Picky Eater

[TiffytheTort]

My tortoise is becoming really picky and won't try new foods, what shall I do?

 

[Jodie]

Keep feeding a variety, but stop feeding the favorites, or at least significantly reduce the amount of the favorites.

 

[Tom]

My tortoise is becoming really picky and won't try new foods, what shall I do?

The first step is to make sure the environment and temperatures are correct.

What species and size?
How are you housing it?
What are your four temps? Warm side, cool side, basking area, and over night low?
What equipment are you using to achieve these temps?
UV bulb? What type?
Red bulb for night heat? Or infrared?
How often do you soak your tortoise?

 

[Beasty_Artemis]

My girl is a picky little (red foot) tortoise too. I find ripping up the greens into chunks helps her give new foods a try. I think she is able to smell the vegetable smell easier then.

Another thing that helps is sprinkling her tortoise food with tortoise vitamins. She really loves that stuff! She will smell it if i dust her food and immediately come to investigate!
(TNT Total Nutrition for Tortoises)

 

[TiffytheTort]

The first step is to make sure the environment and temperatures are correct.

What species and size?
How are you housing it?
What are your four temps? Warm side, cool side, basking area, and over night low?
What equipment are you using to achieve these temps?
UV bulb? What type?
Red bulb for night heat? Or infrared?
How often do you soak your tortoise?

My tortoise is a Hermann and kept in a tortoise table. There is a basking area, a shady spot, cool side and over night low. UV bulb is infrared and soak every 2 days

 

[TiffytheTort]

My girl is a picky little (red foot) tortoise too. I find ripping up the greens into chunks helps her give new foods a try. I think she is able to smell the vegetable smell easier then.

Another thing that helps is sprinkling her tortoise food with tortoise vitamins. She really loves that stuff! She will smell it if i dust her food and immediately come to investigate!
(TNT Total Nutrition for Tortoises)

Thx I'll try that. I do use calcium dust (Calcidust) but she is addicted to pellets

 

[Tom]

My tortoise is a Hermann and kept in a tortoise table. There is a basking area, a shady spot, cool side and over night low. UV bulb is infrared and soak every 2 days

I think we've found your problem.

Please read these. Then, come back and ask question about whatever parts you don't understand. Care for russians is essentially the same as hermanni:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/russian-tortoise-care-sheet.80698/

 

[TiffytheTort]

Is my enclosure to small then? It is tiny compared to them pics. Yet again, It came with that enclosure. Here's a picture of it.

 

[RosemaryDW]

Yes, much too small. Pet stores sell them; don't feel bad you didn't know about the size.

The water dish is unsafe, too. Its designed for lizards; your tortoise can't bend its body to get down into it, like a lizard can. That one is an easy fix! Get a plain terra cotta saucer from a plant nursery or any store with a plant section. Sink it into the substrate so the top is flat with the substrate.

I don't keep my tortoise indoors so I'll leave it to others to help with the lighting and such. As much as we worry about what our tortoises eat, they can go a long time without eating or without eating much. The enclosure, heat, humidity and light: those are the things to get right first. Food comes later.

 

[TiffytheTort]

Ok

 

[TiffytheTort]

@HermanniChris, @JoesMum and @YvonneG plz come

 

[Tortique]

Can tortoises eat leaves, like tree leaves, because I know it can eat grass but I just want to make sure it's not dangerous.

 

[JoesMum]

Can tortoises eat leaves, like tree leaves, because I know it can eat grass but I just want to make sure it's not dangerous.

It depends on the tree, plant or bush.

If you know what it is called then look it up on The Tortoise Table Plant Database for suitability to feed
http://www.thetortoisetable.org.uk/

If you don't know what the plant/bush/tree is called then post pictures on the Plant Identification Forum and someone will be able to help