That's one of the disadvantages of pellets... but the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages. Solution... continue feeding the pellets. The tortoise will not have a problem eating these.

The beak trim... many tortoises seem to actually enjoy it. It's not a big deal.

>>Okay, so I've had a Russian tortoise for almost 10 years. There was a time when my wife and I could not keep him and my mother volunteered to keep him. She had him for about a year. I gave her he 55-gallon rubbermaid with the 2 UV bulbs and the heat lamps. I told her what to feed him, etc.
>>
>>Once my wife and I got moved, I wanted him back. She had been feeding him some kind of "tortoise pellets" (eeek!!) and did not replace the UV or heat bulbs when they went out. So he had a year of bad husbandry.
>>
>>Well, I've noticed in the last year or so that Sampson's beak has grown a lot. Like.. really long! I didn't think it was that much of a problem until tonight when I saw that his beak actually got caught on his lower jaw!! He could not close his mouth! I freaked!
>>
>>I offered him some greens and a strawberry to tempt him into opening his mouth. He finally did, but now it clicks and makes this horrible sound everytime he opens his mouth. It's heartbreaking.
>>
>>I'm waking up early to call a reptile vet tomorrow and I'm going to bring him in to have it shaved. They'll probably anasthetize (spelling?) him, right?
>>
>>I'm super scared.... any thoughts?
>>
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Ed @ Tortoise Keepers
Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care

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