did I do a bad?

[Tobie Stann]

Hi, I'm new here. I was searching the Web for some dietary info for my spur thighed, and I came across this treasure trove of info. In reading, I think I may have been doing some no-no's with my Turk. (S)He is roughly 8yo, I don't have a precise measurement but last I weighed he was 7 lbs give or take. I live in NE Florida and during the summer let him roam the back yard. We have St. Augustine grass, clover, and other normal weeds. I noticed this past fall he doesn't eat so much of the grass, and once the clover is gone, he will start eating dog poop.
I've tried keeping him penned, HA! Even if I put food out, Romain and other greens, peppers, fruit; I can still catch him being nasty. Now I read that St. Augy grass isn't even on the recommended diet list. Between that and the dog poop I'm concerned that I may have messed up. This past summer was the first time he had been out all summer, day and night.
Any advice, finger shakes, or "it's okay"s? Please and thanks in advanced.

 

[Yvonne G]

Hi and welcome to the Forum!

My first thought - why in the heck don't you pick up the dog poop? This should be done daily and maybe even more than once a day. I follow my dog around with a shovel until she's done her job, then I can put the shovel away and just let her be a dog.

We really don't condone feeding dog poop to vegetarian tortoises, however, I'm sure that in the wild if they come across a pile of wild animal poo they probably do sample it.

The St. Augustine grass is fine. It's usually not on the list because it doesn't grow everywhere.

Read our care sheet that's pinned at the top of the Greek section. There are some food choices listed there for you.

 

[russian/sulcata/tortoise]

welcome to the forum. can you post some pics of your tort? fruit should not be part of your tortoises diet, he diet should be misty grasses and nontoxic weeds.

 

[Tobie Stann]

Hi and welcome to the Forum!

My first thought - why in the heck don't you pick up the dog poop? This should be done daily and maybe even more than once a day. I follow my dog around with a shovel until she's done her job, then I can put the shovel away and just let her be a dog.

We really don't condone feeding dog poop to vegetarian tortoises, however, I'm sure that in the wild if they come across a pile of wild animal poo they probably do sample it.

The St. Augustine grass is fine. It's usually not on the list because it doesn't grow everywhere.

Read our care sheet that's pinned at the top of the Greek section. There are some food choices listed there for you.

Aside from the tortoise we have three dogs on a 1/4 acre. And I have two toddlers, I can't really follow around around the mastiff, lab, and chihuahua. I can't dig down to secure the pen because it's a rental property. I came looking for help, not for criticism on my yard work. And it's not an intentional part of his diet. I mean at least I'm trying, i would take him to the vet if there were any outward signs something was wrong but there isn't.

I've checked out the multiple food lists you have pinned. But I've also seen where a good variation is key. And I know fruit isn't supposed to be center of the diet,it's not. But he does get an occasion peach or banana.
Thanks anyways I guess.

 

[russian/sulcata/tortoise]

Aside from the tortoise we have three dogs on a 1/4 acre. And I have two toddlers, I can't really follow around around the mastiff, lab, and chihuahua. I can't dig down to secure the pen because it's a rental property. I came looking for help, not for criticism on my yard work. And it's not an intentional part of his diet. I mean at least I'm trying, i would take him to the vet if there were any outward signs something was wrong but there isn't.

I've checked out the multiple food lists you have pinned. But I've also seen where a good variation is key. And I know fruit isn't supposed to be center of the diet,it's not. But he does get an occasion peach or banana.
Thanks anyways I guess.

where not trying to attack you

 

[wellington]

Hello,and Welcome. Don't take our responses wrong, remember, being on a forum and having to read a response, rather then hear it, well sometimes it can come off in a manner that is not intended. I only have one dog, no toddlers and I don't follow my dog to pic up its poop as soon as she does it either
If at all possible, section off a portion of the yard just for your tort. Then the dogs can't get to the tort or poop in its area. A varied diet is important. As much variety as you can. Fruit should not be fed, but a small piece as a treat once a month or so won't hurt anything.

 

[mike taylor]

Fruits should only be feed to get them to eat their meds . But there's better ways for that . As for dog poop its a no no . If your dogs are on a heart warmer this can kill your tortoise . If you can't dig down get you some blocks like the ones at Home Depot they are the two by eight by twelve blocks . Then use them to line the enclosure to keep him from digging out . You can use greens from the store just mix it up weekly and weeds and grasses . Tortoise table has good food list to get you going . Fix a place in your yard that the dogs can't go . We have seen many tortoises killed by dogs . Check out the care tips at the top of the sulcata section . Thats if you're talking about an African spir thighed . Post pictures of your tortoise and enclosure we will be able to help you find cheap eazy ways to help you more . Ps don't take Yvonne wrong she's a really nice person when you get to know her . It's hard to come across as a sweet person by typing.

 

[pam]

Hang in there we are all here to help you and your tortoise

 

[Yvonne G]

You DID say in your very first post that "finger shakes" were ok, that's why I felt it was ok to shake my finger at you.

Now please don't take this wrong, because you are not the only person who doesn't clean up after their dogs, but in my opinion, keeping dogs and cleaning up after them is just as important as cleaning up after your tortoise, and should be taken into consideration before the dog is ever brought home. You poop, it gets flushed. The dog poops, it should be picked up and disposed of. This is a fact of life.

Ok, off my soap box now!

 

[mike taylor]

Yvonne you are on a roll with the whoopins! Haha I make dog poop cleaning my kids job . He has a poop scoop and a bucket . Over the fence and in the horse field it goes .

 

[tortdad]

Yvonne you are on a roll with the whoopins! Haha I make dog poop cleaning my kids job . He has a poop scoop and a bucket . Over the fence and in the horse field it goes .

My brother and I used to pick it up and sometimes through it over the fence into the neighbors yard and they didn't even have a dog.

 

[tortdad]

Hi, I'm new here. I was searching the Web for some dietary info for my spur thighed, and I came across this treasure trove of info. In reading, I think I may have been doing some no-no's with my Turk. (S)He is roughly 8yo, I don't have a precise measurement but last I weighed he was 7 lbs give or take. I live in NE Florida and during the summer let him roam the back yard. We have St. Augustine grass, clover, and other normal weeds. I noticed this past fall he doesn't eat so much of the grass, and once the clover is gone, he will start eating dog poop.
I've tried keeping him penned, HA! Even if I put food out, Romain and other greens, peppers, fruit; I can still catch him being nasty. Now I read that St. Augy grass isn't even on the recommended diet list. Between that and the dog poop I'm concerned that I may have messed up. This past summer was the first time he had been out all summer, day and night.
Any advice, finger shakes, or "it's okay"s? Please and thanks in advanced.

My sulcata eats St. Augustine grass all day, it's fine

 

[mike taylor]

You like this newt? Because this would be your job here . Haha My 19 year old comes by and I make him do it too .

 

[Tom]

Goodness gracious. We are all friends here and Yvonne is one of the coolest human beings on the planet. You are either WAYYYYYYY to sensitive to be on a public forum, or you just took that the wrong way. I hope its the latter.

Moving on:

We like to help tortoises here and give tips in order to accomplish that goal. Here are my tips:
1. Stop feeding fruit. Its not good for them and they don't need it.
2. Section off a portion of the yard for the tortoise and keep the dogs out of there. Certain medication given to dogs can kill the tortoise, and over time the poop is not good for them either. Further, many tortoises are mauled by dogs. Best to keep them separated. Believe me, nobody whose tortoise was chewed up by their dog thought their dog would ever do such a thing. Simple solution is to section off a portion of the yard for the tortoise. You can use cinderblock for this purpose. No need to dig down. Check it out: http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/enclosure-expansion.38788/
3. When you say "7 pound spur thigh", I'm going to guess you are talking about and African spur thigh (sulcata) and not a greek tortoise. Am I right? What are you using to house your sulcata outside over night? Need some night box suggestions?

Welcome to the forum. We like to have fun here, so don't be so darn serious.