RF diet

[doletorts]

I got my RF friday and ive been feeding hime kale, romaine lettuce, the pellets (he doesnt eat them theyre just there if he wants minerals), and i started apple pieces today so ill see how that goes. But im wondering how i can add some more variety in his diet? Ive heard dandleions but what store do u get that from? Should i add any meat? Thanks in advance

 

[Yvonne G]

We have lots of good info about RF tortoises right here in the Tortoise Library and there is a nice food reference list too.

 

[doletorts]

Thanks yvonne ill look there

 

[Darwin_T]

You should avoid giving him meat. It isn't something an rf or most torts would eat. Try blue berries occasionally, my tort lives them. Also you could try collard greens, peppers, arugula, someone's spinach, occasional strawberries, and maybe red lettuce but I'm not sure about the red lettuce

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Sorry for all the typos in my post[SMILING FACE WITH OPEN MOUTH AND COLD SWEAT][GRINNING FACE WITH SMILING EYES]

 

[kathyth]

I give mine organic spring mix from the store as the staple food, adding at different times, dandelion, various greens, collards, escarole, radicchio , various squashes cut up, hibiscus and rose pedals, grape leafs, that I grow... Thinking...............strawberry, kiwi, papaya, mango, cactus fruit.
Tortoise Library and Turtletary.com are excellent Redfoot resources.

 

[AnnV]

I feed my redfoots meat. They devour it. Also hard boiled eggs. Boiled shrimp is a total favorite.
But only a little bit, and only once every 3 or 4 weeks.

 

[oscar]

in summer I am able to go out and collect food for my red foots, which include
dandelions, mulberry leaves, hibiscus leaves and flowers also plantain. a lot of
that will depend on what grows in your area.
in winter I now got to grocery store and get endive and escarole, I also will
buy papayas and mangoes and also muskmelon. Sometimes health food stores will have dandelions leaves I also feed mazuri tortoise diet once a week.

 

[doletorts]

Thank you guys so much. This forum has helped me alot. Ill look at the tortoise library too. Thanks

 

[mike taylor]

Don't forget worms and insects. These are forest tortoises so they will eat dead animals if found so feeding meat and bugs as well as fruits and weeds . They love fruits that are over ripe . Feed real protein not cat food or dog food . I get fish from the store also buy worms from the bait shop . I feed greens mixed with mazuri on Monday. Tuesday is fruit day . Wednesday is a protein day so bugs and fish maybe mushrooms plant protein is good to .then Thursday more greens like grasses and weeds . Friday is flowers and mazuri day . Saturday and Sunday is graze day if the weather is good . So just mix things up after all we don't eat the something everyday.

 

[mikeh]

Re: RE: RF diet

Don't forget worms and insects. These are forest tortoises so they will eat dead animals if found so feeding meat and bugs as well as fruits and weeds . They love fruits that are over ripe . Feed real protein not cat food or dog food . I get fish from the store also buy worms from the bait shop . I feed greens mixed with mazuri on Monday. Tuesday is fruit day . Wednesday is a protein day so bugs and fish maybe mushrooms plant protein is good to .then Thursday more greens like grasses and weeds . Friday is flowers and mazuri day . Saturday and Sunday is graze day if the weather is good . So just mix things up after all we don't eat the something everyday.

Wouldnt the worms from bait shop be loaded with parasites?

 

[mike taylor]

Re: RE: RF diet

Don't forget worms and insects. These are forest tortoises so they will eat dead animals if found so feeding meat and bugs as well as fruits and weeds . They love fruits that are over ripe . Feed real protein not cat food or dog food . I get fish from the store also buy worms from the bait shop . I feed greens mixed with mazuri on Monday. Tuesday is fruit day . Wednesday is a protein day so bugs and fish maybe mushrooms plant protein is good to .then Thursday more greens like grasses and weeds . Friday is flowers and mazuri day . Saturday and Sunday is graze day if the weather is good . So just mix things up after all we don't eat the something everyday.

Wouldnt the worms from bait shop be loaded with parasites?

I haven't had a problem with them . I have been feeding them to my sliders for years. I also grow my own worms from bait shop worms. Most worm keepers use compost as worm substrate so I guess it could be possible to get a parasite but you could also get a parasite from pet store worms and bugs . The pet stores get there worms from some of the same people as bait shops. My wives grand dad used to breed minnows and worms for use as bait and animal food . But that was years ago . I don't know if there are laws that have changed sense he was selling them . I know they can use processed sewer waste as fertilizer for animal food so your dogs food could also have parasites . Your tortoise can walk along the grass in your yard and pick up a parasite. Thats why you have vets and meds . Not trying to be a smart butt. We all grow weeds out in the yard so i would say the probability of you feeding yard weeds and grasses are all good ways to catch a parasite or two. I have a little pond in the backyard that I fill with bait shop minnows . I let them breed then I net the big ones and freeze them and feed them to my torts . I got some from the bait shop that i boiled them then froze them . But did not end up feeding . Due too fear of disease . But I do it from my own bred minnows . So to each there own I say . I try to feed my tortoise the best I can and save money where I can .

 

[jdelagarza001]

All if the research says that red foots love dandelions. I looked for seeds, and apparently there is a dandelion and an Italian dandelion. Which one is it? Also, do babies eat cactus or is it a mainly an adult food?

 

[mike taylor]

Re: RE: RF diet

All if the research says that red foots love dandelions. I looked for seeds, and apparently there is a dandelion and an Italian dandelion. Which one is it? Also, do babies eat cactus or is it a mainly an adult food?

Yes babies can eat cactus. I use a blender and chop it up small with other greens . If you go to Carolina set supply.com they sell all the seeds you need . My findings by reading up say the babies love bugs , worms, mushrooms ,and new growth plants . Just be careful about feeding to much of one thing. Like cactus, and wet foods like mazuri you will give him the runs .

 

[Candy]

I've always found this to be a good website. Very easy to use

http://redfoottortoise.com/redfoot_tortoise_diet.htm