sulcata tortoies diet

[leannethreeoaks]

hi everyone

i just bought myself two beautiful two month old sulcata tortoies. what i would like to know is what is the best diet for them to be on?

i am new to having tortoies.

since i was a little girl and seen my first tortoies that was so big i have always wanted one.

 

[Yvonne G]

Hi leannethreeoaks:

Welcome to the Tortoise Forum!!

What would you like us to call you?

And may we know appx. where in the world you are?

You can pick weeds and grasses from outside, but make sure they're clean and not sprayed with chemicals. Or you can buy dark, leafy greens from the store. Here's a list of foods they eat:

http://www.tortoiseforum.org/Thread...ed-Greeks-Russians-Sulcatas-etc#axzz1oeeEiT6Z

 

[leannethreeoaks]

I am in orange county,ca

Right now I have them on romain and give the a supplement three times a week and
Soak them two times a week in warm water.

 

[Yvonne G]

Hi Leanne:

That's not a healthy diet for your little sulcatas. They need more of a variety, or you're going to start seeing some deformity and health problems. Romaine is not bad a part of a varied diet, but just on its own, they're not getting enough nutrition even with the supplement.

 

[Tom]

Hello and welcome.

Yvonne is right on, as usual, with the diet info. I also think you need to soak them daily for the first few months. Here's a care sheet:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/Thread-How-To-Raise-Sulcata-Hatchlings-and-Babies#axzz1of7UyKdu

Here are a bunch of helpful threads:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/Thread-Helpful-Threads#axzz1of7UyKdu

 

[leannethreeoaks]

Ok thanks for the heads up on that.i did start to
Put dry grass pellets that you mix water
In with pellets to make soft and I put romain with it.
Can you tell me where I can pick up some of the food they can eat. I want to
Make sure my two month old babies get what they need as far as food.
I also have a dish of water in there tank and a heat pad under tank on one
Corner I leave on all the time and a UVB light on them in the day time.

 

[jagsrule100]

Ok thanks for the heads up on that.i did start to
Put dry grass pellets that you mix water
In with pellets to make soft and I put romain with it.
Can you tell me where I can pick up some of the food they can eat. I want to
Make sure my two month old babies get what they need as far as food.
I also have a dish of water in there tank and a heat pad under tank on one
Corner I leave on all the time and a UVB light on them in the day time.

Most of the food you can get at the grocery store. I don't know much about the heat pads cause i don't use it. As for the UVB light, what kind do you have? I use a MVB (Mercury Vapor) light which is best to use, so i would suggest getting one of those if you dont have that.

 

[leannethreeoaks]

Thanks I will look into the UVB light for them.
I just went to store and got spring mix of salad
And green leaf lettuce and red leaf lettuce.
Is there anything else I should get for them.
I want to make sure they grow healthy and not get sick.

 

[leannethreeoaks]

I am hoping to learn more about the tortoies everyday so i know how to feed them right and make sure there are healthy as they grow older.

i bought my babies from a reptile shop like four days ago and they only been feeding them romain lettuce everyday and thats it. so when i took them home i started them on a grass hay pellet that you put in water to make soft so they can eat and mixed with romain.

i went to store this morning and bought some spring mix salad and some green leaf lettuce and red leaf lettuce. i am hoping i am getting the right stuff for them.

also i would like to know as for them eating grass i can like go in my front yard and pick some and just give it to them?
also as far as roses go can i do the same thing just go to my rose garden and pick some rose leafs off?

i know the basics about the uvb lights and heat lights. i have three bearded dragons.

right now i have my babies on a heat pad. would it be better to put them on a heat light?

 

[Tom]

Please read these:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/Thread-Helpful-Threads#axzz1omA4ivIB

Especially the first two. They are full of tips on how to feed and house them.

 

[Maggie Cummings]

Buy Spring Mix and mix that with Collard greens, turnip greens mustard greens. Then cut some grass and dandelions and mix that in. Cut it all up small for small mouths. Get a 100 watt CHE, that heats better than an under tank mat. Get a 100 watt flood type UVB bulb. Now that you have all that, read Tom's care sheet and these...


http://africantortoise.com/

http://www.chelonia.org/Articles/sulcatacare.htm

 

[leannethreeoaks]

Thank you i will read the care sheet.
I just went to Carolina pet supply today
Online and order some of the mixed seeds
To grow in the tortoise tank.