Diet

[LeeMurgatroyd]

Hello all!

I'm new to the forum,my name is lee and i have two hermanns, adorable little things I've already learnt a lot from this forum!

Basically i want opinions about my tortoises diets. I've had them for nearly two years now and they have basic lettuce, watercress and tomato on occasions,as well as weeds. Basically i wish to have some comments regarding any weeds that may be advisable or any diet ideas anyone may have please?

 

[Yvonne G]

Hi Lee:

Welcome to the Tortoise Forum!!

Do you feel comfortable telling us appx. where in the world you are?

I copied this from Austin's Turtle Page for you:

"The best diet is a natural one that allows the tortoise to graze on various weeds and greens. Such things as dandelion, bindweed, opuntia cactus, sedum, plantains (the weed, not the fruit known as plaintain), coreopsis, hibiscus, mulberry leaves, California poppy, mallow, honeysuckle, some vetches, some clovers, bermuda grass, and many other wildflowers and weeds can be grown in an outdoor tortoise pen. It is also possible to grow many wildflowers and weeds indoors and in greenhouses so that your tortoise does not have to rely on grocery store greens, especially in winter. Anything the tortoise might graze on must be pesticide free.

If fed grocery store produce, it should be mixed into a salad and may include endive, escarole, shredded carrot, kale, opuntia, occasional romaine, and occasional pumpkin. The mixed salad diet is low in fiber so it is helpful to sprinkle with bermuda grass hay that has been ground to a powder (a coffee grinder works well). Dust the food with calcium daily, and if the tortoise isn't kept outdoors in natural sunlight, also use a combination calcium-D3 product a couple of times a week. It is also helpful to keep a cuttlebone (with the back removed) in the enclosure so your tortoise can nibble on it if she or he feels the need for more calcium.

Foods to avoid (or to use in very *tiny* amounts) because they interfere with the uptake of calcium: spinach, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, beans, peas, cauliflower, collard greens, beet greens, turnip greens, mustard greens. Fruit also should be avoided because the hermanns tortoise's digestive system can't process it."

 

[LeeMurgatroyd]

Of course, i live in a town called Yeovil, Somerset in the UK.

Thats very helpful, thank you. I give my guys tomato about once a week or once every two weeks, would you advise against this?

I have read on this forum about the use of babyfood carrots, do you know much about this at all?

Finally, is there much literature you can reccomend? i have 3 books and e-books and care sheets but i am always looking to expand this to know as much as i can!

Thanks

 

[Yvonne G]

The baby food soaks are only for baby tortoises that aren't eating.

 

[LeeMurgatroyd]

Right, thanks very much, big help, cant wait to use the forum more and do some more posting!