Good morning TFO,
A month or two ago, I read a post somewhere on the forums about Aldabras gnoshing on seaweed, and it got me thinking about the possible benefits of adding it to my redfoot Darwin's diet.
I'm a big believer in 'feeding the rainbow' (i.e. - providing as much variety over the course of a month as is possible, in terms of color and texture), and prior to this, all of Darwin's food had been terrestrial; adding oceanic food seemed a good way to increase the diversity of nutrients and in particular micronutrients.
I did some reading and web-surfing and settled on THIS variety and source and brand of seaweed. It's relatively local, has no additional ingredients/preservatives, is easy to use, and despite the seemingly high price tag is pretty cost-efficient ($15 for a 4oz bag, that at my current rate of consumption will last well over a year, possibly two).
I rehydrate a scant teaspoon in warm water once a week to mix in with his daily meal. When hydrated, it turns a pleasing dark emerald green color and has a slightly salty/earthy taste and vaguely rubbery-lettuce texture. Darwin always seeks it out, either by smell or sight, and picks through his meal to get it first when served each week.
The C
ratio is good and it has a fair amount of vitamin A as well, but I think nutrients/micronutrients that might not occur, or only occur in miniscule quantities, in the terrestrially-based foods I give him (like Iodine) are where the addition of seaweed is worthwhile in Darwin's diet.
I don't think it's necessary to include seaweed in any tortoise's diet, but I similarly can't see how it could hurt, and I'm interested to hear from the thoughtful and knowledgeable minds here on TFO.
Thanks,
Jamie (and Darwin)
A month or two ago, I read a post somewhere on the forums about Aldabras gnoshing on seaweed, and it got me thinking about the possible benefits of adding it to my redfoot Darwin's diet.
I'm a big believer in 'feeding the rainbow' (i.e. - providing as much variety over the course of a month as is possible, in terms of color and texture), and prior to this, all of Darwin's food had been terrestrial; adding oceanic food seemed a good way to increase the diversity of nutrients and in particular micronutrients.
I did some reading and web-surfing and settled on THIS variety and source and brand of seaweed. It's relatively local, has no additional ingredients/preservatives, is easy to use, and despite the seemingly high price tag is pretty cost-efficient ($15 for a 4oz bag, that at my current rate of consumption will last well over a year, possibly two).
I rehydrate a scant teaspoon in warm water once a week to mix in with his daily meal. When hydrated, it turns a pleasing dark emerald green color and has a slightly salty/earthy taste and vaguely rubbery-lettuce texture. Darwin always seeks it out, either by smell or sight, and picks through his meal to get it first when served each week.
The C
ratio is good and it has a fair amount of vitamin A as well, but I think nutrients/micronutrients that might not occur, or only occur in miniscule quantities, in the terrestrially-based foods I give him (like Iodine) are where the addition of seaweed is worthwhile in Darwin's diet.I don't think it's necessary to include seaweed in any tortoise's diet, but I similarly can't see how it could hurt, and I'm interested to hear from the thoughtful and knowledgeable minds here on TFO.
Thanks,
Jamie (and Darwin)
