Question about pellet food for med torts

[Suze65]

I would like some advice please about using pellet foods, I don't know any thing about them, and I have one little tort who is very under weight following having a high worm count, she is now slowly putting on weight, so I'm keeping her up this winter. I have read some of you use pellet food with no problems and have said that they would be good for building up weight over the winter. But I'm a bit nervous of using them as I have often heard that they are bad for shell growth. Could any one advise me on which one to use , how often to feed them to the torts and how much and where to get them, any held would be much appreciated.

[Herpard]

I buy the komodo flavoured pellets.

I soak them with water until they are completely soft/mushy and then give it to them.

I give it to my lot once a week with their normal food.

[Easter Bunny]

I give Mazuri once a week.. I usually buy a big sack then sell some on. I haven't got any left at the momentor I would have sent you some.

I have used Komodo aswell in the past.

[Suze65]

Thanks to both of you , so much, can I buy both of those from most reptile places?

[Herpard]

Komodo is easy to get hold of, mazuri not so much, just ask about I'm sure someone on here will sell some.

[burnt toast]

Hi Suze Komodo fruit & flower is the mixed flavour one (dont know there is a difference in the flavours) but this is a mixture of all three. Very palletable. Readily available e-bay, surrey pets & lots of pet shops. (pm me your address I will send you some to try)

Soak as mentioned above. Its ok to feed once or twice a week & the amount is 1-2% of your torts body weight.

Im sure I read squashes are good for underweight torts too to build up body weight, butternut amongst others. I would feed more than once per day too, which should be ok for shell growth as long as you add supplementation & give plenty of baths!

[filardimarg2]

I use both komodo & mazuri, mazuri can be bought from Tilly Tortoise, Ross, but the komodo can be bought from most pet/reptile shops.
Mine love both but i think the mazuri puts on weight quicker. I feed it twice a week, Wednesday & Sundays, the rest of the week they have weeds (when/if i can find them) Butternut squash is good to, they love it also pumpkin, i cut it up, cook it then mash it up.

Marg

[Suze65]

Thanks everyone, that's a great help I will try the butternut squash and get some pellets.

[Ozric Jonathan]

It's interesting that most of the keepers here who use pellets and make comments about them say that they feed them one, two or three times a week.

I'm not saying that is wrong but the pellet makers intend them to be fed every day in place of any other foods. Of course they might be saying that to increase sales, but I believe the idea is that the pellets are a complete diet if they are fed to the exclusion of everything else.

I tried Pretty Pets on one of my tortoises which was really struggling with eating and I thought that if she only ate a small amount then at least with the PP's there would be significant protein and also essential vitamins. This was n't a huge success but that was most likely because of the condition of the tortoise.