Varied Diet?

[Texastort]

HI everyone! My torts came to me raised on mostly grass and romaine lettuce. They are outside exclusively and are grazing on my grass and weeds, and I have been feeding them some romaine lettuce. They absolutely love it. I also gave them a red pepper and they loved that too. Is there anything else I should be feeding them that they will like? I have tried carrots, apples and some hay and they could care less about it. Oh yeah and one of them ate poop today. What's up with that??

 

[Tom]

Grass and weeds are the best thing for them. Fruits and veggies are not so good. Small amounts infrequently, if ever. Romaine is not bad for them. Its fine. Its just not very nutritious and it takes up stomach space from something that IS more nutritious. Look into grape leaves, spineless opuntia cactus, Mazuri tortoise chow, hibiscus and rose of sharon leaves and flowers, and Mulberry leaves. All of these things are easy to get or grow and, combined with lots of grass and weeds, make up a well rounded good diet.

Poop eating is pretty normal. Especially for little ones. Its a way for them to seed their intestinal tract with beneficial organisms and to extract more nutrition from the already digested plant matter.

Just don't let them eat poop from OTHER animals, like your dog for example. That could kill them if your dog is on certain flea and tick or heartworm medications. Even if your dog is not on any medication, all that protein and bacteria is still not good for them.

 

[dmarcus]

Grass and weeds are the best thing for them. Fruits and veggies are not so good. Small amounts infrequently, if ever. Romaine is not bad for them. Its fine. Its just not very nutritious and it takes up stomach space from something that IS more nutritious. Look into grape leaves, spineless opuntia cactus, Mazuri tortoise chow, hibiscus and rose of sharon leaves and flowers, and Mulberry leaves. All of these things are easy to get or grow and, combined with lots of grass and weeds, make up a well rounded good diet.

Poop eating is pretty normal. Especially for little ones. Its a way for them to seed their intestinal tract with beneficial organisms and to extract more nutrition from the already digested plant matter.

Just don't let them eat poop from OTHER animals, like your dog for example. That could kill them if your dog is on certain flea and tick or heartworm medications. Even if your dog is not on any medication, all that protein and bacteria is still not good for them.

I agree with what Tom said.

You can go to any Mexican market in Fort Worth and get cactus pads for pretty cheap. Wal Mart has been selling them but they cost a lot more for less pads..

 

[Tortoiselover87]

I would also suggest putting a cuttle bone in with him. This adds extra calcium and they can munch on it when they like, just make sure he isn't eating too much too quick. They sell tortoise ones at pretty much any pet shop like Petsmart but the bird ones are the same thing and cheaper. Just make sure that it is the plain cuttle bone with no artificial coloring or flavoring. If you don't want to do this you could dampen rose petals (always yummy) with a little bit of water then lightly dust them with a calcium powder, also sold at pet stores. Just be careful how much and how often you give it. Too much can be bad. I would suggest about 3 times a week.

 

[Texastort]

Grass and weeds are the best thing for them. Fruits and veggies are not so good. Small amounts infrequently, if ever. Romaine is not bad for them. Its fine. Its just not very nutritious and it takes up stomach space from something that IS more nutritious. Look into grape leaves, spineless opuntia cactus, Mazuri tortoise chow, hibiscus and rose of sharon leaves and flowers, and Mulberry leaves. All of these things are easy to get or grow and, combined with lots of grass and weeds, make up a well rounded good diet.

Poop eating is pretty normal. Especially for little ones. Its a way for them to seed their intestinal tract with beneficial organisms and to extract more nutrition from the already digested plant matter.

Just don't let them eat poop from OTHER animals, like your dog for example. That could kill them if your dog is on certain flea and tick or heartworm medications. Even if your dog is not on any medication, all that protein and bacteria is still not good for them.

Thanks Tom. I have been trying to give them hibiscus as this is growing in their enclosure and they won't even look at it. I guess I'll keep trying!

 

[Tom]

To get them used to anything new, I like to finely chop it up and mix a small amount of it with whatever their favorite foods are. You just have to chop it all up small enough that they can't pick through it.

 

[tequillakma]

To get them used to anything new, I like to finely chop it up and mix a small amount of it with whatever their favorite foods are. You just have to chop it all up small enough that they can't pick through it.

That's a good idea! I was wondering how to get them used to different foods. Mine doesn't like to eat any hay...