tortoise food for thought

hocky · 11-12-2009, 04:03 PM

Hello
I am relativy new to tortoise keeping but i have read quite alot over the last few months and have wanted one for years.
i hope i am not talking out of school here, so my questions is this why do people feed tortoises dog & cat food????
where have they read/heard this stupid idea??
I have heard/read this happenning lots of the times.
Can you imagine buying a rabbit/guinepig from p & H and asking for a tin of pedigree chum to feed it on, the shop assistant would think you were going mad but tortoises eat it according to some people.
sorry if you think i am going on.

like tony blair said a few years back EDUCATION,EDUCATION,EDUCATION.

swad1000 · 11-12-2009, 04:22 PM

Depends on what species of tortoise you are talking about, some people feed cat biscuits to certain species of tortoises as a dietary supplement. They may also use eggs, pinkie mice and other forms of animal protien.

Alistair&Robyn · 11-12-2009, 04:50 PM

Red/yellow foots in particular need some animal protein, and some people give them the protein they need by feeding low-fat dog food, or hydrated cat biscuits. Some people recommend this, others don't. It depends on what species you're looking at getting as to whether this will affect you or not.

hocky · 11-12-2009, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alistair&Robyn

Red/yellow foots in particular need some animal protein, and some people give them the protein they need by feeding low-fat dog food, or hydrated cat biscuits. Some people recommend this, others don't. It depends on what species you're looking at getting as to whether this will affect you or not.

sorry i should have been more specific.
i was referring to hermans/horsfields and cat and dog meat being fed to them.

swad1000 · 11-12-2009, 05:35 PM

That was old advice that used to be thought correct a few decades ago, I have books that give it as part of a tortoise diet.

I can't remember seeing anyone post about feeding cat or do food to hermans/horsfields, in the last 4 years I've been here.

But I have no doubt there are still some references to feeding dog or cat food to tortoises, but a little bit of research will soon so that as outdated thinking.

**16 shells** · 12-12-2009, 11:26 PM

Med tort's needing a protien fix, if kept outside in the warmer months, sometimes will eat, worms, snails, and animal faeces.

EquestrianBabe · 12-02-2010, 01:03 PM

I've read in a book its bad and fattening for them, so I wouldn't feed it.

Box girl · 12-02-2010, 01:10 PM

I would disagree I have kept reds and yellows for over 20 years and have never fed any form of animal protein. There is enough protein in vegetables for them to grow and reproduce.
Again my opinion but I think it is safer than feeding protein foods which to the novice can cause nutritional problems.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alistair&Robyn

Red/yellow foots in particular need some animal protein, and some people give them the protein they need by feeding low-fat dog food, or hydrated cat biscuits. Some people recommend this, others don't. It depends on what species you're looking at getting as to whether this will affect you or not.

TortBabe · 12-02-2010, 07:08 PM

I've always read that if its not available in the wild...then don't feed it.x

11-12-2009, 04:03 PM	#1
hocky Junior Member Egg Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 32	tortoise food for thought Hello I am relativy new to tortoise keeping but i have read quite alot over the last few months and have wanted one for years. i hope i am not talking out of school here, so my questions is this why do people feed tortoises dog & cat food???? where have they read/heard this stupid idea?? I have heard/read this happenning lots of the times. Can you imagine buying a rabbit/guinepig from p & H and asking for a tin of pedigree chum to feed it on, the shop assistant would think you were going mad but tortoises eat it according to some people. sorry if you think i am going on. like tony blair said a few years back EDUCATION,EDUCATION,EDUCATION.

12-12-2009, 11:26 PM	#6
16 shells Super Moderator Adult Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Hull Posts: 7,286	Med tort's needing a protien fix, if kept outside in the warmer months, sometimes will eat, worms, snails, and animal faeces. __________________ Paul.

12-02-2010, 07:08 PM	#9
TortBabe Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Northern Ireland Posts: 6,919	I've always read that if its not available in the wild...then don't feed it.x __________________ Busy Mum to ~ 2 Kids, 2 Yorkies, 1 Horsfield, 6 Hermanns, 2 Iberas, 6 Tunisians, 2 Indian Stars and 2 Pancakes

11-12-2009, 04:22 PM	#2
swad1000 Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 2,702	Depends on what species of tortoise you are talking about, some people feed cat biscuits to certain species of tortoises as a dietary supplement. They may also use eggs, pinkie mice and other forms of animal protien.

11-12-2009, 04:50 PM	#3
Alistair&Robyn Member Hatched Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Leeds Posts: 442	Red/yellow foots in particular need some animal protein, and some people give them the protein they need by feeding low-fat dog food, or hydrated cat biscuits. Some people recommend this, others don't. It depends on what species you're looking at getting as to whether this will affect you or not.

11-12-2009, 05:35 PM	#5
swad1000 Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 2,702	That was old advice that used to be thought correct a few decades ago, I have books that give it as part of a tortoise diet. I can't remember seeing anyone post about feeding cat or do food to hermans/horsfields, in the last 4 years I've been here. But I have no doubt there are still some references to feeding dog or cat food to tortoises, but a little bit of research will soon so that as outdated thinking.

12-02-2010, 01:03 PM	#7
EquestrianBabe Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: At home with my pets! Posts: 3,991	I've read in a book its bad and fattening for them, so I wouldn't feed it.

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