Mazuri

AgataP

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Hey guys,
I am reading that there is Mazuri (called original one I guess) and there is the Mazuri LS.
I have the LS - it’s not main food for Herbie more so add on to his weeds.
Is there a difference between the two and does it impact directly tortoise health.
Thank you
 

Hamiltondood

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the mazuri LS (low starch) can NOT be soaked in water, most tortoises dont like it
the regular mazuri CAN be soaked in water, to me, it smells kind of like fish food but you get used to it.
 

AgataP

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Oh I soaked it, made it into small wet chunks and Herbie eats it. Has few bites out of 3 and than picks whatever he feels like it, I throw the rest of it away.
 

AgataP

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But does it impact tortoises diet ?
I would think less starch for sulcata would be better as they are grass monsters ... or is that a wrong logic?
 

Tom

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Long story...

Mazuri is a great supplemental food. They invented it decades ago for Galapgos tortoises in zoos. I don't think its great as a primary food source, but I think it produces good results when used supplementally in addition to an otherwise good, varied, high fiber diet.

Do they "need" it? No. Is it good for them? My experience says yes. The ingredients list of original Mazuri impresses no one, but the results from feeding it to your tortoise are favorable for everyone who uses it. I think of it as giving them a little "boost" of vitamins and nutrition.

In focus groups made up of ignorant pet owners who make decisions based on emotion and unfounded opinions they see on YouTube, and possibly some influence from the crazy FB people, Mazuri found that people who read their ingredients list and protein content did not find their product favorable. None of these people had any experience with feeding the actual product to actual living tortoises, none had done any feeding trials or experimentation, but they said they wouldn't buy it. This prompted Mazuri to invent a new product that appealed to the ignorant focus group pet owners. The new product looked much better on paper, but it was difficult to use and most tortoises didn't like it. Still, the focus groups gave it the thumbs up based on words on paper, and here we are. Nothing wrong with the new LS version, and most tortoises can be switched on to it like any new food, but I prefer the original, and so do my tortoises. The only way I could get my hungry sulcatas to eat the LS was by mixing it with soaked regular Mazuri. I fed out the free samples I was given that way, and haven't tried it again since then. The pieces were too big for small torts, and since it didn't get mushy when soaked, I'd have to run it through a food processor of some sort to be bale to use it. No thank you. I'd feed it out to my tortoises if someone ave me some, but I wouldn't buy the LS type.

I feed regular Mazuri to all my tortoises of all sizes and ages once or twice a week most of the time. I used to be one of the people who railed against any sort of "fake" prepared foods, but so many people whose opinions I respected recommended it, that I decided to give it a try. That was probably 10 years ago, and I go through a 25 pound bag every 2 or 3 months now.
 

AgataP

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@Tom thank you so much for the explanation. I will order a bag of the original Mazuri for Herbie pronto!

I am feeding him few a week just so he is use to it in “emergency” food situation. He is also showing some interest in dried dandelion leaves which makes me happy as I can preserve some.
 

ZEROPILOT

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Were you able to find smaller bags? Or did you get 25lbs?
The 5M21 formula is usually only sold in 25lb bags.
If so, bag it up into 1 gallon Zip Lock bags and freeze it. The portion that you are using can be kept in an airtight container with a lid at room temperature.
This way. It'll last for months and allow you to use it all.
Don't be afraid to use it.
It's a great product.
 

AgataP

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Were you able to find smaller bags? Or did you get 25lbs?
The 5M21 formula is usually only sold in 25lb bags.
If so, bag it up into 1 gallon Zip Lock bags and freeze it. The portion that you are using can be kept in an airtight container with a lid at room temperature.
This way. It'll last for months and allow you to use it all.
Don't be afraid to use it.
It's a great product.

I found a 1.5lb bag on Amazon confirmed that it is the 5M21 formula. It was 20$ which might be pricey however if Herbie likes it I will order a bigger batch, vacuum seal and as you recommend will freeze.

400B9905-04E2-424F-AD44-1FDD16633DA9.jpeg
 

jsheffield

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Like Tom said, I think Mazuri is a good food, but I feed it as a supplement, a couple of times a week.

I often "melt" it in enough water to yield a substance the thickness of blue cheese (or ranch) dressing, and toss it with other stuff I'm feeding... in this capacity, I don't think it makes up more than 10% of their diets.

Jamie
 

AgataP

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Like Tom said, I think Mazuri is a good food, but I feed it as a supplement, a couple of times a week.

I often "melt" it in enough water to yield a substance the thickness of blue cheese (or ranch) dressing, and toss it with other stuff I'm feeding... in this capacity, I don't think it makes up more than 10% of their diets.

Jamie

Herbie pretty much all he eats is what I grow, find or what my friends grow. I take seeds from the plants and trying to get them to grow. I just want to have something for winter time and to give it to Herbie probably ones a week, so he is use to it. Just wanted to make sure he gets what he needs. ❤️
 

jsheffield

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Herbie pretty much all he eats is what I grow, find or what my friends grow. I take seeds from the plants and trying to get them to grow. I just want to have something for winter time and to give it to Herbie probably ones a week, so he is use to it. Just wanted to make sure he gets what he needs. ❤️

In the winter I use it to bolster the nutritional shortcomings of sorting mix when all of my weeds are under snow.

J
 
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