Hello! I am a new tortoise "mom" who just adopted two female desert tortoises and have a few questions. Although I don't know how old they are, my guess is at least 30. The previous owner (who is moving to a colder climate) had them for 15 years and the owner before her had them for 10. I hope to be their last owner (hey, I'm still young enough...!).
My first question is on their diet and how much to feed them. The only thing I have been able to find in my research is that tortoises have very healthy appetites, but I can't find how much to feed them. I have been giving them Spring Mix (which seems to be popular) and Zoo Med Grassland Tortoise Diet (which seems to be less popular but not hated - by owners, I mean). My torts gobble both right up and don't seem to be very picky. I bought some California native grasses and plants at The Living Desert nursery in Palm Springs, but what I have is not nearly enough to give them an all natural diet - hence the Spring Mix and Grassland stuff. I also plan on adding calcium one or twice a week. But any advice on how much to feed them would be greatly appreciated!
My second question is on the dreaded pyramiding. Does this only occur when the tortoises are growing to their full size? Or does it continue to happen when they are full grown adults? My tortoises have evidence of pyramiding, so I'm just curious if it was probably when they were younger or could still be happening now. I obviously want to provide them with a good diet and would hope that it would stop.
I think that's it for now! Thanks for any advice you can offer to a new tortoise mom! By the way, they are Mabel and Clementine, and I am Rachel.
My first question is on their diet and how much to feed them. The only thing I have been able to find in my research is that tortoises have very healthy appetites, but I can't find how much to feed them. I have been giving them Spring Mix (which seems to be popular) and Zoo Med Grassland Tortoise Diet (which seems to be less popular but not hated - by owners, I mean). My torts gobble both right up and don't seem to be very picky. I bought some California native grasses and plants at The Living Desert nursery in Palm Springs, but what I have is not nearly enough to give them an all natural diet - hence the Spring Mix and Grassland stuff. I also plan on adding calcium one or twice a week. But any advice on how much to feed them would be greatly appreciated!
My second question is on the dreaded pyramiding. Does this only occur when the tortoises are growing to their full size? Or does it continue to happen when they are full grown adults? My tortoises have evidence of pyramiding, so I'm just curious if it was probably when they were younger or could still be happening now. I obviously want to provide them with a good diet and would hope that it would stop.
I think that's it for now! Thanks for any advice you can offer to a new tortoise mom! By the way, they are Mabel and Clementine, and I am Rachel.