Heliogabalus76
Member
Hi everyone,
I've been really lucky to find this place--it's been invaluable already, yet I have a lot to still read and learn.
I bought a young marginated (born 10.2012) tortoise for my son two weeks ago, and I''m trying to figure out what will keep him healthy and happy. I'm a bit worried because we bought him from a pet store where he was kept (for about 6 months they said) in a glass terrarium and fed commercial pellets. We have mainly been feeding him dandelions and kohlrabi leaves (he loves them) with an occasional cucumber slice (trying to limit cucumbers to once a week). We just bought some Chinese cabbage, so I'll see what he thinks of that since it's supposed to have a decent Ca: P ratio. If anyone has good advice on what to use for a varied weekly diet, I'd really appreciate it.
I'll be building him a run on our balcony, but this summer has been fairly cold and wet here, so for now--and in winter/fall he'll be an indoor tortoise. I'm wondering if he's getting too hot (first I thought he was too cold)--basically he wakes up around 5:30am, and then by 9 or 10am, after he's gotten a bath and eaten, he buries himself and we don't see him again until the next morning. Do any of you know if this is normal for marginateds?
In any case, thank you in advance for this site and your help.
Mike
I've been really lucky to find this place--it's been invaluable already, yet I have a lot to still read and learn.
I bought a young marginated (born 10.2012) tortoise for my son two weeks ago, and I''m trying to figure out what will keep him healthy and happy. I'm a bit worried because we bought him from a pet store where he was kept (for about 6 months they said) in a glass terrarium and fed commercial pellets. We have mainly been feeding him dandelions and kohlrabi leaves (he loves them) with an occasional cucumber slice (trying to limit cucumbers to once a week). We just bought some Chinese cabbage, so I'll see what he thinks of that since it's supposed to have a decent Ca: P ratio. If anyone has good advice on what to use for a varied weekly diet, I'd really appreciate it.
I'll be building him a run on our balcony, but this summer has been fairly cold and wet here, so for now--and in winter/fall he'll be an indoor tortoise. I'm wondering if he's getting too hot (first I thought he was too cold)--basically he wakes up around 5:30am, and then by 9 or 10am, after he's gotten a bath and eaten, he buries himself and we don't see him again until the next morning. Do any of you know if this is normal for marginateds?
In any case, thank you in advance for this site and your help.
Mike
