Feeding torts weeds v shop bought greens.

[mrscross78]

Originally Posted by EJ

Totally... but as you can see... I'm a minority... in this group.

Feeding a tortoise in captivity... 'correct' is a highly subjective opinion.

I believe a 'correct' diet is providing all the required nutrients a tortoise needs for good development is the correct diet. I've learned that current formulated diets are the best solution for most situations.

Thanks.... This helps. Do you use it all the time or just sometimes?

[16 shells]

Tortoise diet food's like Komodo, a guide is about 1-2% of the Tort's weight per feed, i agree with Ed on the ease of supplying nutrition with formulated diet's, if you can grow a few safe weed's/plant's for the fill in day's sorted. Thinking you may be back to shop bought green's in winter along with most of us.

[EJ]

I have used Komodo tortoise diet... but I use another similar formulated diet for my tortoises... for some... exclusively. It's taken me time to get to this point but I have no problems with it.

If you have a few tortoises... I always recommend using the formulated diet with dark leafy greens... any dark leafy greens. The nutrition comes from the diet. The dark leafy greens is actually a filler.

Originally Posted by mrscross78

Thanks.... This helps. Do you use it all the time or just sometimes?

[mrscross78]

Originally Posted by 16 shells

Tortoise diet food's like Komodo, a guide is about 1-2% of the Tort's weight per feed, i agree with Ed on the ease of supplying nutrition with formulated diet's, if you can grow a few safe weed's/plant's for the fill in day's sorted. Thinking you may be back to shop bought green's in winter along with most of us.

Yes you are probably right )!!! I didn't know there was a weight guide to the pellets.
I am only going on like this (going mad) because there seems to be no right or easy way to feed a tortoise... I just want to do the best I can but don't know what that is.

i think what I'm going to do is just feed some weeds when I can and not worry about if I have enough or not, then use Komodo other days... And in winter I'll use shop bought salad and Komodo or other tortoise pellets and be happy with that.

Unless people think this is wrong too?

[mrscross78]

Originally Posted by EJ

I have used Komodo tortoise diet... but I use another similar formulated diet for my tortoises... for some... exclusively. It's taken me time to get to this point but I have no problems with it.

If you have a few tortoises... I always recommend using the formulated diet with dark leafy greens... any dark leafy greens. The nutrition comes from the diet. The dark leafy greens is actually a filler.

Thanks very much for your help. I have 2 little western Hermann's... Lovely little things .
By the way do I need to worry about Calcium supplement with the formulated pellets?

[EJ]

That's where one argument comes in.

If you can feed daily that is the guide I'd recommend to follow.

The problem is that the diets are very nutritious and highly digestable... this can lead to very rapid growth if not regulated.

I only feed once or twice a week... ad lib.

Again... there is no 'wrong' as long as your tortoise is getting what it need... IMHO.

Originally Posted by mrscross78

Yes you are probably right )!!! I didn't know there was a weight guide to the pellets.
I am only going on like this (going mad) because there seems to be no right or easy way to feed a tortoise... I just want to do the best can but don't know what that is.

i think what I'm going to do is just feed some weeds when I can and not worry about if I have enough or not, then use Komodo other days... And in winter I'll use shop bought salad and Komodo or other tortoise pellets and be happy with that.

Unless people think this is wrong too?

[EJ]

I don't think you need to with Hermans but it can't hurt... only using calcium carbonate with no additives.

I found some tortoises do need it with the formulated diets. While they are complete... every individual is different... if that makes sense.

Originally Posted by mrscross78

Thanks very much for your help. I have 2 little western Hermann's... Lovely little things .
By the way do I need to worry about Calcium supplement with the formulated pellets?

[mrscross78]

Originally Posted by EJ

That's where one argument comes in.

If you can feed daily that is the guide I'd recommend to follow.

The problem is that the diets are very nutritious and highly digestable... this can lead to very rapid growth if not regulated.

I only feed once or twice a week... ad lib.

Again... there is no 'wrong' as long as your tortoise is getting what it need... IMHO.

This brings a load more worries... I won't use it too often then.

[EJ]

It should be less of a worry than using only weeds or greens.

All you have to think about is quantity.

Originally Posted by mrscross78

This brings a load more worries... I won't use it too often then.

[16 shells]

I supply calcium in the form of Limestone flour in a dish and or pinch sprinkled on the fresh stuff, cuttle fish bone as an extra supply if needed, Nutrobal can be used on the fresh food's at a pinch once a week if feeding a complete, instead of the limestone flour. When outside on good day's i cut back a little on sprinkled calcium if feeding fresh weed's/plant's.