Young Sulcata Diet

[Sp0oK3!]

So I got it about 3 weeks ago and have been feeding it solely romaine with calcium powder daily as requested by the breeder. I’ve researched and have learned that wrong and I want to feed him better food. So I need confirmation on the info I’ve gathered. One:grass of any kinds should be its main daily food. Two: Often or possibly daily? I should supply it with interchanging types of weeds. All I have around here that I know of is clovers and dandelions(Is that a problem?) and 3: Romaine and lettuces can still be used just in small amount once or twice a week. Another major question I have is about calcium powder use. As I live in Louisiana our soil is very wet leaving our grass lacking in calcium will this effect the amount of times I use the calcium powder? Will it need to remain a daily supplement? Another question is should I invest in a tortoise block at 2-3 month old to supply for missing calcium from grass. Also what in its diet would provide phosphor?

 

[Tom]

So I got it about 3 weeks ago and have been feeding it solely romaine with calcium powder daily as requested by the breeder. I’ve researched and have learned that wrong and I want to feed him better food. So I need confirmation on the info I’ve gathered. One:grass of any kinds should be its main daily food. Two: Often or possibly daily? I should supply it with interchanging types of weeds. All I have around here that I know of is clovers and dandelions(Is that a problem?) and 3: Romaine and lettuces can still be used just in small amount once or twice a week. Another major question I have is about calcium powder use. As I live in Louisiana our soil is very wet leaving our grass lacking in calcium will this effect the amount of times I use the calcium powder? Will it need to remain a daily supplement? Another question is should I invest in a tortoise block at 2-3 month old to supply for missing calcium from grass. Also what in its diet would provide phosphor?

They should not be getting calcium every day. That will cause an imbalance and the likely result is substrate or rock eating. Twice a week should be plenty.

Romaine by itself is not a good tortoise food. Romaine can be used as a great delivery vehicle to get the right amendments into your tortoise to add fiber, nutrition and variety.

There are loads of good mortise foods all around you in LA. You'll have to learn to ID your weeds and find other good stuff like mulberry or grape leaves, hibiscus leaves and flowers, and a wide assortment of weeds. How about kudzu? Do you have that near you?

All the food and feeding info is in these threads:

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