general diet questions

[heyprettyrave]

i went to this site http://www.redfoots.com/ydiet.htm because i know that i am not doing enough for my tortoise in diet wise. now i am curios if i have to follow this exact plan, like if it would work best or not. could i have some tips about what each of you do for yours.

also, i am now questioning the lighting that i have in my enclosure due to some recent posts. i know that i need more plants in my enclosure, and would it help if i had dirt mixed in with my substrate, would it hold moisture better?

 

[tortoisenerd]

That diet plan is well-recommended, and better than what you are doing frankly. I would start with that and make adjustments based on what your tort will eat and what works for your schedule, but yes, that is a good ratio to be feeding, and the correct types of foods. Give this thread some time and you'll get more opinions.

Moss is going to hold moisture well better than dirt, because if you wet dirt more it just becomes wet instead of damp (and can cause respiratory problems and shell rot among other things). I can tell that that substrate is not moist enough just from looking at it--you need to pour a big cup of water in it every other day or so, mix it up with your hands, and check that it is moist enough that when you pick up a handful and squeeze it, it will hold shape, but not drip out water. The sphagnum or frog moss is really good though. Do a forum search and find some ideas of how to use it and where to buy it.

Oh yeah you have that enclosure set up more for a desert tort than a rain forest tort. I'm sorry but you are going to need to make some changes or that tort will not be doing well. At a minimum you want to put a bunch of fake plants in there, so many that the tort has to walk around them to get from one side to another. Better yet is to do something planted and natural--search for TerryO--she has an awesome enclosure.

You might as well take out those mini potted plants you currently have as they have no point. They are not hides, don't provide moisture, and aren't food (even if they are edible, they have pesticides and should sit out of reach from the tort for 3-6 months, and after that if they are on the safe edible list, you could sink the pots into the substrate). I only like to have useful stuff in my tort's enclosure, but maybe that is just me. The more you break up the line of sight from one side to the other, the better, as it makes the enclosure seem larger to the tort, and more like their natural habitat.

An aquarium can work well for a redfoot to hold in the humidity as long as you cover the glass with paper (we discussed this in your other thread, changing it from a background to plain), have some air circulation (not a high tank but a breeder type with lower sides), and it is a correct size (you will need an upgrade soon, so after a bit you may try to sell yours and get a huge one and even block off part of it for awhile, or better yet, get a stock tank or large plastic tub).

Don't have everything up against the walls. If that is a wall-mounted thermometer, those are rather useless. You need to know the temperature at the substrate (tort's level). For a redfoot, you want this more constant through the entire enclosure. They don't bask as desert-dwelling torts do, and thus you want heat and very little light. You need to have more humidity to keep the shell growing smooth (someone gave this tort a great start!), and keep it healthy. Think moist and warm, but not damp and cold.

I know this seems overwhelming, but think of how happy your tort will be. You will see a huge turn around in activity level and appetite. Measure and weigh your tort weekly or monthly. I use digital calipers and a postal/food scale in grams. Good luck!

 

[heyprettyrave]

thank you for all the advice. actually i changed the light yesterday so it is darker in there with more heat. as for the plants, i am a little confused. i bought these at the pet store and it said they were for a terrarium enclosure, and she does eat some of them, but frankly i try to stay away from those ones lol. but i know i need more plants, and i am currently working on this. it is a work in progress, although sometimes i do not feel like her tank is large enough, it is only a 40 gallon tank. i figure by the end of the summer i can upgrade(money). and i do have some 'eco moss' i think its called, but i was told to put it under a rock, could i lay it on her substrate?

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OH also, my tortoise does not seem to like vegetables.. what should i do about this??

 

[Madkins007]

TurtleTary's (Redfoot NERD) plan is a good one. I tweak what I do based on my own research to try to provide more fiber, variety, and less 'wet, sweet' fruit- but that is just me.

Your tort does not eat vegetables? What are you feeding it that it does not eat? Some vegetables are just tough, flavorless, or nutritionally bland for tortoises.

Some good veggies are many that have seeds, and technically count as fruits- squash, pumpkin, and bell pepper for example.

 

[heyprettyrave]

she eats pepper. but things like corn, peas and basically anything in a veggie mix bag she wont eat lol idk why. she does eat carrots though sometimes

 

[tortoisenerd]

I wouldn't want to feed corn and peas as they are more starchy so much as the dark leafy greens, fruit, and protein. So, I wouldn't worry about that. Keep experimenting with foods on the good list and see what she likes. Yes, she needs a larger enclosure, but right now the humidity, darkness, diet, etc, are more important. Most owners like to get some use out of the tank the pet store told them they needed too...sorry to say, but most pet stores don't know that they are giving you bad advice, and only want to sell their junk. A plastic tub for 1/4 of the cost and double the size would have done much better. Moss is great as a top substrate level or in hides.

 

[heyprettyrave]

okay i will do this. now i read on my new diet plan to feed cat food? i am a little unsure of this?

 

[tortoisenerd]

Terry says that the brand of cat food he recommends is good because it is low fat/calorie and high protein, and it is a relatively small amount. Other people will use other protein sources, so use what you are comfortable with. You just want to look for a high protein low calorie protein source. Do a forum search for "redfoot protein" and see what your options are, such as different types of worms, and I think someone even feeds elk to their redfoot! What about the cat food specifically are you unsure of?

 

[heyprettyrave]

well idk it just seems odd to feed her cat food. she eats worms like crazy, so i think i will look for other alternatives. and exactly how long will i follow this diet plan, or should i do this particular diet plan her whole life just increase the amount?

 

[tortoisenerd]

There are tabs on the website for different ages, but hopefully someone else can give you more specific advice--usually you pick a diet plan and stick to it, varying the types of food and increasing the amount as the tort grows. Getting on a healthy varied diet is more important than exactly following one suggestion. I think something fairly close to Terry's plan is a huge improvement over what you had, and the type of protein source isn't as much of a concern as long as it is something recommended for redfoots (you want something very high protein for the amount of calories for example). What type of worms? Some are better (more nutrient rich and protein rich) than others, while some are more of a junk sort of worm, so that is why I ask. What types of greens, veggies, and fruits have you been feeding this week? Good luck--you are doing great.

 

[heyprettyrave]

for the greens i got a garden mix, and also got some escarole (she seems to like that) and usually when i go outside i try to find some worms for her, and i bought some from a store (but she doesn't like those unless there still, i think they bite honestly) i haven't given her any fruit yet, but tmrw i will. i bought some pineapple, watermelon, grapes and i bought a mango for her
treat day' im hoping she likes it. but i think i will buy the cat food today, and try it on protein day, and see if she likes it