Forgot to add, would this be natural to them if living in a dark dense rainforest, would there always be dried foliage for them in the wild.I'm starting to think my adults don't like FRESH greens. I've caught them in the past eating dried leaves on occasions. For the last 2 or 3 weeks aside from feeding them the norm I've been putting a pile of greens on the slab in there enclosure in the corner out of the way. It's always gone on the 3rd or 4th day. , and it's not slugs.
Can you post a photo of your torts please so someone can give you a positive ID. You need to be 100℅ sure what species you have for the correct care.I'm new to the forum but happy I found this thread. Now I'm positive that my tortoises are Homes hingebacks. I got them when they were about a week old. I'm also new to having tortoises.
A gorgeous homeana. How long you had him and what have you seen him eat?Here are the pictures you requested. These are of Seymour. A little young for sexing.View attachment 198136 View attachment 198137 View attachment 198138
Yours have a better diet than mine, mine won't eat dandelion or kale, my adults seem to want to only eat greens when it's 3 days old and nothing else is offered. Can you feed earthworms,slugs or snails instead of mealworms. Mealworms are poor calcium to phosphorus ratio unless you gut load them which is pointless if you can get earthworms easily. I don't use calcium powder ever, I rely on diet for calcium, so protein and cuttlebone. This way they eat it when they want it. Sounds like you are using it way to much. Sprinkle a bit on twice a week, not every day. Too much and you may end up with kidney stones or constipation. If you have been giving calcium every day be sure to soak your guy every day too, this will stop any potential blockages.I've had him and another one (Otis) since September 2017. He weighed 20g and Otis weighed 17g. They are now 68g & 58g. They eat just about everything I give them. Some things more than others. They eat butternut squash, collard greens, dandelion greens, kale (Lacianto is favorite), papaya,pear, cucumber, celery, strawberries, spring mix, mushrooms. I try to offer foods that have a good calcium to phosphorous ratio and I sprinkle calcium with D3 over all of their foods. The items that are in bold are eaten more readily than others. They eat their favorites first and then eat the others before bed. I feed them mealworms and occasionally crickets 2-3 times a week. They are dusted with calcium also.
There is a some conflicting information on line on what is acceptable to feed them. Please let me know if this is a suitable diet for them. If they see me in the evening they both will come towards me with their mouths open wanting mealworms. I have small plastic tongs to keep them from biting my fingers. They don't like to turn loose.