I have a 6 year old, male, horsefield. A couple of weeks ago he decided to become extremely picky eating only banana and apple, we found this out through experimenting with different foods. We've also tried finely chopping and mixing foods together but he'll not touch it. This seems so strange as normally he'd devour anything put in his enclosure. He is still very lively and active but can't stay on just fruit. Any advice?
Picky eater all of a sudden, advice welcome.
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TheTattooedTortoise
Active Member
Hi, for a start your horsfield isn't supposed to eat fruit... it can upset the gut flora because of the high sugar content. Banana in particular is also high in starch and potassium.
He should be getting a mix of Broadleaf weeds and flowers, supplemented with shop bought greens for extra bulk if necessary.
You may find his stomach is upset due to the length of time you've included fruit in his diet.
Check out the Russian tortoise care sheet on the forum.
He should be getting a mix of Broadleaf weeds and flowers, supplemented with shop bought greens for extra bulk if necessary.
You may find his stomach is upset due to the length of time you've included fruit in his diet.
Check out the Russian tortoise care sheet on the forum.
Time to do right by the diet and play tuff. Only feed the foods he is suppose to have and absolutely no more fruit!
When he gets hungry he will eat. Keep soaking him daily to keep him hydrated while he plays tuff guy and waits to see if you will cave, don't.
Like already said, you messed up his gut. Need to wait that out and his stubbornness.
When he gets hungry he will eat. Keep soaking him daily to keep him hydrated while he plays tuff guy and waits to see if you will cave, don't.
Like already said, you messed up his gut. Need to wait that out and his stubbornness.
This should help:
The Best Way To Raise Any Temperate Species Of Tortoise
I chose the title of this care sheet very carefully. Are there other ways to raise babies and care for adults? Yes. Yes there are, but those ways are not as good. What follows is the BEST way, according to 30 years of research and experimentation with hundreds of babies of many species. What is...
tortoiseforum.org
Thanks for your response. I completely agree with you. Fruit isn't normally in his diet and we haven't fed him anything without checking it is save to do so. Don't worry he isn't getting a banana and an apple a day, just a bit every few days with his normal diet to try and get him to eat. But he'll not eat anything unless the fruit is easy enough to part from the greens.
He still seems healthy, very alert, very active, passing solids (not as regularly). I'll cut fruit out completely see how we get on.
Thanks
TheTattooedTortoise
Active Member
As mentioned, you need to be strong and stubborn... Your tortoise will cave before you do, it's for his own good and will be happier and healthier for it.
He won't actually starve himself to death... he will just try and call your bluff
He won't actually starve himself to death... he will just try and call your bluff
