High Fiber "Treat" Foods

MPRC

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Hello hello! I am continuing my feeding battle with Vern the Redfoot who was raised on canned peaches and dry 'grassland' tortoise kibble.

I've made a couple small victories and gotten him to eat a little bit of Mazuri, but he turns his nose up at anything else that is supposed to be healthy.

I was wondering what sweet treats are going to be the healthiest items to blend into his food while I wean him onto a healthy diet? - especially higher fiber options because shoveling loose tortoise poo is unpleasant in the instances when I catch him before he tries to eat it again. *gag*

Today he had a mix that was probably 1/3 raspberry and peaches, 1/3 mazuri, and 1/3 finely chopped collared, romaine, radicchio, chard, carrot and butter lettuce but he's managed to pick around almost all of the greens. I left the bowl with just the greens and bits of sticky mushy mazuri for about 2 hours and then added a bit more peach juice and mazuri and he ate a little more.

All advice is welcome. I know in my past life as a vet assistant we recommended pumpkin and banana as options to firm up dogs, cats and omnivorous lizards, but I wasn't sure if either of those were good options.

I just want to make the stubborn brat be healthy.
 

Jodie

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Pumpkin is good as a treat. I don't know much about Redfoots though so will let others with more knowledge chime in with other options.
 

MPRC

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Well, I'll pop open a can and see how that goes. My bearded dragon is going to be excited, even if Vern doesn't appreciate it.

Last night he discovered that if he is very careful he can pick blackberries off the vine - so I spent the evening making sure he wasn't finding a hiding spot in the blackberry bushes while I picked a ton to freeze as winter treats (for the critters and for us!)
 

jroy

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Any luck @LaDukePhoto ? I've got a home's hingeback tortoise who does the same thing! My vet suggested taking away all the fruit (since that's what he loves) and only feeding him the healthy stuff. Worked for a while but he's being picky again...I hope you're having better luck than I am!
 

MPRC

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@jroy - He seems to like the pumpkin. Yesterday he had a handful of Mazuri, about 1/8 cup of pumpkin, about 6 blackberries and a miniscule amount of greens. For a critter without fingers he sure is good at picking out the greens.

I am at least feeling a little hopeful since he has been eating SOMETHING!
 

Merrick

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Some tortoises like water melon as well but it is more to keep them hydrated
 
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