Picky eating times?

[Eggtort]

Hello everyone.

I've had my Russian tort for approximately 3 months now. She is a rescue; her previous living conditions were pretty terrible, and she was on a diet of green beans and was severely underweight. Now she's a plump little thing and is on a highly varied diet.

I use the Tortoise Table as a diet guide. She gets tons of varied greens each day (no less than 5 different types each day, and these types are rotated with many others). I followed the '30-minute' rule where I provided her with greens that she could consume within that time line.

Prior to this behavior change I've noticed, she was fed (and happily ate) at 8am each day. Even on days where I was running late with her food, she would immediately run to the food bowl as soon as she heard the fridge open.

She is still eating everything (the temperature, lighting, humidity, etc. are all within normal ranges according to the multiple guides and posts here) but now it seems over the past week that she prefers to eat later in the day, specifically around 6-8pm. She finishes off her food with no problem, but if I offer it during the regular time (8am) she'll ignore it to pursue other activities (such as digging, sun-bathing, snoozing, or running around) until later in the day.

Is this normal behavior? I know that Russian torts can be picky eaters, but I am worried more about the change in time rather than dietary preferences. Thank you for your help in advance!

 

[Jodie]

Tortoises are graders. I try to have good available all the time. I feed in the morning and adjust amount if too much at end of the day is left. If it is all gone when I get home, I feed more, and increase the amount the next day. Most of mine come to eat when fed, but some will eat later. I don't think you need to be concerned. Good job saving her.

 

[Lyn W]

I leave about 4 lots of food around his room.
He will eat varying amounts during the day and likes to finish the rest after his bath when I get home from work.
I think it depends how active he has been, or maybe even quality of light outside etc.

 

[Eggtort]

Thank you both for your responses! I am sorry if this was a repost; I was having trouble finding a thread about time rather than food type.

 

[W Shaw]

Mine is pretty variable. Most days we get up about the same time and he gets his breakfast then. But some mornings he's up early and waiting for me and others he hasn't budged when I leave for work, and he eats later in the day. He has food available all the time though. When I get off work, I remove the remains of his breakfast, and refill the plate for his dinner, and also hand feed at that time. If he eats all of that I add more before I go to bed in case he gets up early and wants breakfast before I'm up.

 

[Eggtort]

Hi everyone! Short update: thank you all so very much for your responses! I went ahead and provided greens all day, as some of you suggested (removing bad greens and keeping fresh greens ready at all times). Seems like she is doing her own schedule now and is happier this way rather than waking up early! Thanks everyone!