Leafy greens vs pellet food

Seshaw2

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Hi all!
My Tortasaurus Rex seems to prefer pellet food over fresh greens. He will eat greens when I hand feed him but he seems to only eat his pellet food when left to his own devices. He is around 10, I have had him for 6months, and the previous owner fed him both pellets and greens. Of course I read on here not to hand feed and they will eat when hungry but when I was limiting his pellet food he had lost some weight... not sure what the best approach should be or if the pellet food is ok?
Thanks!
 

Tom

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What type of pellets?

Best to get them eating mostly weeds and leaves of the right type. Use the pellets as a supplement. You can also soak your pellets and then mix them all up with the greens.
 

ZEROPILOT

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You're not alone. My tortoises. In fact, I think MOST tortoises will choose to not eat anything but pellets if given the chance.
Some will go on a mini hunger strike and not eat anything else.....
But rest assured. This will pass and they will eat greens also. (When they get good and hungry.)
Then give a little less of the pellet food so that you can arrive at a happy balance.
 

Nisi

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I wish my Juggalo would eat some mazuri.. he only will eat his grass and greens. He's a wegmans snob
 

Seshaw2

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What type of pellets?

Best to get them eating mostly weeds and leaves of the right type. Use the pellets as a supplement. You can also soak your pellets and then mix them all up with the greens.


Mazuri. I will try soaking then mixing and see if that helps! Thanks!
 

Yvonne G

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Spring mix doesn't have enough fiber for a tortoise's health.
 

Mr Buster

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Mine will not touch Mazuri LS, he only wants peas and him wants them right now, yesterday, and tomorrow.
 

Crzt4torts

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My store bought mated pair are very finicky. Won't touch pellets, many greens and weeds they ignore. Over the years the female has gotten more open to eating a better variety. My old stubborn male is a challenge. But I put the greater variety in anyway...always hoping.
I do note that the finicky male always eats better immediately following a warm soak.
Their 3 offspring on the other hand are fantastic eaters! I followed the advice (from I believe Tom - thank you for the great article links!!) When they were still in the incubator for a month after hatching, I introduced them to everything I could get my hands on. They show preferences but are basically open to eating most things that I put in for them, weeds flowers, store bought greens and pellets (both Mazuri and TRex) along with the TNT supplement powder. It is so much nicer because I know with the broader variety they are getting the nutrients that they need to thrive.
My guess is the wild caught tortoises are missing their fare from home - wherever that may have been..so I am sure my Long Island weeds are not what they grew up on.
 

Benjallina

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I wish my Juggalo would eat some mazuri.. he only will eat his grass and greens. He's a wegmans snob
Sounds like he has veh discerning taste! I just had some success by using the excess water in the pot I was soaking his pellets in and drizzling it all over his leaves - munch munch munch!
 

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