- Joined
- Nov 7, 2012
- Messages
- 5,172
- Location (City and/or State)
- South of Southern California, but not Mexico
I do my best to keep up to date on what is good nutrition for my animals. In the past I have not been a big fan of Mazuri, though I have not had a good solid reason why, I preferred other products. That may change, we will see.
On another thread we debated the appropriateness or utility with wetting Mazuri, and perhaps by extension other pelleted foods.
Being who I am, and usually unwilling to take, "what someone thinks they know as gospel" I sought direct evidence that wetted Mazuri was not acceptable, or that it was for one species commonly held in Zoos.
New details are in, from the scientist who actually develops and has formulated the diets for tortoises available from Mazuiri.
Troy Tollefson, Ph.D.
Nutritionist, Mazuri Exotic Animal Nutrition said:
"I have just developed a new tortoise diet that is becoming available later next month. This diet is a vast improvement compared to our old diet. I made timothy hay the first ingredient, reduced starch content, added flaxseed for omega 3 fatty acids, added probiotics for GI health among other changes (see the attached spec sheet). This diet was developed about a year ago and then we have been doing some work at a university to conduct palatability and digestion trials. We have also tested it out at a variety of zoos throughout the country this past year."
That 'spec' sheet is attached.
It is OK to wet it, and it was not developed for galops in zoos alone. The new instructions on the sheet expresses use for what you have now in that bag at home. The one major change to the instruction, It's OK to wet it. Function dictates form.
Will
On another thread we debated the appropriateness or utility with wetting Mazuri, and perhaps by extension other pelleted foods.
Being who I am, and usually unwilling to take, "what someone thinks they know as gospel" I sought direct evidence that wetted Mazuri was not acceptable, or that it was for one species commonly held in Zoos.
New details are in, from the scientist who actually develops and has formulated the diets for tortoises available from Mazuiri.
Troy Tollefson, Ph.D.
Nutritionist, Mazuri Exotic Animal Nutrition said:
"I have just developed a new tortoise diet that is becoming available later next month. This diet is a vast improvement compared to our old diet. I made timothy hay the first ingredient, reduced starch content, added flaxseed for omega 3 fatty acids, added probiotics for GI health among other changes (see the attached spec sheet). This diet was developed about a year ago and then we have been doing some work at a university to conduct palatability and digestion trials. We have also tested it out at a variety of zoos throughout the country this past year."
That 'spec' sheet is attached.
It is OK to wet it, and it was not developed for galops in zoos alone. The new instructions on the sheet expresses use for what you have now in that bag at home. The one major change to the instruction, It's OK to wet it. Function dictates form.
Will