Tortoise + pumpkin = Good or bad?

[JoshIsTheBoss]

So I’ve decided I want to give my baby sulcata tortoise a pumpkin on Halloween as a little treat. But I just want to clarify that this is a good idea and it won’t hurt my tortoise, since it is a baby. And if it can. Does the pumpkin have to be a regular sized pumpkin? Or can it be a small pumpkin?

 

[Tom]

Just wash the pumpkin off with water and it should be fine. A baby will have trouble eating a whole pumpkin, but it won't hurt it if it tries to take some bites. When you are ready for the baby to eat some pumpkin, I run a chunk of pumpkin through the cheese grater and mix the grated pumpkin in with greens.

 

[wellington]

It's said to be a natural dewormer. Grind up all parts of it. Seeds, meat, pulp, skin to feed.
I usually cut a piece off to feed to my adult leopards. Too hard to try and bite a round object that won't stay still and is hard.

 

[kevantheman35]

I give my adult a full pie pumpkin cut in half once a year around this time and he loves it. I’ve given canned pumpkin in the past for digestive issues however he was not a fan

 

[Bambam1989]

I've got 3 pumpkins that we grew this year in our garden. I plan on offering some to my lil Clunker. Intending on mixing it with some finely chopped grass.

 

[wellington]

I give my adult a full pie pumpkin cut in half once a year around this time and he loves it. I’ve given canned pumpkin in the past for digestive issues however he was not a fan

Pie pumpkin is not the one to give, more sugars then the jack o lantern kind. Give the kind that is used for Halloween carving. Also, although I have resorted to the canned stuff once or twice, better to get a regular pumpkin, cut into smaller pieces and freeze. Then you can feed the better stuff all year. It's mushy when thawed, but torts don't seem to care.

 

[Tom]

I drop whole pumpkins into the adult sulcata and leopard pens. They destroy them.

For smaller tortoises, I use a katana to cut the pumpkins into smaller pieces. I don't have any fun doing it though… Just business.

 

[Bee62]

Thank you for that thread. I never fed my young sullies pumpkin before, but I will try it. They are happy about new food, I think.
How often can I feed pumpkin ?

 

[Yvonne G]

Just bear in mind that 'vegetables' that contain seeds, like tomatoes, cucumber, pumpkin, are really fruit, not vegetables, and fruit should be fed sparingly.

 

[Bee62]

Just bear in mind that 'vegetables' that contain seeds, like tomatoes, cucumber, pumpkin, are really fruit, not vegetables, and fruit should be fed sparingly.

Thank you Yvonne. I will keep it in mind and not feed often.

 

[Big Charlie]

I drop whole pumpkins into the adult sulcata and leopard pens. They destroy them.

For smaller tortoises, I use a katana to cut the pumpkins into smaller pieces. I don't have any fun doing it though… Just business.

lol! I know you love wielding a sword!

 

[MPRC]

I don't have any fun doing it though… Just business.

Yeah...all serious business!

 

[Tom]

Thank you for that thread. I never fed my young sullies pumpkin before, but I will try it. They are happy about new food, I think.
How often can I feed pumpkin ?

During fall, I'll feed pumpkin to my tortoises a couple of times a week, then they don't see it any more until next year. For adults I just drop whole pumpkins or large chunks into their enclosures. For babies, I mix up a small amount with greens.

 

[Bee62]

During fall, I'll feed pumpkin to my tortoises a couple of times a week, then they don't see it any more until next year. For adults I just drop whole pumpkins or large chunks into their enclosures. For babies, I mix up a small amount with greens.

Thank you. I will report if my youngsters like the new food ( but I think yes, because they like everything what is eatable ... )

 

[For Love of Everything Shell]

I was peeling cooked pumpkins in preparation to make pumpkin pies... my dog was on one side waiting for pieces to eat and Bob my Leo was on the other side! He had mashed pumpkin bits all over his face lol , if I can get a picture on here I will share it!

 

[For Love of Everything Shell]

 

[For Love of Everything Shell]

 

[Bee62]

Now I have fed my sullies pumpkin but they were not really "amused" of the new food.
I will wait another year and try it again to feed pumpkin the next harvest.

 

[Bambam1989]

I too offered my tort some pumpkin and he didn't seem to thrilled. He also will pass on most flowers and go for the weeds. He doesn't have much of a sweet tooth which is good.

 

[2wgasa]

Ok, so I have to post Bomber and Bobby (the Golden) sharing a piece of pumpkin after Halloween and then small bit of Bok Choy a few weeks later. Last picture is both of them staring at a tennis ball (out of picture).