Starvation/malnutrition effects in tortoises?

Yvonne G

Old Timer
TFO Admin
10 Year Member!
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Jan 23, 2008
Messages
93,405
Location (City and/or State)
Clovis, CA
Thing is the quantity I read that he should eat an amount about the size of his head but I give him that and he stares at me like I want more he eats 3x the size of his head..
That's not a good rule of thumb. Put out a pile of food the same size as your tortoise. If he eats it gone you didn't give him enough. If, at the end of the day there's still a lot left, you gave him too much.
 

Ketta

Active Member
Joined
May 7, 2019
Messages
224
Location (City and/or State)
Venezuela
That's not a good rule of thumb. Put out a pile of food the same size as your tortoise. If he eats it gone you didn't give him enough. If, at the end of the day there's still a lot left, you gave him too much.
Ok that one is better. Most of the days he eats it all.. that he actually "ask" for more by standing on the plate.. Lol also he is picky how do I solve that. ? For example I put him papaya pieces and arugula between those two he eats the arugula. He devours it. But if I put papaya and carrot pieces he goes for the papaya. o_O. for example between raddicchio and lettuce he goes for radicchio and then the lettuce. He doesn't like hibiscus flower but he did ate the hibiscus leaves. Because of his pickiness he sometimes leaves what he doesn't like. I tried what I read of giving him all mixed and he just smelled it tried to eat what he liked and because he couldn't he simply stopped eating. Then a few minutes later... He returns obviously hungry tries a bite or two but didn't like the taste :confused: so he goes to his hiding spot hungry and I feel bad so I end up granting his wishes by serving only something he does like! I feel like a slave...
 
Last edited:

TammyJ

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Jun 21, 2016
Messages
7,119
Location (City and/or State)
Jamaica
Ok that one is better. Most of the days he eats it all.. that he actually "ask" for more by standing on the plate.. Lol also he is picky how do I solve that. ? For example I put him papaya pieces and arugula between those two he eats the arugula. He devours it. But if I put papaya and carrot pieces he goes for the papaya. o_O. for example between raddicchio and lettuce he goes for radicchio and then the lettuce. He doesn't like hibiscus flower but he did ate the hibiscus leaves. Because of his pickiness he sometimes leaves what he doesn't like. I tried what I read of giving him all mixed and he just smelled it tried to eat what he liked and because he couldn't he simply stopped eating. Then a few minutes later... He returns obviously hungry tries a bite or two but didn't like the taste :confused: so he goes to his hiding spot hungry and I feel bad so I end up granting his wishes by serving only something he does like! I feel like a slave...
You will a good, obedient and humble slave if you keep on like this with him. It will be stressful for you. All you have to do is follow the correct redfoot diet sheet and vary his diet every day with a few different items, and give him a big pile every morning and remove any leftovers every evening. I am not an expert, but that is what I do, what I have been told to do and my redfoots are doing great.
 

Ketta

Active Member
Joined
May 7, 2019
Messages
224
Location (City and/or State)
Venezuela
Leek
1558723409019-373189299.jpg Chives
155872346566221515914.jpg
You will a good, obedient and humble slave if you keep on like this with him. It will be stressful for you. All you have to do is follow the correct redfoot diet sheet and vary his diet every day with a few different items, and give him a big pile every morning and remove any leftovers every evening. I am not an expert, but that is what I do, what I have been told to do and my redfoots are doing great.
Lol... yeah I feel like an slave already.. do you feed chives and leek to your Tortoises?
 

Ketta

Active Member
Joined
May 7, 2019
Messages
224
Location (City and/or State)
Venezuela
You will a good, obedient and humble slave if you keep on like this with him. It will be stressful for you. All you have to do is follow the correct redfoot diet sheet and vary his diet every day with a few different items, and give him a big pile every morning and remove any leftovers every evening. I am not an expert, but that is what I do, what I have been told to do and my redfoots are doing great.
Yes i try to vary his diet as much as possible for example today he ate cucumber with a basil leave, rocket flowers and papaya.. And after I arrived from uni I gave him an arugula leave.
 
Last edited:

TammyJ

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Jun 21, 2016
Messages
7,119
Location (City and/or State)
Jamaica
Are they toxic to them? I haven't either but just want to make sure before I feed any of that to him.
I don't know about toxic but I don't think these are recommended foods. These tortoises eat such a varied diet...they don't need chives and leek anyway. These are strong seasonings. Just check out the redfoot diet sheet.
 

Ketta

Active Member
Joined
May 7, 2019
Messages
224
Location (City and/or State)
Venezuela
I don't know about toxic but I don't think these are recommended foods. These tortoises eat such a varied diet...they don't need chives and leek anyway. These are strong seasonings. Just check out the redfoot diet sheet.
They aren't in there.
 

Lyn W

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Jul 22, 2014
Messages
23,497
Location (City and/or State)
UK
If I remember rightly anything with bulbs shouldn't be fed.
According to the Tortoise Table onions and chives are classed as do not feed, they don't mention leeks but I would err on the side of caution and if in doubt leave it out until you know for sure.
www.thetortoisetable.org.uk is a good guide.
 

Ketta

Active Member
Joined
May 7, 2019
Messages
224
Location (City and/or State)
Venezuela
If I remember rightly anything with bulbs shouldn't be fed.
According to the Tortoise Table onions and chives are classed as do not feed, they don't mention leeks but I would err on the side of caution and if in doubt leave it out until you know for sure.
www.thetortoisetable.org.uk is a good guide.
Ok good to know...
 

Ketta

Active Member
Joined
May 7, 2019
Messages
224
Location (City and/or State)
Venezuela
I have the tortoise table app now... but there are things there that say to not feed or feed sparingly and in the Red Foot care sheet says it's ok to feed.
 

Cheryl Hills

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Jan 1, 2016
Messages
2,334
Location (City and/or State)
Youngstown, Ohio
The tortoise table is very conservative. Red foots can eat a lot of things that other torts can not eat. Go by the care sheet on this forum, it will not steer you wrong.
 

Randdawgg

New Member
Joined
May 13, 2019
Messages
14
Location (City and/or State)
West Kelowna BC
The poor color was probably from being kept too dry. Their color shows a lot better when they're hydrated.
I think getting torts in the sun is underestimated.I have a 6 month african leopard tort and I cant believe how active he is when outside.With shade and water I hope to have him out till late in the fall.Did you guys know that african leopard torts are one of the few species that will swim to find new habitat.
 

Ketta

Active Member
Joined
May 7, 2019
Messages
224
Location (City and/or State)
Venezuela
This is one of the tortoises of my mom's friend... s/He is almost 4 years old.
It shares space with other rf tortoise. They are both rf.
They are 100% outdoor tortoises. And both are pyramiding.
 
Last edited:

Ketta

Active Member
Joined
May 7, 2019
Messages
224
Location (City and/or State)
Venezuela
This is one of the tortoises of my mom's friend... s/He is almost 4 years old.
It shares space with other rf tortoise. They are both rf.
They are 100% outdoor tortoises. And both are pyramiding.
It's a male right?..1559255957736.jpeg
 

Ketta

Active Member
Joined
May 7, 2019
Messages
224
Location (City and/or State)
Venezuela
Too young I think. Interesting though that you live in their natural range yet they are still Pyramiding being raised outdoors. Do you have any pics of the carapace?
Nope but I'm going back to my mom's friend house this week. Or maybe in the weekend. The one in the picture weights 1.2 kgs.
Couldn't weight the other one. But I will next time I go there.
Yup probably because where they live is quite cold (14° C) it's a mountain... And they(owners) don't pay attention if its cold or not... maybe that's why they are pyramiding?
Keto was beginning to pyramiding when I got him but i stopped it by raising humidity in his enclosure also by keeping him in warmest place of my apartment.
Also diet might be a factor... cause they only get lettuce.
 
Last edited:
Top