Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My Ctenos really love this stuff is it okay for them long term? They have great body mass and growth rates since using it as a signifigant part of their diet (about 50%).

Of course I still offer a little animal protein (about 2-5%) a ton of greens (dandelion, spring mix, escarole) veggies (about 10% squash, green beans and sometimes carrot), and fruit (about 5% - Mango, apple, berries, peaches, etc.) with calcium supplimentation, but I would like to raise the Mazuri content-especially in winter.

I know it is generally commercial diets are not recommended for green Iggys but ctenos are much more closely allied with cyclura and I have read that a cyclura and uromastyx few breeders use Muzuri tortoise almost exclusevely.

Just asking for opinions.

I use it exclusively for any Iguanid; Cyclura, Ctenos, Greens, etc. The results I've had with it trumps any other diet(s) I've used or tried. The growth and muscle mass you get is incredible, and feeding one staple makes it easy when you have all sorts of omnivorous 4 legged Reptiles running around. This is all with proper husbandry of course.

I hear on the turtle forums that tortoise breeders use this food on WC hatchling star tortoises, which were not gaining any weight eating the usual diet of greens, veggies, grasses and weeds. For some reason the tortoise weren't growing and were dying one by one. So he thought he gave the Mazuri tortoise pellet a try, and what a difference it made. The stars started growing and stop dying. The growth is incredible and they are healthy with smooth shells. I don't see why it wouldn't work for Iguanids since they are mostly vegertarians like the tortoises, which are mainly herbivores, too. It's been tested and developed for at least 30 years on Galopogos tortoise hartchlings. It was design to give the Galopogos tortoise hatchlings a head start. Only the problem is. It is difficult to buy the Mazuri tortoise pellet for some reason and not all petstores sell them, infact most don't.

Pet stores? Feed stores that carry/supply Mazuri for mammals can get Tortoise or Iguana food. The Mazuri website will give you a dealer list, and you go from their. This is where most people get hung up, the fact that they turn to a Pet store first. You may find what you need, but pay out the butt for small quantities. Feed stores, Agricultural suppliers, Nursuries, and your local hardware or home improvement store can be a herpers best friend, and a very cost effective way of keeping these animals. I've said it before, most/all of these products that are marketed specifically for Reptiles are a waste of time and money.

They were first skeptical about the food for the tortoises, too, but once the tortoises was on the diet, they were doing better and stop dying, so it's now part of the main staple.