Kida won't eat Tortoise Pellets.

[ChazzyKida93]

I was was told by my local Reptile shop that Kida (two month Hermann Tortoise) would eat food pellets especially for her breed. She in fact turns away and will only eat fresh weeds & leaves. I was informed by a YouTube Video that Torts can also eat Dry Cat Food. I've tried this and Kida loves it. I'm confused to what to give her and what not to give her. Helpppp!

 

[Yvonne G]

Hi, and welcome to the Forum!

Tortoises don't need to eat pellets or manufactured tortoise food in order to live and be healthy. Fresh weeds and greens are a much healthier diet for your tortoise.

And YIPES!!! dry cat food???? Please stop feeding your tortoise this immediately. Hermanni tortoises are browsers. They eat broad-leaf plants and weeds, NOT animal protein (which is what your dry cat food is).

We have a great care sheet for Hermanni tortoises pinned at the top of our Hermann's section here on the Forum. Please read that and make any tweaks and adjustments to your tortoise's care that you need to.

 

[ChazzyKida93]

Thankyou for your reply. I will defiantly stop her from eating Cat Food. I think I'll stick to the fresh weeds and leaves

 

[ZEROPILOT]

You actually don't have a problem.
Your tortoise wants to eat the correct foods! most of us had to resort to pellets to get one to eat, and then they got "hooked" on the pellets and wouldn't eat the good stuff.

 

[Tom]

The pellets can be a good way to supplement a diet of weeds and greens, but they are not "necessary". It also depends on the type of pellets you are using. What have they sold you? Sometimes it helps to mix in a tiny portion of soaked mushy pellet with the greens of the day. This can get them started on the pellets over time.

If your tortoise is has access to cat food, I fear you are letting it roam on the floor. This is very dangerous and often leads to tortoise injury or death.

Try reading these:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/

This is written for russians, but care is pretty much the same for hermanni:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/russian-tortoise-care-sheet.80698/

And this one from "The Man" himself:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/sticky-hermanns-tortoise-care-sheet-updated.101410/