need to feed animal protein to herbivores. It's true that tortoises are opportunistic eaters and can grab a grub or two in the wild or feast on a carrion but they grow just fine without it. They can get fair amount of protein from vegetable sources (e.g. clover).

@Tom can correct me on that, but you should not feed hay to Star tortoises. Except tiny amounts to enhance fiber contents of grocery store foods (soaked horse hay pellets are what is used for that purpose).

Hey thanks for the information! Good to know about the hay, I hope Tom can confirm. The store had been feeding it to him since he was a hatchling and I've continued. I hadn't read anything against it, but would love more insight. I want the best for the shelly dude.

 

[Kitkat45]

The website, startortoises.net has a lot of helpful tips on raising stars including a page about diet. https://startortoises.net/diet.html

 

[Tom]

Hey thanks for the information! Good to know about the hay, I hope Tom can confirm. The store had been feeding it to him since he was a hatchling and I've continued. I hadn't read anything against it, but would love more insight. I want the best for the shelly dude.

Dry hay is for large grass eaters like sulcatas or Galapagos tortoises. In the event that I feed hay to a tortoise, I don't like Timothy. It's too coarse and stemmy. Orchard grass hay works best. Bermuda is fine too.

Star tortoise do like grass, but I think they are too small for hay. I use soaked horse hay pellets to mix in with grocery store greens and add fiber, and that works well for me. I also chop orchard grass hay, re-hydrate it, and then add small amounts of that further chopped into small pieces to add bulk and fiber for some tortoises. In theory, that should be fine for an adult star tortoise, but they really don't "need" it.

Definitely no bugs and no meat based protein. That is just another example to show that pet stores give terrible advice.

 

[Flimeney]

Dry hay is for large grass eaters like sulcatas or Galapagos tortoises. In the event that I feed hay to a tortoise, I don't like Timothy. It's too coarse and stemmy. Orchard grass hay works best. Bermuda is fine too.

Star tortoise do like grass, but I think they are too small for hay. I use soaked horse hay pellets to mix in with grocery store greens and add fiber, and that works well for me. I also chop orchard grass hay, re-hydrate it, and then add small amounts of that further chopped into small pieces to add bulk and fiber for some tortoises. In theory, that should be fine for an adult star tortoise, but they really don't "need" it.

Definitely no bugs and no meat based protein. That is just another example to show that pet stores give terrible advice.

Hey Tom,

Thanks so much for your reply, I'll stop giving him hay pronto and look for one of the other hays you mentioned. I've always soaked it with his pellets and chopped it up very fine.