Substrate Sticking to Food

[I Love Tortoises]

Hello guys. I usually soak my tortoises foods before putting them into their enclosure so they get hydrated. I use this organic forest floor bedding and my tortoises actually like it a lot but when I put their soaked food into the enclosure the bedding sticks to the food. Do you guys have any advices? I have been using this substrate for 4 months now. Do the tortoises get harmed if they eat it? Thanks.

 

[Gizmo The Mighty]

Moving from lurk mode to post mode....

Tiny pieces of Forest Floor won't hurt them if swallowed, but larger pieces may present an impaction risk. I would suggest giving them a generously-sized plate (relative to their size) to eat from so that the amount of substrate coming in contact with food is minimized.

 

[wellington]

Actually I would use a large then their size plate or flat piece of ceramic tile or even a shoe tray to feed them on. This gives a bigger space for the food to spread before getting on the substrate.

 

[Tom]

Hello guys. I usually soak my tortoises foods before putting them into their enclosure so they get hydrated. I use this organic forest floor bedding and my tortoises actually like it a lot but when I put their soaked food into the enclosure the bedding sticks to the food. Do you guys have any advices? I have been using this substrate for 4 months now. Do the tortoises get harmed if they eat it? Thanks.

Use a terra cotta saucer sunk into the substrate for a food bowl. The concavity tends to hold the food in the bowl and minimizes contact with the substrate. The texture offers good traction to tortoise feet. I keep two on hand for food and two for water. When the food bowl gets soiled, I simply remove it and pop the clean one in its place. Then I clean the soiled one and let it air dry in the sun.

 

[TammyJ]

What kind of tortoises are they and what food are you giving them? Any pictures of them?

 

[I Love Tortoises]

What kind of tortoises are they and what food are you giving them? Any pictures of them?

I have 3 greeks and a hermann's tortoise. Their diet is Romaine lettuce, plantain, dandelions, hibiscus, frisee, clovers, rose petals, globe artichoke, couch grass, mulberry leaves and carrots. I put calcium powder on their foods. I give the carrots once a month for a treat and I also sometimes give them pellets.

 

[megarathebes]

Use a terra cotta saucer sunk into the substrate for a food bowl. The concavity tends to hold the food in the bowl and minimizes contact with the substrate. The texture offers good traction to tortoise feet. I keep two on hand for food and two for water. When the food bowl gets soiled, I simply remove it and pop the clean one in its place. Then I clean the soiled one and let it air dry in the sun.

Hey that's what I use! I have 2 as well but it's to seperate protein and veggies to monitor feeding more.