sleeping torts

[JoesMum]

So he loves cucumbers I mixed it with some leaves from the rose bush and some dandelion and he loved the mix but picked all the cucumber out first lmao
I am going to go get something for calcium to help him and keep him as healthy as possibly can.be.
Always worrying when reading about pyramiding and over eating, illnesses and really don't wanted any of those problems. How.much should he grow and how often? I've read fed once a day approximately his shell size worth...
Oh I soaked him in morning today for his daily soak and.no poop or wee lol must he going in tank and I can't see it

You don't need to cut it up that small unless they're using it as an excuse not to eat something. Tearing at bigger pieces of food helps keep the beak in trim. They don't chew, but their beaks are quite strong as you'll find out one day when you get nipped by mistake.

A heap of food roughly the size of his shell first thing is a good start to the day. You can then give a top-up later in the day. Having something like a living plant or perhaps a little soaked pelleted food for him to browse on during the day is a good ise too.

Your little guy needs things to keep him interested and out of trouble when he's awake.

Cuttlebone in the enclosure gives him some calcium, or you could try crushing it into a powder which makes it simpler to sprinkle on other food.

 

[sportychick]

OK will try it out.Yah I cut it but not to small as I thought it was still to big lol was telling my hubby that it looks like it will get stuck in throat haha.. anything else besides a plant or stones that I can put into his tank? To make him more.comfortable and interested

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Btw sorry but what should his poop look like out of water? I found some was with food dish... looked a little dark moist lol just want to make sure its OK or if I need to change something in food or what

 

[JoesMum]

Poop looks and smells like... poop. Brownish green, depending on what they've been eating, sometimes you can see bits of grass or whatever in it. If they do it in water it can go really mush and horrible looking!

Have a look through pictures in the Enclosures Forum for ideas on what to do

 

[sportychick]

Thanks for all the help and advice

 

[yoda3106]

Thanks for all the help and advice

How is he doing?? Did he like the food?? Our babies have prob had a shock, it's raining at home hehehe there 1st experience

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Thanks for all the help and advice

Have you seen our pen?

 

[sportychick]

Yes he loves cucumbers I mixed it with some leaves from the rose bush and some dandelion and he loved the mix but picked all the cucumber out first lmao
And no I have not seen urs. Will have to take a look

 

[yoda3106]

Yes he loves cucumbers I mixed it with some leaves from the rose bush and some dandelion and he loved the mix but picked all the cucumber out first lmao
And no I have not seen urs. Will have to take a look

Haha that's good, I'd like to see what ours are like with rose bush leaves here's a pic .......



Heres the pen, I'm always adding to it





Here's my Henry





And here's my hetty





Heres Fred, we're tort sitting him lol he goes back soon

 

[sportychick]

There absolutely gorgeous how old are they approximately?They look huge! Well compared to mine lol

 

[yoda3106]

There absolutely gorgeous how old are they approximately?They look huge! Well compared to mine lol

The darker one Henry is roughly a year and 6months, hetty the lighter one is about 2ish and I'd say the other is maybe comin up to about 2, I ain't sure!! I did have another 2 lol and I won't more, got the room haha

 

[sportychick]

Haha awesome!!! Mine is so tiny compared to yours.... he's sleeping. In his hide in the box on the balcony.. trying to give him as much sun as I can although it looks as tho the rain is headed to me lol its +22 out so I hope that's warm enough for him on the balcony
Going out in a bit to buy either calcium supplement or the cuddle fish .. how often should we switch up the food?
My tort slept from 5 yesterday til 630am today lol

 

[yoda3106]

Haha awesome!!! Mine is so tiny compared to yours.... he's sleeping. In his hide in the box on the balcony.. trying to give him as much sun as I can although it looks as tho the rain is headed to me lol its +22 out so I hope that's warm enough for him on the balcony
Going out in a bit to buy either calcium supplement or the cuddle fish .. how often should we switch up the food?
My tort slept from 5 yesterday til 630am today lol

Yeah, that's hot enough for him, he's probably hiding because its maybe at the hottest point of the day and torts do this, so I've been told, if it gets to hot theyl retreat but they still get the heat!! I'd get a calcium supplement, the best and the one I use is called nutrobal, it's worldwide known as the best!! Sprinkle a little over the food or a little in his bath, cuttle fish can be hit or miss, well it was a miss for ours :/ lol leave food in there and replace it once when you think it's going dry, preferably the evening time!!

Ours sleep longer lol from about 5pm till 10am haha Henry sometimes longer lol

 

[sportychick]

Lol mine always cones out looking for food as if its starved lol... that's why Im afraid of over feed cuz he wats.morning then by lunch yes.looking for more and sometimes again before evening sleep

 

[sportychick]

OK so I bought the cuddle and a.new dish of food flatter nicer for him to get into. Now I bought pellet food to soak a little for the day as joesmum mentioned however now.I'm reading that its got quiet a bit of protein.. should it be OK? Its got calcium.and d3 in it.too but worried.about the protein :S

 

[JoesMum]

What brand is the pellet food? Does it say it is suitable for grass eating tortoises?

Even Greeks and Russians need protein ... they just get it from vegetable sources, not animal.... so it's not obvious to us!

Joe has Komodo a couple of times a week and that has 9% protein content.

 

[sportychick]

Here is a picture

http://i1268.photobucket.com/albums/jj569/sportychick27/IMG_20120503_162037.jpg

Not sure if its OK.. is says min protein 14%, fat 4%, fiber 13%, moisture 6%, calcium 2%, crude ash 6% and phosphorus 0.7%

I don't plan to feed often or a lot just a little soaked if he gets hungry later in afternoon/evening

 

[JoesMum]

I just googled it and had a look (see here It said it's for Mediterranean species torts, so it should be fine. Soak it for a while before feeding. You are only giving a very small amount; (a dessert spoon max) once a week should be OK

 

[sportychick]

OK good glad I didn't waste money if I soak it how.long is it good for in the dish?

 

[JoesMum]

With Joe's I put a small amount in a very small bowl (I use a ramekin) and cover it with water. The pellets swell and take in the water and it can be left out for up to 12 hours according to the instructions

Yours is a different brand, but I assume it is much the same

 

[sportychick]

On the day I give him a dessert spoon of the pellets, does he get his.normal amount of greens?
I feel like he got a.little.much today fed twice once.morning then again like 8hrs later... how are your torts today?

 

[JoesMum]

I'd feed him greens first as usual. Later on in the day soak the pellets and pop them in a disk somewhere other than his usual feeding place and leave them for him to find.

Joe's had a snoozy day today. The weather is wet and cold outside. He got up, ate and went straight back to sleep! I'm not worries, he's been very active for the last few days and a quiet day isn't an issue