Stocking up?

[Yellow Turtle01]

Allright, winter is approaching fast here, and now I have a 40lb sulcata to think about feeding... so what exactly do I do for her food? The weeds will die and get buried by snow, store bought is yucky, so they only thing I will have are hay bales?? bleh
How do you guys stock up? I can't freeze food in the freezer, it'll be all soggy...

 

[TortMomma]

You could always buy a seed mix and grow inside. Luckily my produce store sells dandelion and wheatgrass among other yummy things. I also order cactus pads. So with all that winters aren't so rough.


Mommy to:
Nevan- 8yr old human
Arden- Pappillon
Ella-Chihuahua
Toby-Tortoise shell cat
Tinka- Tabby cat
Rex- Ball python
Penny- Eastern Box turtle hatchling
Poppy- Russian tortoise

 

[Smile]

What's wrong with store bought food? I thought it was fine.

 

[Yellow Turtle01]

I'm not sure if my local store sells dandelions, but there is a Mustered seed close, by, so I could check.

 

[TortMomma]

They use to get dandelion greens in here and there but now carry them regularly because I asked. So now I get a bunch or two weekly.


Mommy to:
Nevan- 8yr old human
Arden- Pappillon
Ella-Chihuahua
Toby-Tortoise shell cat
Tinka- Tabby cat
Rex- Ball python
Penny- Eastern Box turtle hatchling
Poppy- Russian tortoise

 

[Yellow Turtle01]

What's wrong with store bought food? I thought it was fine.

I mean, lettuce and stuff... not too good for them.. nothing wrong with buying form the store itself as long as you wash it, but they mostly sell lettuce, and I really don't want to feed her that for 4 months

 

[Yellow Turtle01]

They use to get dandelion greens in here and there but now carry them regularly because I asked. So now I get a bunch or two weekly.


Mommy to:
Nevan- 8yr old human
Arden- Pappillon
Ella-Chihuahua
Toby-Tortoise shell cat
Tinka- Tabby cat
Rex- Ball python
Penny- Eastern Box turtle hatchling
Poppy- Russian tortoise

Hahaha, I wonder if they would if I asked!

 

[Tom]

What's wrong with store bought food? I thought it was fine.

Not the best diet for any tortoise. There are no fields of lettuce in tortoise territory. Some people have nothing else available at certain times, so it is better than nothing, but it should really be amended by adding some "herbal hay" or some "salad style".

 

[TortMomma]

Hahaha, I wonder if they would if I asked!

Can't hurt! I thought the wheat grass was a pretty lucky find too!


Mommy to:
Nevan- 8yr old human
Arden- Pappillon
Ella-Chihuahua
Toby-Tortoise shell cat
Tinka- Tabby cat
Rex- Ball python
Penny- Eastern Box turtle hatchling
Poppy- Russian tortoise

 

[Smile]

Isn't supplemented romain lettuce OK for torts? That's what I was planning on feeding mine, along with spring mix, collard greens, Zoo Med tortoise food, and any other healthy vegetables I can find.

 

[Yellow Turtle01]

I do sometimes supplement her diet with collard and kale and things like that, but not
too often.

 

[Yellow Turtle01]

Do they normally carry that?

 

[Yellow Turtle01]

Romaine is mostly water, and isn't VERY nutritious do you have any weeds/grasses? They like them better, and it's also healthier... you could supplement with the salad mix, and kale and things, but they should not make up the diet

 

[Tom]

Allright, winter is approaching fast here, and now I have a 40lb sulcata to think about feeding... so what exactly do I do for her food? The weeds will die and get buried by snow, store bought is yucky, so they only thing I will have are hay bales?? bleh
How do you guys stock up? I can't freeze food in the freezer, it'll be all soggy...

Grass hay sustains many of them. Cactus pads, Mazuri, ZooMed Grassland food mixed with other greens, pumpkin in the fall... I don't know what I'd do in an area like that. Other sulcata keepers from areas like yours will be able to help you more than I could in this situation. Mine eat weeds and wild grass all winter long. Of course its usually 70 or 80 degrees and sunny here all winter.

 

[Tom]

Isn't supplemented romain lettuce OK for torts? That's what I was planning on feeding mine, along with spring mix, collard greens, Zoo Med tortoise food, and any other healthy vegetables I can find.

You are getting a sulcata right? Please read this: http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/for-those-who-have-a-young-sulcata.76744/

Pretty please?

 

[Yellow Turtle01]

Well, she has a lovely heated shed to spend the cold winter days in, but we get a lot of snow usually, so, you know, nice healthy outside greens die I'll be getting a few pumpkins soon to cut up and puree for her and freeze, becuase that is something acutally freezes well, but waiting till their more in season...
Hahaha, that would be SO nice, she could be outside all year long!

 

[Tom]

They use to get dandelion greens in here and there but now carry them regularly because I asked. So now I get a bunch or two weekly.

This is not a bad idea, but a single 40 pound sulcata can eat 20 of those store bought dandelion bunches a day. With big tortoises you need some serious VOLUME.

 

[Yellow Turtle01]

I could try bring in a few plants and sticking them in pots, but I doubt I would be able to produce enough for her to eat, so buying would be best, I think.

 

[TortMomma]

You would be surprised how big those dandelion bunches are, but I get what your saying. I split them between what I need for my animals and what the pet store I work for needs, weekly. I would suppose I would order a case if I was in that situation. They're only like 1.50 a bunch but I'm sure if you got bulk they would work with you.
Probably not a bad idea for large tortoise owners in the eastern states to ask their local produce stores about special orders in bulk.


Mommy to:
Nevan- 8yr old human
Arden- Pappillon
Ella-Chihuahua
Toby-Tortoise shell cat
Tinka- Tabby cat
Rex- Ball python
Penny- Eastern Box turtle hatchling
Poppy- Russian tortoise

 

[TortMomma]

I should also mention my produce store is 2 minutes away so I frequent there and have a very good relationship with the owners. I ask then to save the tops of the carrots when they cut them off. They do this for me for free. It helps with my small herd and the reptiles and tortoises at the pet store.
May be a good way to supplement a big guy here and there during the cold months.


Mommy to:
Nevan- 8yr old human
Arden- Pappillon
Ella-Chihuahua
Toby-Tortoise shell cat
Tinka- Tabby cat
Rex- Ball python
Penny- Eastern Box turtle hatchling
Poppy- Russian tortoise