I have been reading as much as I can about Manouria and posting here, e-mailing with Vic Morgan (who I am purchasing my pair from in March) and reading as much as I can about boc turtle care, due to the similaritys, though I think the Manouria are just as similar, if not more so than Kinixys.
Having read what littl eis available and drawing from my experience with Kinixys and Native box turtles, I am questioning the amount and types of grasses these guy will utilize. In a forest habitat, grass would be fairly limited and only a few species represented, b/c of the decreased light levels. This would also probably dictate ''wetter'' grasses as opposed to more woodsy/fibrous types. I know that my Knixys seemed very uninterested in any grasses and preferred leafy greens and appropriate fruits, such as figs, cactus pears, winter squashed, berries, and so forth. I also included collected grape leaves, green briar, dandelion, mulberry leaves, plantain, clover, dandelion and nastrutium blossoms, chickory flowers, marigold petals, mint, and store greens, such as mustard and turnip. I also tried the forest turtle pellets, soaked and mixed with fruit and greens and they loved canned dog food that was designed for dogs with renal failure and had lower amounts of protein.
I kept boxies the same way as a child, except the dog food was omitted for adults, in favor of worms, and the hatchlings got insects to chase. The adult boxies seemed uninterested in fibrous grasses also.
Do Manouria consume large amounts of pasture type grasses, when planted in thier pens? What species do you feed most often, that they enjoy? How well formed are their feces? My kinixys usually had well formed stools, boxies formed, but messier, and I am assuming Manouria will be about the same as boxies. I am also curious as to how much more protien juvenile Manouria consume, as my boxies were nearly 100 carnivores for a few months, like bearded dragons are at first. I think, since my torts will be several months old anyway, I am going to strive for a 75% grass/weeds diet, 15% high Ca fruits and store greens, and 10% protein, with sources such as boiled eggs, veggie pasta, and the occasional insects/worms. I think the tortoises would eat more protein, but certainly won't need it and this should allow for even, healthy growth. I am sure they will get their share of worms when it rains and from rooting around anyway.
Having read what littl eis available and drawing from my experience with Kinixys and Native box turtles, I am questioning the amount and types of grasses these guy will utilize. In a forest habitat, grass would be fairly limited and only a few species represented, b/c of the decreased light levels. This would also probably dictate ''wetter'' grasses as opposed to more woodsy/fibrous types. I know that my Knixys seemed very uninterested in any grasses and preferred leafy greens and appropriate fruits, such as figs, cactus pears, winter squashed, berries, and so forth. I also included collected grape leaves, green briar, dandelion, mulberry leaves, plantain, clover, dandelion and nastrutium blossoms, chickory flowers, marigold petals, mint, and store greens, such as mustard and turnip. I also tried the forest turtle pellets, soaked and mixed with fruit and greens and they loved canned dog food that was designed for dogs with renal failure and had lower amounts of protein.
I kept boxies the same way as a child, except the dog food was omitted for adults, in favor of worms, and the hatchlings got insects to chase. The adult boxies seemed uninterested in fibrous grasses also.
Do Manouria consume large amounts of pasture type grasses, when planted in thier pens? What species do you feed most often, that they enjoy? How well formed are their feces? My kinixys usually had well formed stools, boxies formed, but messier, and I am assuming Manouria will be about the same as boxies. I am also curious as to how much more protien juvenile Manouria consume, as my boxies were nearly 100 carnivores for a few months, like bearded dragons are at first. I think, since my torts will be several months old anyway, I am going to strive for a 75% grass/weeds diet, 15% high Ca fruits and store greens, and 10% protein, with sources such as boiled eggs, veggie pasta, and the occasional insects/worms. I think the tortoises would eat more protein, but certainly won't need it and this should allow for even, healthy growth. I am sure they will get their share of worms when it rains and from rooting around anyway.