please help (what to feed?)

[kellylou]

I have just brought a horsefield tortoise and I am finding in hard to find what I can and can't feed it could someone please help.
Kelly

 

[Yvonne G]

RE: please help

Welcome to the Forum, Kelly!

You can feed your new steppe tortoise any dark, leafy greens, such as escarole, endive, turnip and dandelion greens, etc.

 

[Utah Lynn]

RE: please help

Hello Kelly. Welcome to TFO.

Steppe Tortoises require a High Fiber, Low Protein diet.

STANDARD FOODS--Spring Mix, Romaine Lettuce, Kale, Mustard Greens, Turnip Greens, Collard Greens, Parsley, Radicio, Dandelions, Cactus Pads; basically, Dark Leafy Greens.

 

[kellylou]

Thankyou I have read loads just different books say different things regarding veg and fruit

 

[mainey34]

Hello and welcome. Agree with the above. Lots of greens

 

[Spn785]

Greetings! Welcome to the Forum! Try going to www.russiantortoise.net it will have a great list of food for Russians.

 

[Blakem]

What have you been feeding your russian? At first, your russian MAY not want to eat a lot. It will be scared of you (because you are a new GIANT), it may be stressed from the transition from its old home, to the new one. Good luck! read away!

 

[kellylou]

Can I give it kale, parsley or watercress?

 

[RainbowDrops]

I have a Russian and she loves fine grated carrots, Straight cabbage as the rigged type gets her stressed because it doesn't fit in her tiny mouth!, baby spinach leafs and she LOVES watercress! You can give Kale, mint, parsley, romaine lettuce (no other as it's full of water, lacking in vits) and maybe the occasional bit of apple /strawberry once a month or so as a treat! Don't forget to sprinkle calcium powder on too Any more questions feel free to message!

 

[Yvonne G]

Go easy on the cabbage, as members of the brassica family tend to cause goiter in large amounts. Also, spinach should be used sparingly as it binds the calcium to it and makes it not useful in the tortoise's body.

 

[Spn785]

Can I give it kale, parsley or watercress?

All three of these are great, but I would add in other greens and some squash, not cucumber because that is just water, but zuchini is good. From what I have heard Russians generally LOVE dandelions. Also try some cactus pads, and/or aloe vera plant.

 

[kanalomele]

Mine also get sedum, roses, daylily, an occasional fresh corncob... etc etc etc. The key is VARIETY. A balanced diet is a varied diet. It also prevents picky eating.

 

[lynnedit]

As winter approaches, you can use an organic Spring mix as a base. Then supplement with any weeds you can find (untreated) or other greens as suggested above.
If you are completely dependent on the grocery store for your tort's food, then use the Spring Mix as a base and get a different green each week to supplement (rotate the additional green). Try to go to the organic section, or rinse your greens well, pat dry and replace in container with a paper towel on the bottom. (This seems to help my greens last longer).

Diet info from the link posted above
http://russiantortoise.net/russiantortoisediet.htm

You can have more healthy salads too!

 

[JenniandLeo]

As winter approaches, you can use an organic Spring mix as a base. Then supplement with any weeds you can find (untreated) or other greens as suggested above.
If you are completely dependent on the grocery store for your tort's food, then use the Spring Mix as a base and get a different green each week to supplement (rotate the additional green). Try to go to the organic section, or rinse your greens well, pat dry and replace in container with a paper towel on the bottom. (This seems to help my greens last longer).

Do you separate everything then when putting it into the container, or use a different container than the spring mix comes in? And do you seal the lid? Change the paper towel often? Just curious this technique! Anything to help the greens last fresher longer, ya know!