Feeding

[tortmomma417]

I have no idea how old my red foot is. He is about 6 inches long. How much should I be feeding him daily? Like I know what (ideally) to feed, but everyone always talks about how much these tortoises eat and mine doesn't. He currently eats 1 baby bella mushroom, 1 small chuck of cantaloupe (or one strawberry) and some collard greens each day. Usually, I even have to separate it all out throughout the day for him to eat it all. I've had him for 3 weeks and he has just started eating daily for me, really. Last week we tried half of a chopped boiled egg and the results were not pretty so I have not tried protein again just yet. Thanks in advance!

 

[wellington]

A much more varied diet is needed and I'm not sure fruit should be given every day to them. @ZEROPILOT can fill you in on a more proper variety of a diet and about the fruit given daily

 

[Korall]

Try mulberry leaves, hibiscus or grape leaves. Tortoises seem to like those and they can be part of a daily diet.

Remember that those are only the starting point of a varied diet, I would recommend checking out the tortoise plant database (Just google it) and picking out as many weeds and flowers from the "safe to feed" category as possible.
The more variation the better.

 

[Anyfoot]

I have no idea how old my red foot is. He is about 6 inches long. How much should I be feeding him daily? Like I know what (ideally) to feed, but everyone always talks about how much these tortoises eat and mine doesn't. He currently eats 1 baby bella mushroom, 1 small chuck of cantaloupe (or one strawberry) and some collard greens each day. Usually, I even have to separate it all out throughout the day for him to eat it all. I've had him for 3 weeks and he has just started eating daily for me, really. Last week we tried half of a chopped boiled egg and the results were not pretty so I have not tried protein again just yet. Thanks in advance!

There are many opinions on what, when and how much to feed.
Because you only have one tortoise it's easy to keep portions balanced. Feed weeds/greens and flowers every day. With this feed on alternate days a piece of mushroom or fruit the size of your torts head. So 3 pieces of mushroom and 3 pieces of fruit every week with as much weeds/greens and flowers as he want. Once a week or fortnightly feed protein with weeds/greens and flowers. If you only give them a piece of fruit, mushroom or protein the size of the head they have to turn to the weeds to fill up. This is what I've fed to my 7 month old torts and they look healthy.
I have another bunch of babies and I'm feeding these weeds/flowers every day, mushroom and protein once a wk and fruit twice a wk. So 3 days is weeds/flowers only. These also look for and healthy at nearly 2 months old. My protein choice is worms and small slugs.
Just don't let them pig out on piles of fruit and protein.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

Great advice has been given.
Redfoot can eat a much, much larger assortment of foods than most other tortoises. I feed about 50% fruit to my adults during the summer. Right now it's mostly Suriname Cherry and figs. These are not very high in sugar like mango that I'll be feeding in a month or two.
I feed a lot of fruit because of a recommendation from a person whom has much more experience than myself and my tortoises are in great shape. Not everyone does this. But you can. My biggest issue with fruit has not been with health. It's been with ants. Don't leave sappy, sweet fruit or juice laying around.
I use a lot of plants, fruit and flowers that I grow or can get from neighbors. Lots of hibiscus.(flowers and leaves) Cactus. Jade. Purslane. Grape leaf and baby grapes. Etc.
I suplement with some store bought Romaine and white mushrooms. (Mine dislike Portabellas)
I also use about 10-15% Mazuri tortoise chow.
Your tortoises diet will vary depending on your location. Mine is what it is because I live in south Florida.
I've only recently had babies hatch out and I am copying @Anyfoot feeding them because he has raised more babies.
@Anyfoot does an amazing job and he's from very UN tropical England.
Vary things. Mix it up and use what you can find. Not too much of anything.

 

[Anyfoot]

Great advice has been given.
Redfoot can eat a much, much larger assortment of foods than most other tortoises. I feed about 50% fruit to my adults during the summer. Right now it's mostly Suriname Cherry and figs. These are not very high in sugar like mango that I'll be feeding in a month or two.
I feed a lot of fruit because of a recommendation from a person whom has much more experience than myself and my tortoises are in great shape. Not everyone does this. But you can. My biggest issue with fruit has not been with health. It's been with ants. Don't leave sappy, sweet fruit or juice laying around.
I use a lot of plants, fruit and flowers that I grow or can get from neighbors. Lots of hibiscus.(flowers and leaves) Cactus. Jade. Purslane. Grape leaf and baby grapes. Etc.
I suplement with some store bought Romaine and white mushrooms. (Mine dislike Portabellas)
I also use about 10-15% Mazuri tortoise chow.
Your tortoises diet will vary depending on your location. Mine is what it is because I live in south Florida.
I've only recently had babies hatch out and I am copying @Anyfoot feeding them because he has raised more babies.
@Anyfoot does an amazing job and he's from very UN tropical England.
Vary things. Mix it up and use what you can find. Not too much of anything.

Ed, I feed my adults more fruits too, I just hold back a bit with my babies and give them a higher weed and flower diet. Seems to work.

 

[tortmomma417]

Thank you all! I appreciated the "size of the head" trick! Exactly the type of advice I was looking for!