feeding my little hermanns

[millie_moo]

i've had my little Mojo and Zeus a couple of days, i have started to wonder how much should i expect them to eat, the first day i had them Mojo ate a bit of lettuce, Zeus didnt eat. 2nd day i'd bought some tortoise food they both had a good munch but haven't really eaten much since. they have been having daily baths so i'm not worried about hydration but just wondered how much they should eat? they are about 8months old

[rolleyparnell]

I give them 2 handful of weeds they munch most of them... (only left a little at the end of the day i threw it in compost)
mine are 9 months old so similar age.

I think just keep eyes on their weight.. thats important.

[carriemags]

Hi,

We have 2 young hermanns too Offer them the equivalent of enough weeds to cover each shell. I leave this in their enclosure and it soon disappears. Today they had a leaf of sow thistle, ground elder, buddliea, hawk bit, perennial geranium, valerian and dandelion. There are loads of tortoise friendly weeds around at the moment, so no need for lettuce etc. Torts also take a few days to settle in in a new place, so that may be why their appetite seems less. Sure they'll pick up soon.

Where did you get them from?

Carrie

[psychocaz]

It took my hermann, Cedric, about a week before he started eating his weeds and lettuce. It took him even longer before he started eating his tortoise pellets but now he tucks into whatever I give him. The advice on these forums helped me to keep calm about it - he just took a little while to properly settle in. I'm sure your 2 will soon be eating you out of house and home

[tortoiseboy]

Originally Posted by millie_moo

i've had my little Mojo and Zeus a couple of days, i have started to wonder how much should i expect them to eat, the first day i had them Mojo ate a bit of lettuce, Zeus didnt eat. 2nd day i'd bought some tortoise food they both had a good munch but haven't really eaten much since. they have been having daily baths so i'm not worried about hydration but just wondered how much they should eat? they are about 8months old

by tortoise food do you mean pellets?

[millie_moo]

it the tetra tortoise cobs looks like bits of wood to me!! but you soak it to make it soft, i tried feeding them fresh food/weeds but they didn't want o know, then i put this stuff down for them and they both went for it. so i was going to try mixing it with fresh food to see if they realized it is food!

http://www.bradshawsdirect.co.uk/Bra...&cookie_test=1

[Helen M]

Originally Posted by millie_moo

it the tetra tortoise cobs looks like bits of wood to me!! but you soak it to make it soft, i tried feeding them fresh food/weeds but they didn't want o know, then i put this stuff down for them and they both went for it. so i was going to try mixing it with fresh food to see if they realized it is food!

http://www.bradshawsdirect.co.uk/Bra...&cookie_test=1

I really think its best you pesist with the weeds. A healthy tortoise won't starve. They can be very stubborn when it comes to getting them on the right foods. Just bathe them daily and try with the weeds. It could take days or even a few weeks before they eat but it will be worth it. As long as they are hydrated they will be fine.
Helen xx

[a_fisher]

I know that people on here that take on rehomers stop the pellets and lettuce immidiately and put down weeds only. They might not eat it straight away because it's something that they're not used to. Persist with the weeds, they will not starve.

As for amount, somone has already mentioned use the size of their shell as a guide. This is what I do, but mostly go by their weight. If they're not putting on enough weight, add a little extra food and if they're putting on too much, feed them less

[sandy]

If you feed them rubbish type foods, it will affect their health in the long run.
Tortoises in the wild, eat plant foods, with the odd variation they might come across.
Pellets and other addictive foods are not good for them.

[millie_moo]

ah ha! success i may have to to cheat a little but they are now eating dandelions, in a desperate bid to get them to eat i tried giving them a strawberry, which they went mad for! so i rubbed a bit of strawberry juice onto the dandelions and hey they eating it now and not just the strawberry covered stuff!