GrammyTree
Member
Our box turtles seem to not like green vegetables. Is feeding them grasshoppers (that eat grass ) helping them get the vitamins they need from greens?
veggie problem
- Thread starter GrammyTree
- Start date
No grasshoppers are protein not vitamin C and fibre!
Torts are well known for their ability to be picky eaters and refuse stuff that's good for them!
Sometimes you have to be the strict parent and point out that you're in charge. What you serve up is dinner and there's nothing else.
A hungry tort will eat, but can hold out stubbornly for what they want for a week or two. They won't come to any harm going hungry as long as they're well hydrated; daily soaks are essential during hunger strikes.
Most of us have been there; probably more than once! Be strong. We will support you. You will be doing the right thing.
GrammyTree
Member
Ok thanks, we will try the tough love way. I hope I can hold out and not give in to them. They are pretty stubborn and know how to get what they want.
We've had our tort 46 years and have this as a regular occurrence. Just keep telling yourself that you're doing it for the right reasons.
And no hoppers until the greens get eaten
A portion, but not all. They do need to eat greens as well
GrammyTree
Member
They are looking at it with a scowl on their faces...If possible. But I will stay strong and make them eat itA portion, but not all. They do need to eat greens as well
@Tidgy's Dad has his Greek in a huff over prickly pear at the moment. She only wants that and he has a different opinionThey are looking at it with a scowl on their faces...If possible. But I will stay strong and make them eat it
GrammyTree
Member
Just trying to see if I can post a picture. I have been trying in the gallery to start an album but it fails. This is Greta, she is waiting on the sun to hit her favorite spot.
Last edited by a moderator:
I start my baby box turtles out right out of the egg on chopped veg and fruit. Then by the time they are adults, they eat veg and fruit without any coercion.
I chop up the leafy greens into tiny pieces and grate a bit of cucumber into the bowl, mixing it all up until the greens are coated and now smell like cucumber. Watermelon is good for this too. At any rate, whatever fruit and veg I have on hand, I chop it into tiny pieces and mix it all together. I place a clump of it on the feeding tile then I add some wiggling things (meal worms OR pinhead crickets OR cut up night crawlers) to the top of the clump. The babies get a taste of the veg and fruit while eating the wigglers and get used to eating it that way.
I chop up the leafy greens into tiny pieces and grate a bit of cucumber into the bowl, mixing it all up until the greens are coated and now smell like cucumber. Watermelon is good for this too. At any rate, whatever fruit and veg I have on hand, I chop it into tiny pieces and mix it all together. I place a clump of it on the feeding tile then I add some wiggling things (meal worms OR pinhead crickets OR cut up night crawlers) to the top of the clump. The babies get a taste of the veg and fruit while eating the wigglers and get used to eating it that way.
GrammyTree
Member
Would it be better if I used something like a coffee bean grinder on the leafy stuff to make it smaller. His mouth is so little I worry about him getting things down. I am told I dote too much on my turtles. I gave him the smallest meal worm last night and ended up pulling it out of his throat. It was way too big for him. I cut it into bite size pieces. Am I going overboard on the fear of choking?
They usually clamp down with their beak, then push it away from their mouth with the front legs, essentially biting off a piece small enough to swallow. And they can swallow a much bigger piece than you give them credit for. The size that comes out of a cheese grater is plenty small enough for a baby box turtle.
GrammyTree
Member
Ok thanks. I will try to lighten up and relax a bit on his feeding.
GrammyTree
Member
Here is a picture of him. We call him Darwin
So cute!!!!!!
Just keep trying. Greens are not a huge portion of a box turtles diet, but try anyway. 60% of their diet should be protein. The rest is fallen fruit and fungi mostly with just a few greens. I have one that loves greens and one that won't touch them.
I'm in love!
If this is the one you're saying won't eat greens, it's because he's a baby.
GrammyTree
Member
Do you know if all mushrooms are safe. I try to research anything we feed them but haven't tried mushrooms yet because I can't find if they are safe or not.
GrammyTree
Member
No we have stubborn adults too. He is only 2 weeks old. One of ours laid 3 eggs.
