Great! Thank you soooo much!It would help with humidity, yes. They also like to dig, so deeper is better.
Great! Thank you soooo much!It would help with humidity, yes. They also like to dig, so deeper is better.
Hi Sydnee. You've gotten all good advice in this thread so far. In my own words:
I would cut out the romaine and any other lettuce and replace it with the previously suggested endive and escarole.
Learn to ID your local weeds. These are the best foods for your tortoise and they are free. Just be sure there are no chemicals on them. You can also add in a variety of leaves and some spineless opuntia pads too, aka: nopales.
I would not add any soil, but making the current coir substrate thicker and more damp is a good idea.
Pyramiding is caused by growth in conditions that are too dry. It is not caused by food.
You don't have to hibernate your tortoise, but I am of the opinion that it is best to hibernate species that would hibernate in the wild. I've always hibernated all my russians of any age. We will help you with this whichever way you decide to go.
Here is a list of other good foods to search for or grow:
Mulberry leaves
Grape vine leaves
Hibiscus leaves
African hibiscus leaves
Blue hibiscus leaves
Rose of Sharon leaves
Rose leaves
Geraniums
Gazanias
Lavatera
Pansies
Petunias
Hostas
Honeysuckle
Cape honeysuckle
Leaves and blooms from any squash plant, like pumpkin, cucumber, summer squash, etc...
Young spineless opuntia cactus pads
Weeds:
There are soooooooo many...
Dandelion
Mallow
Filaree
Smooth Sow thistle
Prickly Sow thistle
Milk thistle
Goat head weed
Cats ear
Nettles
Trefoil
Wild onion
Wild mustard
Wild Garlic
Clovers
Broadleaf plantain
Narrow leaf plantain
Chick weed
Hawksbit
Hensbit
Hawksbeard
Other good stuff:
"Testudo Seed Mix" from http://www.tortoisesupply.com/SeedMixes
Pasture mixes or other seeds from http://www.groworganic.com/seeds.html
Homegrown alfalfa
Mazuri Tortoise Chow
ZooMed Grassland Tortoise Food
Great info! Thank you! I definitely need to learn how to ID plants. Im just worried about possible pesticides?
Definately buying seed mix though ☺
Good idea!Its okay to worry. Concern and caution is warranted. You just have to assess things and make a good guess. You know grocery store stuff is not 100% guaranteed safe either. It is grown with all sorts of chemicals and pesticides too, even when they label it "organic". Knowing this stuff is my smart wife's business and I think most people would be shocked if they knew what all can be labeled "natural" or "organic".
With weeds I look for signs of insect damage and spider webs. If they were sprayed with chemicals, then in most cases "bugs" are not going to eat them or live on them. The yards of friends, family and neighbors often contain treasure troves of good tortoise food. I regularly raid my parents yard for mulberry leaves, blue hibiscus leaves and flowers, all sorts of weeds, and some flowers species too.
What happens on the 7th day of the week? Is that his Day of Rest? LOL!!!Hello everyone! I am new to the forum, but have learned a lot while reading all of the posts. I have a russian named Todd. I've had him for almost two months. I've been feeding him a little over a hand full of greens/ weeds 6 days a week. I have been keeping as much variety as possible. I am putting a list down below of everything I have been feeding him. I just wanted some ideas from you guys. I buy everything organic.
Italian blend salad mix (no spinach)
Romaine
Collard greens
Dandelion greens
Baby kale
Sunflower sprouts
Wheat grass (and opinion on how often wheat grass should be fed)?
Mustard greens
Cilantro
Frisee
Arugula
Once a week I feed him a small amount of:
Carrots (a few shreads)
Broccoli
Squash
I have been dusting his food 3-4 times with calicum (without D3) and multivitamins. I have two bearded dragons and luckily they have similar needs. Please post any thoughts or suggestions! Thanks guys! ☺
Lol well the 7th day i give him a treatWhat happens on the 7th day of the week? Is that his Day of Rest? LOL!!!
The food you give him makes me hungry!