Intro - new owner - diet

Hi, I have been lucky enough to acquire a beautiful 60 year old girl but I am told that all she eats are peas - yet I read that these are dangerous for her! Is it more dangerous to change her diet?

Hi, and welcome to the Forum!

What species of tortoise have you been lucky enough to acquire? (peas aren't healthy for any species, but in order to steer you in the right direction, we'll need to know what kind he is)

Can we see a picture?

Hello ! Welcome

Welcome to the tortoise forum !

When we find out what kind of tortoise you have we can help with advising better feeding ideas.

Our sulcata, who weighs over 100 pounds, eats a large amount of dry hay and fresh cut grass. Anything green he sees he must taste, which usually leads to devouring.

Once again, welcome to the forum !

I am picking her up tomorrow. I'll take a picture. I presume she is just a normal Mediterranean tortoise - the sort that's lots of uk people used to have in their gardens.

Willowa said:

I am picking her up tomorrow. I'll take a picture. I presume she is just a normal Mediterranean tortoise - the sort that's lots of uk people used to have in their gardens.

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Hi

It sounds like you're probably getting a Greek like my Joe. We have had him in the UK for 46 years

If so, and the picture will tell us, her diet is leafy greens - weeds and garden plants are best. She cannot digest sugars properly so fruit, tomato, pepper, etc should only be fed occasionally.

These guides will help you to start with - we will come back with more once we know for certain

Beginner Mistakes:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/

Outdoor Accommodation in the UK:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/outdoor-accommodation-in-a-colder-uk-climate.140866/

The Tortoise Table Plant Database - fantastic for looking up plants that grow around you, and those that you can buy, to see if they're suitable to feed. There's a plant identification booklet you can download from the site and also and android app too.
http://thetortoisetable.org.uk/site/plant_database_14.asp

Here she is, eating her illicit peas. If she has been living in them I am a bit worried abut changing her diet suddenly.

Wow! She looks great!

Hope I look that good when I'm 60!

Willowa said:

Here she is, eating her illicit peas. If she has been living in them I am a bit worried abut changing her diet suddenly.

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Well you have a fine Greek there. A shot of her plastron (undershell) will confirm

Don't force her off the peas just yet as she is in a new home and torts are terrible at adapting to change.

Once she seems settled try to cut down on the peas and mix them in with things she should be eating. Put them on the lawn on top of a dandelion or some clover for example so she ends up eating that as well by accident

Is that a Greek or a Russian?

Cheryl Hills said:

Is that a Greek or a Russian?

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Given the age and history she's likely to be Greek. Looks very like my Joe. I'm pretty sure she's TGG, but need to see the plastron

Thank you. I'll take a picture of her undercarriage tomorrow!

Got her - this is 'princess' Horace's plastron

She's beautiful.

Hi. welcome to the Forum

Willowa said:

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Thanks for posting the underside. I do no know a Greek from a Russian. Someone knowledgeable will give the final verdict soon. Congratulations on being a new tortoise owner !

Willowa said:

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I'm still with Testudo Graeca Graeca but @HermanniChris would know for sure

This is quite a useful guide to the differences.