I have read that it is good for Sulcata to have pumpkin once a week. Is that true? The article said that it helps to keep them from getting parasites, is that true? I have never given Tank pumpkin but if it is good for him I will grow some.
GBtortoises said:I think pumpkin (and most squashes) are great food for tortoises and provide some key nutritional ingriedients. Many keepers claim that it has an added benefit as natural parasite control. I don't know if that is true, I've never seen an conclusive results, but I feed mine pumpkin anyway for the nutritional reasons. I feed all of my tortoise species pumpkin mainly in the late summer and fall when it's readily available in my area.
Pumpkin Nutrients:
Raw (DB) Cooked (DB) Canned (DB) Libby's Canned
Serving Size (cup) 1/2 1/2 1/2 1/2
Wt/svg (g) 58 122.5 122.5 122
Kcal/svg 15.1 24.5 41.7 40
Fat (g) 0.06 0.09 0.34 0.5
Cholesterol (mg) 0 0 0 0
Total Carbohydrate (g) 3.8 6 9.9 9
Fiber (g) 0.29 1.3 3.6 5
Sodium (mg) 0.58 1.2 6.1 5
Potassium (mg) 197.2 281.8 252.4 n/a
Protein (g) 0.58 0.88 1.3 2
Vitamin A (IU/svg) 928 1325.5 27018.6 17500
Vitamin A (% RDI) 18.6 26.5 540.4 350
Vitamin C (mg/svg) 5.2 5.8 5.1 4.8
Vitamin C (% RDI) 8.7 9.7 8.5 8
Calcium (mg/svg) 12.2 18.4 31.9 40
Calcium (% RDI) 1.2 1.8 3.2 4
Iron (mg/svg) 0.46 0.7 1.7 1.8
Iron (% RDI) 2.6 3.9 9.4 10
Folate (mcg/svg) 9.4 10.4 15.1 n/a
Folate (% RDI) 2.4 2.6 3.8 n/a
DB: Data Bank Values (USDA Nutrient Composition Tables)
RDI: Recommended Daily Intake (Nutrition Label Standard)
GBtortoises said:Fire bad, Beer ok in moderation. Fire and beer together-usually very bad!