Dou Miao (Pea Shoots)

[Fion]

Hi there,

My star tort has been consuming long beans (only) for the past 9 years -according to the previous owner...so far no health issue. On the contrary, appears to be very healthy. He stubbornly refused to eat other veggies even if I starved him for a few days.

Recently, I tried pea shoots and surprisingly he does not reject them.

I need to know if pea shoots are safe to be consumed by star tortoises?

Any reply will be appreciated. Thank you.

 

[Laura]

I would say too much protien for the only food source, but I dont know what a starz diet should be.. good start tho to maybe get him onto other things... Spring Mix.?

 

[Yvonne G]

I don't know a single thing about Star tortoises, so you can take my advice, or leave it.

When a tortoise is fixated on only one particular food, one way to get them to eat a more rounded diet is to chop up a little bit of the kind of foods you are trying to convert the diet to, chop it up very, very small. Then mix this little portion into the beans and pea shoots. Mix it up really well. Once a week you increase the amount of the good food and decrease the amount of beans and pea shoots. But you can't make the change too quickly. It took me a year to convert one of my Manouria tortoises to a healthy diet. So just take your time, and you can eventually get your Star eating a more rounded diet.

Yvonne

 

[Fion]

Had tried Spring Mix many times, but no luck...

Great idea Yvonne....ok, will do what you advice. But, need to know if pea shoots are poisonous to star tort. Any idea??

 

[egyptiandan]

Pea shoots aren't poisonous.

Danny

 

[Malaefic]

Had tried Spring Mix many times, but no luck...

Great idea Yvonne....ok, will do what you advice. But, need to know if pea shoots are poisonous to star tort. Any idea??

Not poisonous but protein content is too high

 

[Fion]

Thanks guys, got it.

Can I just buy any veggie in the suppermarket or must it be organic

 

[Malaefic]

Thanks guys, got it.

Can I just buy any veggie in the suppermarket or must it be organic

Better to stick to organic.
Feed it a mix of lettuce (any variety except for iceberg), watercress, edible cactus pads are good too, Endives, Mustard Greens (eg. Chye Sim, Xiao Bai Cai, Bok Choye, Nai Bai)

If possible, feed them homegrown hibiscus and rose plant, homegrown without use of chemicals. The leaves and the flowers of these 2 plants are also good for them.

If you can get your hands on Mazuri Tortoise Pellets, that is even better. What you do is crumble it into tiny crumbs and sprinkle a little over their veggies.

And do not feed them spinach

 

[Freshy]

Long beans for 9 years!

Could you take a photo of the star tortoise and share it with us here?

Thanks!

 

[Fion]

Thanks for your valuable advice Malaefic.

I will post a picture of my star, but will need time to figure out how to post pictures. I am new

 

[Malaefic]

Thanks for your valuable advice Malaefic.

I will post a picture of my star, but will need time to figure out how to post pictures. I am new

I'm new here too
You can upload yr photo onto photobucket and post it here using the

tags

 

[fstyle28]

Dou miao is high in protein I second that.

Long beans and wu gui dou too.

 

[Fion]

Hi all,

Here are the pictures of my star tort that took long beans for the past nine years.

http://gi0006.photobucket.com/groups/0006/LD04RX5GAW/128.jpg

http://gi0006.photobucket.com/groups/0006/LD04RX5GAW/125-1.jpg

 

[rad8ted92083]

Hi all,

Here are the pictures of my star tort that took long beans for the past nine years.

http://gi0006.photobucket.com/groups/0006/LD04RX5GAW/128.jpg

http://gi0006.photobucket.com/groups/0006/LD04RX5GAW/125-1.jpg

What a beautiful animal

 

[Kymiie]

food list

RED CLOVER LEAVES & FLOWERS
BRAMBLE LEAVES & FRUIT
WHITE CLOVER LEAVES & FLOWERS
RYE GRASS (WHOLE PLANT)
TREFOIL LEAVES & FLOWERS
DAISY FLOWERS
PLANTAIN LEAVES APPLE (FLESH ONLY)
DANDELION LEAVES & FLOWERS
COS LETTUCE
SOW THISTLE (WHOLE PLANT)
GREEN CABBAGE LEAVES
RED DEAD NETTLES (WHOLE PLANT)
CAULIFLOWER INCLUDING THE LEAVES
WHITE DEAD NETTLES (WHOLE PLANT)
SPROUTS AND THE TOPS
BUTTERCUP LEAVES & FLOWERS
KALE LEAVES
HAWKBITS (WHOLE PLANT)
CARROT AND THE TOPS
HAWKWEEDS (WHOLE PLANT)
ENDIVE LEAVES
HAWKBEARDS (WHOLE PLANT)
ALFALFA INCLUDING THE SPROUTS
HONEYSUCKLE (WHOLE PLANT)
WATER CRESS (WHOLE PLANT)
CATS EARS (WHOLE PLANT)
TOMATO (FRUIT ONLY)
VETCH (WHOLE PLANT)
CUCUMBER FRUIT
MALLOW (WHOLE PLANT)
STRAWBERRY LEAVES & FRUIT
NETTLES (WHOLE PLANT)
CRESS
WILD CLEMATIS LEAVES & FLOWERS
MUSTARD (WHOLE PLANT)
CHICKWEED (WHOLE PLANT)
BUCKWHEAT (WHOLE PLANT)
DOCK LEAVES
SPRING GREENS
WEBBS LETTUCE
PURPLE SPROUTING LEAVES

all of the above can be in the diet but you must include

WILD GRASSES, HAY, ALFALFA, CORN ON THE COB


hope this helps huni

 

[Yvonne G]

OMG, Fion: Your tortoise is beautiful! I'm surprised she looks so good after a diet of long beans for such a long time! Thanks for sharing your photos with us. I love her!

Yvonne

 

[Fion]

I was also amazed that he look fine after taking beans for many years. I am still trying hard to convert his diet but so far, no avail. It is rather difficult, he dosen't seem to recognise other veggies as food but does take a few bites though.