OOPS LEOPARD LOVES KRILL

[wellington]

My husband and son are actually going fishing on lake Michigan tomorrow for salmon and trout. Was just thinking about seeing if Tatum would like a piece. I couldn't do the bones, though. I would worry he would choke on them. I won't do a big piece either, but now curious if he would like it or not. Any suggestions for how often, lets say a month giving protein if I or someone else wants to add to the diet?

 

[Kristina]

I prefer fish as the protein source for my Redfoots and Hingebacks and Box turtles. Reason being, all are semi-quatic. Yes, I said semi-aquatic and I truly believe that. Do I think all are capable of CATCHING their own fish? Well, maybe not all the time. However, they are certainly capable of stumbling across a fish washed up on shore in their natural habitat. Fish seems to me to be the most logical choice. It is generally lean, high in D3 and more "natural" than red meats.

The bones in small fish are very soft and flexible. I don't see a tortoise having any more trouble with small fish bones than they would with the spines on optunia. Most of us remove the large spines for our tortoises, but no one is running about in the wild removing spines for them

I think I'm with Jacqui on this one. It would be worth a try. I reiterate what I said above - the protein issue is blown SO out of proportion. I have fed my tortoises alfalfa and other "high protein" foods for years. The issues I have with foods like Mazuri isn't the protein. It is the grains, molasses, etc.

 

[Neal]

I prefer fish as the protein source for my Redfoots and Hingebacks and Box turtles. Reason being, all are semi-quatic. Yes, I said semi-aquatic and I truly believe that. Do I think all are capable of CATCHING their own fish? Well, maybe not all the time. However, they are certainly capable of stumbling across a fish washed up on shore in their natural habitat. Fish seems to me to be the most logical choice. It is generally lean, high in D3 and more "natural" than red meats.

The bones in small fish are very soft and flexible. I don't see a tortoise having any more trouble with small fish bones than they would with the spines on optunia. Most of us remove the large spines for our tortoises, but no one is running about in the wild removing spines for them

I think I'm with Jacqui on this one. It would be worth a try. I reiterate what I said above - the protein issue is blown SO out of proportion. I have fed my tortoises alfalfa and other "high protein" foods for years. The issues I have with foods like Mazuri isn't the protein. It is the grains, molasses, etc.

I have a male leopard that has not grown past the 6 inch mark and hasn't grown since I got him almost 5 years ago...maybe that's how big he's supposed to be genetically, but he won't eat mazuri or any other type of heavy protein food. I may give this a shot.

 

[wellington]

Please everyone. Who ever tries a protein for the fist time, let us know what you chose to use and any kind of results you may see from it. This could be very interesting.

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I prefer fish as the protein source for my Redfoots and Hingebacks and Box turtles. Reason being, all are semi-quatic. Yes, I said semi-aquatic and I truly believe that. Do I think all are capable of CATCHING their own fish? Well, maybe not all the time. However, they are certainly capable of stumbling across a fish washed up on shore in their natural habitat. Fish seems to me to be the most logical choice. It is generally lean, high in D3 and more "natural" than red meats.

The bones in small fish are very soft and flexible. I don't see a tortoise having any more trouble with small fish bones than they would with the spines on optunia. Most of us remove the large spines for our tortoises, but no one is running about in the wild removing spines for them

I think I'm with Jacqui on this one. It would be worth a try. I reiterate what I said above - the protein issue is blown SO out of proportion. I have fed my tortoises alfalfa and other "high protein" foods for years. The issues I have with
foods like Mazuri isn't the protein. It is the grains, molasses, etc.

I have a male leopard that has not grown past the 6 inch mark and hasn't grown since I got him almost 5 years ago...maybe that's how big he's supposed to be genetically, but he won't eat mazuri or any other type of heavy protein food. I may give this a shot

Neal, that would be very interest g if you did try it. I would love to see if he puts on some growth.

 

[GeoTerraTestudo]

I make it a point to feed all my Tortoises whole Fish at least twice a week, if not every other feeding. They do get Rodents every now and then, but it is a whole lot cheaper for me to spend some time on the water and kill two Birds with one stone.......I've been experimenting with this for a year or two now, and the results are really astounding.......

Most of the so called "Herbivores" are quite Omnivorous......My Rhino Iguanas love it, and so do the Sulcatas......

Red foots, yellow foots, and other forest tortoises do eat some fish in the wild (since they live near water), but Mediterranean and other arid land tortoises don't. I agree that some animal matter can be good for tortoises, but in my view the above description does not apply to all tortoises. Sounds a bit much for red foots, too.