TMK1971
Member
Grandpa Turtle 144 said:No I just wonder what we did 50 yrs ago without the internet ?
Alrighty...now I feel welcomed. Thank You. I was starting to worry and was checking the front door for the Pony Express to arrive!
Grandpa Turtle 144 said:No I just wonder what we did 50 yrs ago without the internet ?
Tom said:You need to start expanding the diet. Kale is okay once in a while, but not as a staple.
There is only a small amount of D3 in the calcium supplement. No harm in using it even if they get sun everyday.
No need for a heat lamp indoors in your house for overnight. A night time temp drop is good for them.
I would eliminate the sand entirely if possible. Feed him in a terra cotta plant saucer sunk into the substrate to keep the food sand free as much as possible.
Daily soaks for a while might also help this guy, given his current condition.
Here are some diet suggestions:
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
At the grocery store; favor endive, escarole and spring mix, but use lots of other variety too.
tortoisetime565 said:Welcome! I would love to see pictures on the tortoise as well as his anal scutes for sexing purposes. A soft shell is normally a lack of calcium. The sun is very good for him. With the heat lamp in the 40 gallon, I would add a uvb lamp to it as well for extra calcium and vitamin D. There is also this shell applicant called vita-shell. It is available at pet smart you could apply that. Also get some cuttle bone. This is a calcium stick they eat. It will also help with his beak. They are also available at pet smart. I do hope everything goes well.
tortoisetime565 said:Welcome! I would love to see pictures on the tortoise as well as his anal scutes for sexing purposes. A soft shell is normally a lack of calcium. The sun is very good for him. With the heat lamp in the 40 gallon, I would add a uvb lamp to it as well for extra calcium and vitamin D. There is also this shell applicant called vita-shell. It is available at pet smart you could apply that. Also get some cuttle bone. This is a calcium stick they eat. It will also help with his beak. They are also available at pet smart. I do hope everything goes well.