Weaning off Bad Foods

[symplestytches]

So we've had A'tuin the RT for 6 years and 5 months (gotcha date 1/20/09). when we got him from a family off of CL, he was being fed roma tomatoes, romaine, broccoli, and carrots. He had an overload of parasites, got him cleaned up of that, and omitted everything but the romaine. started feeding him the pre-mixed spring mix bags from the grocery, since we lived in a condo and didn't have access to safe patches of weeds.

Now that we own our own home, and have tons and tons of safe greens on our property for him, and it's been a while since we first weaned him onto the mixed lettuces, what is the recommended method for weaning?

1. Cold-Turkey - this worked in the past for getting of the bad foods, but took 2 weeks until he would eat what I offered him instead.
2. mixing in tiny pieces - tried this method this past weekend, and he wasn't having it. sniffed the pile of greens and ignored it.

I am building an outdoor enclosure and want to make sure he will be able to forage for himself, and that I can just grab handfuls of yummy weeds from the yard to feed him instead of buying the non-nutritious salad mixes from the store. he also needs to learn to eat the courser greens, since that romaine and stuff is so soft and provides no friction for his beak.

I have been feeding him on a concrete slab, which he just nips at the green pieces that are high enough for him not to scrape his beak. he's a stubborn one!

 

[Jodie]

I would continue providing a mix of the old and new. Use as many different things as you can find. Chop it all real small. He will eat when he is hungry.

 

[symplestytches]

I'll keep trying that method then. Just gotta beat my husband to feeding him each morning is all haha!

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

Is he eating ok now ?

 

[symplestytches]

He has taken a bite or two out of the dandelion leaves, but nothing substantial yet! here's what i've been offering:

Dandelion (and other similar lookin' leaves), all flowers have gone to seed already
Nipplewort (lapsana) leaves
cranesbill leaves and flowers
broadleaf plantain leaves
forget-me-not leaves and flowers
blackberry leaves
mallow leaves and flowers

These are all from my yard, which hasn't received any fertilizer, pesticides, or other chemicals for at least the last 8 months. He's a stubborn one. the last time i had to withhold food from him (those carrots, tomatoes, broccoli), it took about 2 weeks before he started eating the spring mix.

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

Maybe some baby food soaks until he starts eating properly.

 

[symplestytches]

probably couldn't hurt to do that! i'll see if i have any of the correct baby foods in stock at the house tonight.

 

[symplestytches]

This is the meal he is refusing today: violets, forget me not, dandelion leaves, nipplewort, Plantain. Still hasn't eaten more than a taste nibble of anything since the 5th. How much longer can I hold out? I tried cutting everything up into tiny pieces and mixing with romaine, he refuses to touch anything that doesn't smell purely of romaine now.

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

Personally, I would keep at it.
You can be more stubborn than him.
They can go a long, long time without food.
As long as his temps, humidity etc, are correct and he isn't actually ill, he will eat when he's hungry enough.
My advice, tough it out.

 

[symplestytches]

Yeah, temps and humidity are spot on for an RT, we have started soaking daily to keep water intake up, just refuses to eat healthy stuff! I feel so bad making him suffer like this, the looks he gives me are pathetic.

 

[symplestytches]

Oh, and he recently had a fecal test done, so we know he isn't stuffed full of yucky bugs

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

Yeah, temps and humidity are spot on for an RT, we have started soaking daily to keep water intake up, just refuses to eat healthy stuff! I feel so bad making him suffer like this, the looks he gives me are pathetic.

I know what you mean about that pathetic look! LOL!!
I'm afraid that a bit of suffering now will be better for him in the long run.
But he doesn't know this, of course.
I know how difficult it is, but just keep thinking that he will be happier and healthier if you win this battle.
Good luck.

 

[Tom]

He doesn't recognize those items as food and tortoises don't like change. Keep feeding the spring mix, but every day mix a tiny little bit of the new stuff in. Chop up the spring mix and chop up a tiny bit of dandelion, mallow or plantain leaf and mix it all up. When I say a tiny amount, I mean like 5% or less at first. Don't worry about it if he eats around it at first. Everyday he will be seeing and smelling this new weird food thing and in time it won't be new and unfamiliar. Over time he will start to accidentally eat bits of the new stuff and you can begin to gradually increase the ratio of new to old. This will not happen in a few days. It can take weeks or months. Many people just throw some weeds in with the lettuce and then complain that they won't eat. It takes time. Lots of time. And there is no need to rush. I have "broken" many picky tortoises. Its easy, but it takes a long time.

And your tortoise is soooooo lucky to have found you! He's going to have a long healthy life if you keep doing what you are doing.

 

[christinaland128]

Just be a stubborn momma! He is very good at manipulating you! I know it, I follow you on IG! Haha!

 

[christinaland128]

He's too cute!

 

[symplestytches]

during his bath yesterday he pooped! so i know he's eating something!

 

[peasinapod]

My tortoise tries to bite when he sees fingers in front of his face. I use that to check the inside of his mouth and sometimes even to get him to eat new things. The moment he tries to bite me I put a leaf of the good stuff into his mouth. Sometimes he then starts eating all of it, even the pile on the ground, sometimes he spits it out again.

The only healthy thing he knew for almost 60 years were dandelions. The one thing he loved instantly was plantain!

Some things he ignores certain plants for months and then suddendly eats them to the ground. So that happens as well.

 

[symplestytches]

i caught him trying to take a bite of a mallow flower!!! purple/red for the win!