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[Jayne Marie]

Hi I'm new here just found this forum googling I bought a leopard about 6 weeks ago and am looking for different foods for him/her I was told it was 1 year old current diet is kale, a little cucumber n carrot few times a week any advice appreciated thanks

 

[Rue]

Howdy!

This list was just posted in another thread, regarding the same question: What to feed a leopard tortoise? Actually, most species can can eat the plants listed on the list). Someone will chime in with other suggestions!

Mulberry leaves
Grape vine leaves
Hibiscus leaves
African hibiscus leaves
Blue hibiscus leaves
Rose of Sharon leaves
Rose leaves
Geraniums
Gazanias
Lavatera
Pansies
Petunias
Hostas
Honeysuckle
Cape honeysuckle
Leaves and blooms from any squash plant, like pumpkin, cucumber, summer squash, etc...
Young spineless opuntia cactus pads

Weeds:
There are soooooooo many...
Dandelion
Mallow
Filaree
Smooth Sow thistle
Prickly Sow thistle
Milk thistle
Goat head weed
Cats ear
Nettles
Trefoil
Wild onion
Wild mustard
Wild Garlic
Clovers
Broadleaf plantain
Narrow leaf plantain
Chick weed
Hawksbit
Hensbit
Hawksbeard

 

[Jayne Marie]

Thanks he / she must be fed up with kale

 

[Rue]

It might take them time to accept a new food. If so, be patient and just keep offering it up! D)

 

[JoesMum]

Your tort can't digest sugars properly- they cause kidney problems - so fruit, tomato, bell pepper and carrot should only be fed very occasionally.

To introduce the healthy foods:

• Chop the food that your tort will eat up small and wet it.
• Chop up a tiny amount of healthy stuff and mix it with the other stuff. It will stick together.
• Because it's stuck together your tort can't pick out the best bits
• Leave it there all day if necessary
• If your tort doesn't eat it, simply do the same mix next day.
• If your tort does eat it, slightly increase the good stuff and decrease the bad next day.

Gradually over a few weeks you will wean him off the the bad stuff.

Don't worry about your tort not eating. It will eat when it's hungry. You must soak your tort thoroughly when it's not eating to make sure it stays hydrated.

Torts can be very stubborn, but you have to be the parent dealing with a child that only wants to eat chips and chocolate - tough! We're here to support you

 

[Rue]

...chips and chocolate...mmmm....

 

[JoesMum]

Your tort can't digest sugars properly- they cause kidney problems - so fruit, tomato, bell pepper and carrot should only be fed very occasionally.

To introduce the healthy foods:

• Chop the food that your tort will eat up small and wet it.
• Chop up a tiny amount of healthy stuff and mix it with the other stuff. It will stick together.
• Because it's stuck together your tort can't pick out the best bits
• Leave it there all day if necessary
• If your tort doesn't eat it, simply do the same mix next day.
• If your tort does eat it, slightly increase the good stuff and decrease the bad next day.

Gradually over a few weeks you will wean him off the the bad stuff.

Don't worry about your tort not eating. It will eat when it's hungry. You must soak your tort thoroughly when it's not eating to make sure it stays hydrated.

Torts can be very stubborn, but you have to be the parent dealing with a child that only wants to eat chips and chocolate - tough! We're here to support you

And a hungry tort will eat!

 

[Jayne Marie]

Looking at some vivs on here they have plants in do I need these is mine ok any advice appreciated

 

[Jayne Marie]

This is Frankie

 

[Rue]

What a cutie!

The rabbit pellets are not a good substrate, they are too drying and not good for burying. Different people use different substrates. I'm still checking things out too...I'm using cypress mulch in my indoor enclosure and trying peat moss (mostly) in the outdoor enclosure. Goosefoot is fine on both, but burying is easier in the peat and I think she finds it more satisfying (I'm being anthropomorphic). Both of these substrates are better for keeping the humidity levels up.

You don't have to have plants in the enclosure, but it looks nice, the tortoises like them and it provides enrichment. Be sure you use 'safe' plants that they can eat (safe as in species of plant and nothing that has been recently treated with a systemic insecticide). You can put them in the enclosure in pots, you don't have to plant them in the enclosure.

Others will chime in with more suggestions.

 

[JoesMum]

Plants make good cover, your tort needs places to hide.

Don't try to plant them in the substrate, grow them in pots sunk into the substrate - not right down, have part of the pot above the surface to stop your tort trampling it.

@spudthetortoise started with a young tort like yours and is well placed to tell you how she changed her setup.

 

[JoesMum]

@spudthetortoise started with a young tort like yours and is well placed to tell you how she changed her setup.

Wrong call up sorry @spudthetortoise

 

[Jayne Marie]

So what plants r best and do I just leave them in plastic pot from garden centre? Thx also just been reading the food list it says pansies petunias geraniums what parts of these plants do I use ? Sorry for all the questions

 

[Rue]

Don't use plants from the garden center until they've been grown out for at least 6 months, to let the long-acting systemic insecticides metabolize/breakdown. Reptiles, amphibians...can be very sensitive to insecticides themselves in some instances. The pots won't matter, just wash whatever you are using well first.

Personally, I like to use clay pots for things like this. You can get some shallow ones if you keep your eye out. They are designed for cacti, but I think they work better in small animal enclosures.

Spider plants are a good one to start with. See if you can get some babies from friends. Pot them in a potting soil without perlite. Some tortoises will try and eat the little white balls if they can access them.