Reptile & Amphibian Forums

well i saw on a website how the poop is should look like. it said it should look like a capsul full of grass.

well should the hacthling poop look like that too?
sullivan's poop is a little wet, almost like diareha.

i have been feeding her regular grass from my yard.
should i be feeding her any different? when i go to websites about sulcatas all it tells me i " what not to feed her."

all i would like to know is what should i feed her that will give her healthy poop? i have timothy hay in her enclosure but i don't think she eats it.

also i am going to order some Medi-Mix (Mediterranean Mix). from a web site. http://www.turtlestuff.com/shop/index.php?shop=1&cart=27490&cat=39&

does anybody use that stuff

Hi, Shelly--

I don't believe your tort's poop should be runny at all. If I'm wrong, someone can correct me, but it should be pretty firm. I would suggest you take it in for a vet exam and fecal check, just to make sure. Mine has firm poops, but still has worms, so you never know.

I think you are going to have to do some online searching for food for a young Sulcata. I don't think most of them (hatchlings) will eat timothy hay, although I've heard that you can grind it up and mix it with their other food. You can also search the archives here. I did six months of research on my tort species before I got it, and I still have questions, but the more reading you do, the better. There's a lot of conflicting information out there, and it's easier to sort it out if you've done a lot of reading.

I have the Medi-Mix sprouting right now, but I believe it is more appropriate for Mediterranean torts, which is what I have. They also carry grazing mix that is for torts that feed on grasses (Sulcatas, etc.).

HTH,
-----
Jeannie

0.0.1 California King Snake (Rex)
1.0 Mexican Rosy Boa (Lucas)
0.1 Baja de L.A. Rosy Boa (Bella)
0.1 Okeetee Corn Snake (Bess)
1.1 Rubber Boas (Isaiah & Esther)
0.0.1 Hermann's Tortoise (Moxie)
2.0 DSH Cats (Amos & Silas)
1.0 English Springer Spaniel (Jimmy)
and...
2.0 Kids
1.0 Husband

Give the items listed below a try. As a group they should only constitute about 25% of a sulcata's diet, but they can help get your little one heading in the right direction and with the method below get that poop firmed up.

One way to get them started on timothy hay is to take some cactus pads and chop them up so they are in small enough pieces for your little one to eat. Next using a cheese grater, grate dried timothy hay cubes (you can get these at either PetSmart of Petco-they are sold for rabbits and come in a plastic bag) over the chopped pads. It will stick to the pads and the tort can't help but eat it. Follow this method for 2-3 weeks with the other items below gradually increasing the amount of grated timothy hay. As long as you have fresh hay in the enclosure your little one should start to eat the fresh hay in a week or two as they have now become used to the smell and taste. You should also start adding frsh TH to the food mix in greater percentage amounts until it is 75% of the food mix. If you have the grassland tort mix planted in your outdoor enclosure your little one should start eating that within a few weeks also.

BTW, adding TH to the chopped cactus and other items WILL firm up your torts poop. Once its gets to the 75% grasses as part of its diet firm poop won't be an issue, only the quantity will surprise you.

For more info go to www.sulcata-station.com

Good luck!

Dandelion -- both the yellow flowers and the leaves
Prickly Pear Cactus pads (Opuntia species) -- You can scrape off the needles with a sharp knife or burn them off by holding the pad over the flame of a gas or propane camp stove.
Broadleaf Plaintain or Buckhorn Plantain (Plantago major or Plantago lanceola)
Globe Mallow (Sphaeralcea grossulariaefolia) -- flowers and leaves
London Rocket or Tumble Mustard -- leaves only; they tend to reject the flowers
Henbit (Lamium amplexicaule) -- flowers and leaves
Hollyhock (Alcea rosea) -- flowers and leaves
Roses (Rosa species) -- flowers only
Sowthistle
Chickweed
Hibiscus (Hibiscus species) -- flowers and leaves
Mulberry (Morus species) -- leaves only
Geranium (Pelargonium species) -- leaves and flowers
Grape -- leaves only

Thanks for your advice. the only thing i don't know is where to get the things you listed like cactus pads, henbit, mulberry etc.

Cactus pads can be bought from Kim and Turtle cafe. She also has quite a few grasses and grass seeds that your sulcata can eat.

www.turtlecafe.com

Check with your local nursery on Mulberry and if they grow in your area. Most parts of the country have Mulberry trees so you should be able to go out and collect leaves.

Good luck.

PS. Nice looking tort!