- Joined
- Jun 10, 2012
- Messages
- 12
We have been having issues with our little leopard this past week trying to get him to eat items we've read are good for him. He will eat dark leafy greens like collard or escarole without fail and also loves romaine. However, every attempt to get him to feed on orchard grass, or timothy hay, zoo med's grassland tortoise food, and Mazuri have all ended in failure. The little guy will take a taste test and quickly lose interest in it.
Now, every site we've been to has said leopards need a diet comprised 70+% of grasses and hay. However, through our research, according to this study(PDF available at africantortoise.com HERE), of 124 feedings recorded, 51% of the items eaten were suculents and 74.5% forbs in general, whereas grasses only comprised of 16.8% even though the grasses were more readily available. Now, one could suggest the tortoises are choosing what tastes better, but according to the same study it mentions plant selection is partially based on the animal's nutrient requirements. The study also showed higher concentrations of leopard tortoises in areas where humans had introduced higher concentrations of succulents(used as fencing). This would suggest that the tortoises are actually seeking out the succulents in contrast to the higher availability of grasses.
So, some of the main points we've gathered from the study are:
It seems the diet prescribed for leopard tortoises on various websites is rather reversed from the given study above. Why wouldn't the primary diet be comprised of primarily forbs with grasses and legumes available as a side?
And if our interpretations of the study are wrong, how do you get a baby tortoise to eat right when he(or she) outright refuses?
Now, every site we've been to has said leopards need a diet comprised 70+% of grasses and hay. However, through our research, according to this study(PDF available at africantortoise.com HERE), of 124 feedings recorded, 51% of the items eaten were suculents and 74.5% forbs in general, whereas grasses only comprised of 16.8% even though the grasses were more readily available. Now, one could suggest the tortoises are choosing what tastes better, but according to the same study it mentions plant selection is partially based on the animal's nutrient requirements. The study also showed higher concentrations of leopard tortoises in areas where humans had introduced higher concentrations of succulents(used as fencing). This would suggest that the tortoises are actually seeking out the succulents in contrast to the higher availability of grasses.
So, some of the main points we've gathered from the study are:
- Tortoises select the plants in which to eat depending upon various issues, one of which is nutrient requirement.
- Given the option, Leopard Tortoises will choose to eat a diet of over 50% succulents(potentially partly due to water content)
- Even with a plentiful availability of grasses, wild leopards have been witnessed choosing said grasses ONLY 16.8% when other foods are available.
- When given the option, leopard tortoises were shown to eat 74.5% forbs(flowering plants that aren't grasses)
It seems the diet prescribed for leopard tortoises on various websites is rather reversed from the given study above. Why wouldn't the primary diet be comprised of primarily forbs with grasses and legumes available as a side?
And if our interpretations of the study are wrong, how do you get a baby tortoise to eat right when he(or she) outright refuses?