How much food?

[Faye]

How much do people usually feed their torts daily? I want to be sure I'm not over feeding!

Thanks

[Alan1]

I feed them once a day when outside but they can eat the plants growing too. I give a handful and they eat it between them but sometimes don't eat it all.

Indoors they are in separate enclosures and they get enough to fill their food dish which is just slightly larger than they are themselves. Sometimes they eat it all and sometimes not. I give it once a day and a much smaller amount like a single plantain leaf later in the day.

Whether that is the right thing to do or not I don't know but that is what I do

[Faye]

Great, thanks. That's about the amount I give too..

Thanks

[Star]

Hi Faye,

It’s all a matter of opinion, but many suggest enough weeds to cover the top part of the shell, almost like a little Jacket......on a daily basis.

However, I personal offer more on certain occasions and throw away anything that’s left over.....I find that on different days, in response to temperature conditions/time of year, the appetite differs somewhat, but this is just my personal opinion. I also miss days out, which mean that they have to forage more for their food (which is the majority of the time), which I find benefits them more and results in higher activity levels, rather than eating just what’s given to them then sleeping, they actually have to work for their food. This could be achieved by placing the weeds you collected (if the enclosure doesn't include a wider variety of edibles) around the enclosure, rather than just in one location, this entices them to be more active and also replicates, to some level, the natural process of the wild, in foraging for their food.

However, if you notice your tortoises over eating to the extent that they have accelerated growth (which is debatable), then you’re inclined to be advised against allowing the choice to your tortoise, and more a case of monitoring the amounts (also debatable).


Sorry if this is confusing....as you and your tortoise begin to become more acquainted, you will begin to recognise their individual habits....

[Faye]

Hi Star,

That does help thanks.

Its just people have been telling me that my tort is very big for his age and do i over feed him. I dont think i do so i just wanted to know what other people feed theirs..

Thanks for your reply

Faye

[Star]

Hi Faye,

It could be that you’re not over feeding, but more that your tortoise isn’t active enough............it could also be a case of what your feeding, many factors are accountable and if you try and include as much information as possible then it would be easier to maybe, recognise some possible causes...also, tortoises differ in growth, but signs of vast acceleration such as the tortoises body become to large...can cause concern

[Alan1]

Common sense comes into it too as it depends if the food is leafy or or not or more watery or not etc. For e.g. you wouldn't give an amount of opuntia cactus or butternut squash the size of their shell whereas you would if it was a plant leaf

[Alan1]

Originally Posted by Faye

Hi Star,

That does help thanks.

Its just people have been telling me that my tort is very big for his age and do i over feed him. I dont think i do so i just wanted to know what other people feed theirs..

Thanks for your reply

Faye

Have you ever posted pics of your tort, it's not a sulcata by any chance is it?

[Faye]

i know that before i got him he was just fed on lettuce and carrots and stuff like that.. I started to feed him with Romaine lettuce and cress and some weeds from the garden at first while growing weeds. I now give him dandelions and different weeds that I bought from the shop on here and sometimes romaine lettuce as well..

Could the food he had to start with in life be the reason for his quick growth. I've only had him for about 6 months or so.

Thanks

Faye

[Star]

It could definitely be a contributing factor.....

In any case, with your intervention now, his growth should soon settle