I currently have no space for the 55 gallon tote, I mean I plan to give him one but I currently live with my parents and the 20 long was the biggest I could get to fit somewhere

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I do plan to make him an outdoor enclosure by next summer but currently don't have the means (although I may be moved out by then so he can get his tote but not nessesarily the outdoor enclosure.) I'm also not sure if I feed him too much but I'll feed him one day then the next he wants nothing to do with it, I also currently have a bird cuttlebone in there (just so he has the option) I plan to get a

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Tortoise one but have to find one.

I think all cuttle bones are marketed for parrot keepers. We tortoise keepers just happen to need them, too. I remember going to a pet store a while back to buy a pack of cuttle bones, and the clerk got all excited because she thought she had a fellow bird-lover to chat with. When I told her it was for tortoises, she gave me this perplexed look, like she'd never heard of such a thing!

I know I saw some little ones at petsmart tho (but mostly petco is my choice since I'm a fish lover and iv noticed they know some stuff and fish iv got from petsmart came sick) and petcos closer lol. But I definately saw them before I got my Franklin, they were cute and little

Anyone ever fed a Russian broccoli?

(07-14-2012 07:39 PM)smarch Wrote:  Anyone ever fed a Russian broccoli?

Yes, I have a couple times. Broccoli is one of those plants you're not supposed to feed a tortoise, because it is high in oxalic acid. Also, given how tough it is, I didn't consider it edible. However, after someone else here on TFO said their Russian tortoise ate broccoli, I decided to try it for myself. Much to my surprise, both my Russians ate it! Probably not as avidly as other, leafier plants, but they did seem to like it. I won't make a habit of feeding it to them, but I might offer it again from time to time.

Noved32 ! juicy strawberry every two weeks will make a happy Russian even Happier! Lilith is practically a lap cat... Fruit is good; yes its a moderation thing or none at all. But if my friend found something that was awesome and only ate it the one time twice a month, you shouldn't stress.

(07-14-2012 08:31 PM)tyrs4u Wrote:  Noved32 ! juicy strawberry every two weeks will make a happy Russian even Happier! Lilith is practically a lap cat... Fruit is good; yes its a moderation thing or none at all. But if my friend found something that was awesome and only ate it the one time twice a month, you shouldn't stress.

I think giving fruit once a month or less is better.

So we consider tomato fruit? Iv read do many mixed opinions that it's part if their diet and that it's bad. I've currently stopped with the tomatoes and cucumbers and just stuck with romain lettuce and pea shutes. I just want to keep my franklin healthy

Yes, Tomato is a fruit, so less is better.
They need a lot of leafy, dark greens and weeds. They make like fruit, but it interferes with their digestion.

Start with Spring mix as a base, and supplement with different other healthy greens, or better yet this time of year, weeds.
A variety is very important.

http://russiantortoise.net/russiantortoisediet.htm

http://russiantortoise.net/edible_plants.htm

(07-15-2012 06:53 AM)smarch Wrote:  So we consider tomato fruit? Iv read do many mixed opinions that it's part if their diet and that it's bad. I've currently stopped with the tomatoes and cucumbers and just stuck with romain lettuce and pea shutes. I just want to keep my franklin healthy

Tomatoes are fruits because they contain seeds. The same goes for cucumbers and peppers; they are just less sweet than other fruits. In nature, herbivorous tortoises like Russians come across fruits and invertebrates only rarely. It's good for them to take advantage of these foods opportunistically, but not frequently.

Legumes like peas and clovers are not ideal plants for tortoises, because they are higher in protein than other forbs. They are also rich in phytic acid, which is an antinutrient - a compound that acts to take away other nutrients, in this case niacin. Legumes are fine for tortoises as part of a varied diet, but not when fed in large amounts.

You're going to need to give your little guy a heckuva lot more than Romaine lettuce and pea shoots. Again, they are fine as part of a more varied diet, but by themselves they do not offer nearly enough nutrition. Actually, as far as leafy greens go, cultivated lettuce is relatively nutrient-poor. You're going to want to add other greens, like endive, escarole, chicory, dandelion, wild lettuce, collard, arugula, turnip greens, mustard greens, etc. Tortoises need variety in their diet if they are to thrive.

Would I be able to get most of these at a supermarket? Living in MA makes it hard in the winter to really stick with weeds and such, and all out dandelions are long gone (right after I got him too!) I've read all sorts of books and everything had different opinions, and I wish I came across this forum earlier since obviously I'm going to trust keepers and breeders over a book and definately over petco! Also, as a supliment to the foods thAt I will be providing there's this food made by zoo med for 'grassland tortoises' and it says no pyramiding on it and everything has anyone tried this and would it be an ok supplement to leave a few in his dish between feedings (since I hate leaving him completely food less) I have this little pellet food that says for all land tortoises but he never touched it the fees times I through it in and then I read on here somewhere oats and grain and what were the first ingredients? Needless to say he's never seen those again. Is there a size ratio to go by to feed? And does food have to be little? I feel like since hes most likely WC that I shouldn't make things overly domesticated like I have baby romain and just throw them in his dish, he eats it he won't choke or anything right?


So I'm going tortoise food shopping tommorow at my grocery store what should I pick up? Also for food plate it's a saucer to put a plant pot on right? One of the clay ones? I want to make sure I don't get his beak overgrown, what do you all use/what have you tried that you liked/didn't like?

Yes, you can get a lot of greens at supermarkets. Ideally the organic section if they have one.
Spring mix, then radicchio, mustard greens, kale, collard greens, argula, bok choy, etc., are usuallly in supermarkets.

I like using a 12" square tile with a rough, rather than smooth surface. You can buy these individually as places like Home Depot and Lowe's, usually. Or, you can use a clay pot base, but I think a flat surface works better.

Thanks lynnedit I prefer the organic section for my little guy since i know there's more nutrition for him there. And he's a messy eater I feel like on a flat tile the food wound end up everywhere. But I do have tiles laying around here so I'll try it, no need for a specific type right? Can any hurt him? Like the colors on top or anything?

No, any tile should be fine!

One thing you might try is offering your tortoise a high-quality commercial food, like Mazuri Tortoise Diet. This product is used to feed giant tortoises in zoos, and is good for smaller pet tortoises, too.