Trouble with food!!!

[kevvmic]

Hi all, this is my first post here

So I have 2 tortoises, one is around 34 years old an another greek tortoise that is 20 months old now. The elder one eats everything, but the youngest one is only eating lettuce. I tried carrots and tomatoes without any success, she just doesn't eat, than give her lettuce and she'll attack it like crazy. Now i bought pallets, but still no success. Could anyone help me and give me some advice? Maybe on how to make her it the pallets, since lettuce isn't all that good for her.

Thank <3

 

[Yvonne G]

Hi, and welcome!

We're gonna' need to know the species of both your tortoises.

Also, the young one should not be kept with your other one. Show us some pictures of both tortoises, please, so we can give you better help.

 

[kevvmic]

Hi, and welcome!

We're gonna' need to know the species of both your tortoises.

Also, the young one should not be kept with your other one. Show us some pictures of both tortoises, please, so we can give you better help.

They don't even stay at the same house, the youngest one is at my girlfriends. She is a greek tortoise. She's healthy, I know what an unhealthy tortoise looks like, but since I never had any trouble with feeding the elder one, I don't know what I can do to make the youngest one eat different food. BTW she loves cuttlefish!!

Funnily enough, the eldest one has lived 30 years on tiles, outside all year round both summer and winter, and eating mainly only lettuce, never gave her any supplements, and he's still thriving haha but since the other one is much younger, I'm worried that this could effect her in growing up.

 

[Lyn W]

Hi I don't know if you have already posted an introduction so apologies if I am repeating other members advice.
Have you found the caresheet for Greeks in the species specific section ?
There may be something on the diet list the youngster likes.
Although torts love lettuce and cucumber etc there is little nutritional value in them (some types of lettuce are better than others but as you know they need a varied diet).
I think I have read that they will stop eating the good stuff and hold out for these junk foods so maybe introduce some better leaves like dandies, etc along with what she will eat and gradually feed more. If you start the younger one off on the right foods he could outlive you!
If you google The Tortoise Table that is a good guide to what is safe or unsafe or should be fed in moderation etc.
Some torts eat cuttlefish when they are deficient in calcium but too much can cause stones so keep an eye on that or as she likes it maybe scrape a little some onto her food a few times a week.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

Did you mean PELLETS?
What type of pellets? Most of them shouldn't be fed very often.
As @Lyne suggested, check out our species scecific section and look at some appropriate foods. Then offer a few items from there.
Best of luck to you.

 

[kevvmic]

Hi I don't know if you have already posted an introduction so apologies if I am repeating other members advice.
Have you found the caresheet for Greeks in the species specific section ?
There may be something on the diet list the youngster likes.
Although torts love lettuce and cucumber etc there is little nutritional value in them (some types of lettuce are better than others but as you know they need a varied diet).
I think I have read that they will stop eating the good stuff and hold out for these junk foods so maybe introduce some better leaves like dandies, etc along with what she will eat and gradually feed more. If you start the younger one off on the right foods he could outlive you!
If you google The Tortoise Table that is a good guide to what is safe or unsafe or should be fed in moderation etc.
Some torts eat cuttlefish when they are deficient in calcium but too much can cause stones so keep an eye on that or as she likes it maybe scrape a little some onto her food a few times a week.

Yup I do everything according to the caresheets. Have plenty of sun, all year round since it's Malta (we have rain only around 5% of the year), humidity is already high around the 70-80%, but I spray the soil as well, therefore good hydration. Only problem is she is super picky on what she eats haha

 

[kevvmic]

Did you mean PELLETS?
What type of pellets? Most of them shouldn't be fed very often.
As @Lyne suggested, check out our species scecific section and look at some appropriate foods. Then offer a few items from there.
Best of luck to you.

Yes I know they shouldn't be fed very often, but even if I put one every year she wouldn't bother haha she just eats lettuce only, and if I put something with the lettuce and she bites it by mistake, she spits it out. I tried everything haha

 

[CarolM]

Yes I know they shouldn't be fed very often, but even if I put one every year she wouldn't bother haha she just eats lettuce only, and if I put something with the lettuce and she bites it by mistake, she spits it out. I tried everything haha

Try cutting up the lettuce, with a little bit of the foods your tort should be eating. At first put in alot of the lettuce. Remember to cut it up really fine and then mix it all together. If it is really fine and majority is lettuce then your tort will most probably eat it. If at first she doesn't eat it then just be patient and keep on giving the same mix. Eventually she will eat it. Then once she gets used to that you can slowly start reducing the lettuce and add more of the weed and other listed food. Until she is eating correctly. Then when she is eating a good variety you can stop cutting it up finely and introduce the food in bigger pieces. Until you get to the point of where you can put it in whole and she eats and breaks it up herself. Good luck.

 

[Lyn W]

As well as the plant database - The Tortoise Table website has lots of tips on feeding, diet and introducing a healthier diet under one of the tabs along the top of their website. That may help you.

 

[Tom]

Could anyone help me and give me some advice?

Carol's tips in post number 8 should solve your problem.

 

[kevvmic]

Try cutting up the lettuce, with a little bit of the foods your tort should be eating. At first put in alot of the lettuce. Remember to cut it up really fine and then mix it all together. If it is really fine and majority is lettuce then your tort will most probably eat it. If at first she doesn't eat it then just be patient and keep on giving the same mix. Eventually she will eat it. Then once she gets used to that you can slowly start reducing the lettuce and add more of the weed and other listed food. Until she is eating correctly. Then when she is eating a good variety you can stop cutting it up finely and introduce the food in bigger pieces. Until you get to the point of where you can put it in whole and she eats and breaks it up herself. Good luck.

I'll try this out.Thanks a lot <3