What do red footed tortoises eat

They also have low fertility and hatchlings often fail to thrive. It is often recommended to feed them low fat cat food as often as every other feeding. I have found this to be unnecessary and a contributing factor in pyramiding. My approach is to feed pre-killed pinkies new born mice , shrimp, chicken, organ meat, boiled eggs etc. Here in South Carolina there is an abundance of worms, slugs, pill bugs and other bugs in their pen. My tortoises feed on them on a regular basis. In the winter bugs are less plentiful so I feed animal protein every other week.

For the torts I keep indoors over the winter, I also feed Butterworms extremely high in calcium and great for hatchlings and superworms. With the above one can develop a good diet. Once again and I can't stress this enough variety is the key! Don't feed the same food day in and day out.

Mix varieties and choose a different green as the basis every few days. At the end of the page are a few links. Iceberg lettuce Bok Choy All grains including bread, pasta etc All human food except what's been listed as "good" Pellet type foods An often overlooked factor of pyramiding is grain based diets.

These are the pellet food that some claim to be essential to health. They typically contain soy, wheat and or rice. These are high in omega 6 fatty acids which has a negative effect on health. They also have an acidifying effect which causes a leaching of bone.

They are high in phytate which binds calcium and other minerals. Grains alter Vit D metabolism. Diets high in grains can have a negative impact on bone growth in spite of adequate exposure to sunshine. Although most food items have some of these This substance binds minerals It binds with minerals which must be eliminated through the kidneys.

In large amounts or in small quantities with improper hydration can lead to kidney stones and kidney damage. Feed one of these combinations to your redfoot based on the feeding schedule at the end of this article switch the combination every few days for added variety and balanced nutrition. Once a week you can skip the food altogether. Dandelion, turnip or Hibiscus leaves and flower Okra same family as Hibiscus Cactus pads lite to non-spiny ones found in most Hispanic grocery stores Romaine lettuce Endive Escarole Collard greens occasionally Kale occasionally Radicchio.

Like leafy greens, fruits are an essential part of the redfoot tortoise diet. Choose one or more of the following vegetables to add to your mixed leafy greens and fruit once every two weeks or month.

Mushrooms contain a tremendous amount of minerals, as well as some not so good stuff, so use sparingly, but do use them as they are a part of the diet of wild Redfoots. Several other plant-based foods are nutritious and can be added to a redfoot tortoise diet, including the following make sure all are free of pesticides and herbicides :. Studies indicate that a strictly vegetarian redfoot tortoise diet often leads to neurological problems like hind-leg paralysis.

Low fertility rates and a general failure to thrive can also be caused by feeding a strictly vegetarian redfoot tortoise diet. Coil fluorescents have the shortest lifespan of all UVB bulbs, and even though they may continue to produce visible light for years, the UVB they provide will only last about months. Strip fluorescents are similar, but can last up to months. If you purchase a fluorescent UV bulb instead of a mercury vapor bulb, make sure you purchase one with All bulbs should be replaced every months, unless their output is being routinely measured with a UVB meter to ensure that they are producing adequate spectrum of lighting.

It is important to allow the your tortoise to get within 12 inches of any UVB light source you do provide, as the distance of the light can greatly affect the amount of UVB absorbed. Regardless of what artificial light you provide, nothing beats the power of the sun. Supervised outdoor time during warm summer days will benefit your tortoise tremendously.

Regular misting of the cage may be necessary to maintain this humidity. Red-footed tortoises are omnivores, but in the wild primarily consume plant material with just a small amount of animal proteins in their diet. Providing a varied diet is crucial to their health. Juveniles should be fed daily, while adults can be fed on an every other day schedule.

Red-foots are naturally attracted to red, orange, and yellow foods, and this trait can be used to encourage them to eat a varied diet by blending food items together.

Respiratory Infection: This is a common and deadly illness that affects many captive turtles. Red-footed tortoises are especially susceptible to respiratory ailments. Respiratory diseases in Redfoot tortoises can be caused by bacterial, fungal, viral, or parasitic infections.

These infections can be contagious to other turtles, and require immediate medical attention. The best way to prevent this from being an issue is to have yearly fecal exams with your veterinarian while maintaining excellent husbandry at home. Tortoises can get these parasites from their food, their environment, and from each other. An excess of parasites should treated by a qualified reptile veterinarian to prevent a decline in health. Metabolic Bone Disease: Also known as MBD, this is a term used to describe a number of disorders related to the weakening of bones or impaired system function caused by an imbalance of calcium, phosphorus, or vitamin D3.

It is one of the most commonly seen health problems in reptiles, and is often the result of inadequate levels of calcium in the diet, or improper UVB lighting which is essential for calcium absorption. Symptoms of MBD range from the mild lethargy, lack of appetite to the severe soft shell, abnormal shell growth, tremors and twitching of the extremities.

Veterinary care is a must for any tortoise with suspected MBD.