Tips on helping my tortoise lose weight

[Hankilloh]

I honestly didn't pay attention to how much food I have my little guy but recently I measured and weighed him and it turns out he's quite a bit over weight. I generally feed him kale and then once or twice a week also give him fruit. Is there any special way to help him lose weight or should I just gradually lessen the amount I feed him?

 

[MPRC]

Can we see some photos? On a healthy diet most tortoises can't over-eat.

 

[Hankilloh]

He's not that big I just don't want him to suffer cuz I feed him too much or something

 

[Yvonne G]

Exercise, exercise and more exercise. The main problem people have with food and tortoises isn't the amount he eats, it's too small a habitat so he doesn't get enough exercise.

 

[Tom]

I honestly didn't pay attention to how much food I have my little guy but recently I measured and weighed him and it turns out he's quite a bit over weight. I generally feed him kale and then once or twice a week also give him fruit. Is there any special way to help him lose weight or should I just gradually lessen the amount I feed him?

This is not a good diet. Kale is not toxic, but it should only be fed once in a while. A russian should never eat fruit. The sugars are not good for their intestinal flora and fauna. They should be eating certain broadleaf weeds, leaves, flowers and succulents. If you feed the right foods, and house them correctly, they will not get over weight.

Also, Are we talking about the tortoise in your avatar? That is not a russian.

Either way, check these out:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/russian-tortoise-care-sheet.80698/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/

 

[Hankilloh]

This is not a good diet. Kale is not toxic, but it should only be fed once in a while. A russian should never eat fruit. The sugars are not good for their intestinal flora and fauna. They should be eating certain broadleaf weeds, leaves, flowers and succulents. If you feed the right foods, and house them correctly, they will not get over weight.

Also, Are we talking about the tortoise in your avatar? That is not a russian.

Either way, check these out:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/russian-tortoise-care-sheet.80698/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/

he's a Hermanns tortoise idk why it posted in the Russians section lol but the pet store had told me kale was healthy so went off that but maybe I need to find something else thank you

 

[Hankilloh]

Exercise, exercise and more exercise. The main problem people have with food and russian tortoises isn't the amount he eats, it's too small a habitat so he doesn't get enough exercise.

What's the best way to accomplish that?

 

[Tom]

he's a Hermanns tortoise idk why it posted in the Russians section lol but the pet store had told me kale was healthy so went off that but maybe I need to find something else thank you

Kale is healthy as a small part of a varied diet, but it should not be a staple that is fed often and in large amounts.

FYI, Pet stores are a bad place to get care info for tortoises. Few of them know what they are talking about and they sell products that are unnecessary and in some cases harmful. Did they sell you one of those ramped water bowls? How about a cfl type UV bulb?

Here is a list of good foods for your tortoise. They will not be found at a grocery store:
Mulberry leaves
Grape vine leaves
Hibiscus leaves
African hibiscus leaves
Blue hibiscus leaves
Rose of Sharon leaves
Rose leaves
Geraniums
Gazanias
Lavatera
Pansies
Petunias
Hostas
Honeysuckle
Cape honeysuckle
Leaves and blooms from any squash plant, like pumpkin, cucumber, summer squash, etc...
Young spineless opuntia cactus pads

Weeds:
There are soooooooo many...
Dandelion
Mallow
Filaree
Smooth Sow thistle
Prickly Sow thistle
Milk thistle
Goat head weed
Cats ear
Nettles
Trefoil
Wild onion
Wild mustard
Wild Garlic
Clovers
Broadleaf plantain
Narrow leaf plantain
Chick weed
Hawksbit
Hensbit
Hawksbeard

Other good stuff:
"Testudo Seed Mix" from http://www.tortoisesupply.com/SeedMixes
Pasture mixes or other seeds from http://www.groworganic.com/seeds.html
Homegrown alfalfa
Mazuri Tortoise Chow
ZooMed Grassland Tortoise Food

 

[Hankilloh]

Kale is healthy as a small part of a varied diet, but it should not be a staple that is fed often and in large amounts.

FYI, Pet stores are a bad place to get care info for tortoises. Few of them know what they are talking about and they sell products that are unnecessary and in some cases harmful. Did they sell you one of those ramped water bowls? How about a cfl type UV bulb?

Here is a list of good foods for your tortoise. They will not be found at a grocery store:
Mulberry leaves
Grape vine leaves
Hibiscus leaves
African hibiscus leaves
Blue hibiscus leaves
Rose of Sharon leaves
Rose leaves
Geraniums
Gazanias
Lavatera
Pansies
Petunias
Hostas
Honeysuckle
Cape honeysuckle
Leaves and blooms from any squash plant, like pumpkin, cucumber, summer squash, etc...
Young spineless opuntia cactus pads

Weeds:
There are soooooooo many...
Dandelion
Mallow
Filaree
Smooth Sow thistle
Prickly Sow thistle
Milk thistle
Goat head weed
Cats ear
Nettles
Trefoil
Wild onion
Wild mustard
Wild Garlic
Clovers
Broadleaf plantain
Narrow leaf plantain
Chick weed
Hawksbit
Hensbit
Hawksbeard

Other good stuff:
"Testudo Seed Mix" from http://www.tortoisesupply.com/SeedMixes
Pasture mixes or other seeds from http://www.groworganic.com/seeds.html
Homegrown alfalfa
Mazuri Tortoise Chow
ZooMed Grassland Tortoise Food

Thank you very much and the reason I got him from a pet store is because I wanted to get him out of a bad place. I don't like the thought of animals at pet stores. This was very helpful which such a large list thank you

 

[Linhdan Nguyen]

Thank you very much and the reason I got him from a pet store is because I wanted to get him out of a bad place. I don't like the thought of animals at pet stores. This was very helpful which such a large list thank you

This is how i feel too !!

 

[Hankilloh]

This is how i feel too !!

I feel like if I'm gonna get a pet why not save one at the same time!