Komodo pellets not complete diet?

[Alan1]

I was just reading there about Komodo pellets and it says it's a complete diet but it also says this..

"Tortoises will require good UVB lighting or additional oral supplementation of vitamin D3 to enable their bodies to make use of the calcium in their diet"

So can anyone tell me if the Komodo does or doesn't contain D3 please?

It's the word 'additional' that I am wondering about really but if anyone can see if it says D3 on their label please

[Alan1]

and while I'm at it, has anyone used this and what is it, pellets, powder or something else? http://www.surreypetsupplies.co.uk/k...-diet-75g.html

Don't go on the komodo products manufacturer website to look it up because it contains viruses according to Google

[pagan queen]

Yes Alan it does say on the label they contain D3 1688IU/KG as well as vits, B1,B2, B6 and B12 Niacin, Calcium and lots more. It also says Vitamin content guaranteed until best before date, which on my tub is 2016.
Don't know what that other stuff is though.

[pagan queen]

Found this.
Komodo Premium Tortoise Vegetable Diet

• A complete and balanced holistic diet when fed with fresh greens and vegetables
• Provides 100% of a Tortoise's nutritional requirements
• Simply dust onto greens and vegetables prior to feeding
• Scientifically formulated and researched with professional breeders

[burnt toast]

That dust stuff sounds similar to the tortoiseworld one Alan:
http://www.tortoiseworld.co.uk/shop/item.asp?itemid=45
I spoke to the guy there & he was explaining that even if you feed a weed diet the weeds grown in soil in this country are grown in richer soil. Its made from weeds grown abroad in poor soil. I have got some, dont use it very often so cant say what results I have found.

I did get their pellets though which are incomplete & all my torts love them & also the organic calcium mix went down very well.

[Alan1]

Righto thanks.

If the weeds grown in this country are grown on richer soil (which they will be) then who's to say there is not too much nutrition in them for tortoises, it makes you wonder what in fact is best. The weeds in the UK - for example a plantain, may be completely different nutrition wise to the same plant growing in the Med Region

[pagan queen]

Originally Posted by caledonia

Righto thanks.

If the weeds grown in this country are grown on richer soil (which they will be) then who's to say there is not too much nutrition in them for tortoises, it makes you wonder what in fact is best. The weeds in the UK - for example a plantain, may be completely different nutrition wise to the same plant growing in the Med Region

Could you not have just kept a lid on that can of worms Alan? Close it quick before someone sees.

You do have a point though. Maybe pellets are the way to go.

[burnt toast]

I just got back from turkey & dont know why but was surprised at how many of the same weeds grow there. & also I wonder why weeds grown on poorer soils are supposed to be richer in vits/minerals?

[Pussygalore]

I think its the other way round Lynn and I've always said that anything we feed grown over here is bound to be richer than found growing wild in poor soil countries. Even when we grow seeds in garden soil they have to be richer than wild, plus the majority of us would choose to pick the better looking, greener plants. I'd also imagine that our weeds grow faster and for longer periods simply because we have more rain, wetter summers, longer growing periods.

[MeImNot]

I know that poor soil in the Mediterranean is for the most part made up of crushed limestone, maybe thats why they are richer in calcium and minerals. Also I noticed that a sow thistle growing in a front garden is not as strong as ones growing in limestone wall creeks with very little soil...i mean the leaves of the 'wall sow thistle' are harder to the touch and give a sense of being stronger and more resistant.