need idea on how much food they should eat

thunor · 17-02-2012, 10:00 PM

Hi,

I got given two torts last year as their owner died. They are about 60 plus years and spur thigh females.

They have been awake for 2 days and have eaten about 1 mouthful each. They have access to heat and uv lamp.

Can someone given me an idea on how much they should be eating at the moment and also how much they should eat mid summer so o know what to expect please?

Thank you

Shelled Lady · 18-02-2012, 01:18 AM

These will be old Wild Caught tortoises. You are very lucky to get two lovely big tortoises. Can we have some photos please? Once they get going, they can have plenty food and again when outside in the spring, provide plenty green weeds, or if they have the run of the garden, let them look for themselves. There is absolutely no need to limit there intake on weeds at their great age. Make sure they have a chance of a nice bath in warm water, so they can rehydrate. It will probably take them a week to get back into proper eating mode, this quite often happens with larger totoises.

JoesMum · 18-02-2012, 10:32 AM

When Joe comes out of hibernation it can take 2-3 weeks for him to start eating properly. A daily 20 minute soak in warm water is vital... I use reptoboost in the water to help with the rehydration process.

As his toileting returns to normal, so does his appetite. Once they get going, they will eat a lot. On a "I'm just out of hibernation and have realised I'm starving" day he is capable of putting away a whole romaine, a whole little gem and a bag of mixed leaves/as many weeds as I can gather. His appetite then settles to about half that - in summer I'm not sure exactly how much he eats because he has free run of the garden and grazes that, though I do supplement.

thunor · 18-02-2012, 10:35 AM

Thanks for the reply and I will upload some photos tomorrow.

What should I expect them to eat, can they go a whole day with just a mouthful or should they be grazing all day? I did Google it several times and there is nothing concrete on how much is good.

They currently have access to watercress, fresh picked weeds that I've grown in the greenhouse, Lambs ears and pansies.

Once the weather is better they will have access to a 80ft x 30ft garden and can do as they please. They are currently keeping warm in the heated greenhouse though.

I have been giving them 2 baths a day (3 the first day they woke up) at a temp of 24C with Reptoboost in the water.

Thanks

shellonia · 18-02-2012, 07:20 PM

I think you'll be astonished how much they eat once they get going and the body toxins are all flushed through. Bathing is by far the most important thing to get that sorted and Reptoboost is good. You have some lovely tortoises there.

EJ · 18-02-2012, 08:09 PM

You should try and duplicate what they have been fed over the last 60 years. If you want to change it I would suggest you do it gradually. Also... I'd recommend against supplements until the tortoises are established and eating normally.

Quote:

Originally Posted by thunor

Hi,

I got given two torts last year as their owner died. They are about 60 plus years and spur thigh females.

They have been awake for 2 days and have eaten about 1 mouthful each. They have access to heat and uv lamp.

Can someone given me an idea on how much they should be eating at the moment and also how much they should eat mid summer so o know what to expect please?

Thank you

Shelled Lady · 18-02-2012, 09:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thunor

Thanks for the reply and I will upload some photos tomorrow.

What should I expect them to eat, can they go a whole day with just a mouthful or should they be grazing all day? I did Google it several times and there is nothing concrete on how much is good.

They currently have access to watercress, fresh picked weeds that I've grown in the greenhouse, Lambs ears and pansies.

Once the weather is better they will have access to a 80ft x 30ft garden and can do as they please. They are currently keeping warm in the heated greenhouse though.

I have been giving them 2 baths a day (3 the first day they woke up) at a temp of 24C with Reptoboost in the water.

Thanks

Sounds as if you are coping well. I don't think you need to worry. They can go weeks without feeding or drinking. What you have done should get them kick started, so don't worry. As I said before, let them eat what they want. When they go out, they will probably eat a lot more as they will be exercising.

kkenny · 19-02-2012, 08:26 AM

how exciting, cant wait to see the pics.

andybrock · 22-02-2012, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thunor

Thanks for the reply and I will upload some photos tomorrow.

What should I expect them to eat, can they go a whole day with just a mouthful or should they be grazing all day? I did Google it several times and there is nothing concrete on how much is good.

They currently have access to watercress, fresh picked weeds that I've grown in the greenhouse, Lambs ears and pansies.

Once the weather is better they will have access to a 80ft x 30ft garden and can do as they please. They are currently keeping warm in the heated greenhouse though.

I have been giving them 2 baths a day (3 the first day they woke up) at a temp of 24C with Reptoboost in the water.

Thanks

Sounds like your looking after them very well and they have a great home to live another 60+ years.

Cant wait to see the pictures

tootsieroll61 · 22-02-2012, 07:26 PM

Sounds as if you are doing everything right

17-02-2012, 10:00 PM	#1
thunor Junior Member Egg Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 3	need idea on how much food they should eat Hi, I got given two torts last year as their owner died. They are about 60 plus years and spur thigh females. They have been awake for 2 days and have eaten about 1 mouthful each. They have access to heat and uv lamp. Can someone given me an idea on how much they should be eating at the moment and also how much they should eat mid summer so o know what to expect please? Thank you

18-02-2012, 10:32 AM	#3
JoesMum Member Hatchling Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Kent Posts: 717	When Joe comes out of hibernation it can take 2-3 weeks for him to start eating properly. A daily 20 minute soak in warm water is vital... I use reptoboost in the water to help with the rehydration process. As his toileting returns to normal, so does his appetite. Once they get going, they will eat a lot. On a "I'm just out of hibernation and have realised I'm starving" day he is capable of putting away a whole romaine, a whole little gem and a bag of mixed leaves/as many weeds as I can gather. His appetite then settles to about half that - in summer I'm not sure exactly how much he eats because he has free run of the garden and grazes that, though I do supplement. __________________ 1.0.0 Testudo Graeca Graeca (Mediterranean Spur Thigh) raised from very small and approximately 50 years old.

19-02-2012, 08:26 AM	#8
kkenny Senior Member Sub Adult Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Warwick Posts: 1,303	how exciting, cant wait to see the pics. __________________ Karin Spartacus, THB, March 2013 Henry, THB, July 2008

18-02-2012, 01:18 AM	#2
Shelled Lady Member Juvenile Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: South East Posts: 845	These will be old Wild Caught tortoises. You are very lucky to get two lovely big tortoises. Can we have some photos please? Once they get going, they can have plenty food and again when outside in the spring, provide plenty green weeds, or if they have the run of the garden, let them look for themselves. There is absolutely no need to limit there intake on weeds at their great age. Make sure they have a chance of a nice bath in warm water, so they can rehydrate. It will probably take them a week to get back into proper eating mode, this quite often happens with larger totoises.

18-02-2012, 10:35 AM	#4
thunor Junior Member Egg Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 3	Thanks for the reply and I will upload some photos tomorrow. What should I expect them to eat, can they go a whole day with just a mouthful or should they be grazing all day? I did Google it several times and there is nothing concrete on how much is good. They currently have access to watercress, fresh picked weeds that I've grown in the greenhouse, Lambs ears and pansies. Once the weather is better they will have access to a 80ft x 30ft garden and can do as they please. They are currently keeping warm in the heated greenhouse though. I have been giving them 2 baths a day (3 the first day they woke up) at a temp of 24C with Reptoboost in the water. Thanks

18-02-2012, 07:20 PM	#5
shellonia Senior Member Sub Adult Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: central s england Posts: 1,534	I think you'll be astonished how much they eat once they get going and the body toxins are all flushed through. Bathing is by far the most important thing to get that sorted and Reptoboost is good. You have some lovely tortoises there.

22-02-2012, 07:26 PM	#10
tootsieroll61 Member Hatched Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 365	Sounds as if you are doing everything right

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