Loose bowels

[Deborudy]

My two red foots have had loose bowels for more than a month. They have been in separate areas for 9 months, while she recovers from a fractured leg. The only change I have made to their diet, which is dandelions greens, a little kale and collards and mixed fresh green vegetables, is the Mazuri diet. They did fine on the original blend. The new blend was horrendous, so I switched them back to what the company calls the original blend. They get calcium powder and herptivite sprinkled on the greens twice a week. They have heat and light lamps 10 hours a day.
Anyone else having trouble with the Mazuri, or other ideas? They are moving around well, drinking, getting their tub soaks! We live in the Northeast. Almost time to plant the red clover seed!
Many thanks for any thoughts.
Deb

 

[Anyfoot]

My two red foots have had loose bowels for more than a month. They have been in separate areas for 9 months, while she recovers from a fractured leg. The only change I have made to their diet, which is dandelions greens, a little kale and collards and mixed fresh green vegetables, is the Mazuri diet. They did fine on the original blend. The new blend was horrendous, so I switched them back to what the company calls the original blend. They get calcium powder and herptivite sprinkled on the greens twice a week. They have heat and light lamps 10 hours a day.
Anyone else having trouble with the Mazuri, or other ideas? They are moving around well, drinking, getting their tub soaks! We live in the Northeast. Almost time to plant the red clover seed!
Many thanks for any thoughts.
Deb

Hi there Deb and welcome.

I don't use mazuri so not familiar with products content. What level of protein is in the mazuri you use?
What size are these torts and are they both female?

 

[ZEROPILOT]

My Redfoot also HATE the Mazuri LS. Sometimes if I feed a lot of the regular, the water content will give them loose stools.
I almost always correct this with roughage. In my case it's Hibiscus leaves. They love them and it makes them "regular".
Since you likely don't have tropical plants, I'd up the kale, collards and such.
Mine eat no veggies but about 30~40% fruit.

 

[Lyn W]

Don't know if this would help or not, but it may be an idea to get faecal tests done by your vet to check for worms etc..

 

[Yvonne G]

If there's something you know they'll eat, mix in some grass into it. Grass usually tightens up loose stools. If they don't eat grass, mix it up real good so they can't pick around it.

 

[Rue]

OT...how did she fracture her leg...and how do you treat it? Just let it heal on its own?

 

[ZEROPILOT]

Your eat Dandelion?
I drove 45 miles to get some from a store that sells them and my Redfoot wont touch them.

 

[Anyfoot]

Your eat Dandelion?
I drove 45 miles to get some from a store that sells them and my Redfoot wont touch them.

Really. All my reds love them, they never leave any, they compete over the dandilion flowers. Have you tried growing your own?

 

[Kasia]

My two red foots have had loose bowels for more than a month. They have been in separate areas for 9 months, while she recovers from a fractured leg. The only change I have made to their diet, which is dandelions greens, a little kale and collards and mixed fresh green vegetables, is the Mazuri diet. They did fine on the original blend. The new blend was horrendous, so I switched them back to what the company calls the original blend. They get calcium powder and herptivite sprinkled on the greens twice a week. They have heat and light lamps 10 hours a day.
Anyone else having trouble with the Mazuri, or other ideas? They are moving around well, drinking, getting their tub soaks! We live in the Northeast. Almost time to plant the red clover seed!
Many thanks for any thoughts
Deb

Hi
If they were stressed/sick some normally existing in small amounts parasites/protozoa from gut flora could start to develop and cause diarrhea. Do You soak them in the same tub? That is how they can both simultaneously be getting same stuff. Do a fecal test

Good luck

 

[ZEROPILOT]

Really. All my reds love them, they never leave any, they compete over the dandilion flowers. Have you tried growing your own?

Yes. I can't get them to grow here and I've never seen them in the wild this far south.

 

[Deborudy]

I'm new to this site and can't find my post on my tortoises' 3-week bout with diarrhea. In response to two kind replies, they are male and female - they are around 35. We have had them for 29 years!!!
A reptile specialist added Mazuri (the original) twice a week to their diet. They were fine until the company changed the formula. I went back to the original, but wonder if it is the same. Otherwise, They eat only organic greens - dandelions, a little kale and collards, occasional sweet potato and banana. I supplement with the Herptivite and Calcium supplements once a week. The Mazuri is purported to be complete. I cannot understand what has changed.
They drink only filtered water. Thank you for your responses. I wish I could find my original post!!!!

 

[wellington]

Here is your original http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/loose-bowels.139211/

When looking, go under your profile then postings. They should show up. Towards the bottom of that lost you can click on threads you started if you only want those and not all the posting you have done on others threads.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

It isn't that Mazuri has changed formulas, but they have semi recently added the type L.S.
The regular old Mazuri is still available. A lot of use use it. Some of use it almost daily and I've never heard of any reported issues aside from most tortoises not liking the type L.S.