Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I know its probably better to get fresh organic produce, I'm just looking into alternatives.

One of the big problems I had with my previous tort was a large amount of wasted greens (as they decayed quick). I even tried using those special bags that keep produce fresh. Helped a little but not that much.

And seeing as my new guy is a hatchling, he'll be eating a heck of alot less.
Is it feasible to buy only one or two types of green each week (I used to buy 5-6) and just change the type/staple each week for more variety?

I've found that Spring Mix salads do go bad quickly. Plus it's relatively expensive.

But Collards and Endive hold up well. Kale is OK. Mustard greens don't last too long.

I think you could buy one bunch a week and rotate on a weekly basis. And try to get him on weeds when possible.

I figured I'd make myself a weed garden this year as a primary food source...at the present time, its still pretty chilly around here with nothing growing....

At least mine do. I have two feeders in the yard and the birds scatter the "wild bird' mix all over the place and then it sprouts. The tortoises love it.

I also have feeders and quite a bit of birdseed.

Any plants I should avoid in the bird seed? I have all sorts of mixes and seeds. Sunflower, millet, safflower, as well as all sorts of other stuff in the mixes (I dont have the ingredients on hand).

Also, are these plants more along the lines of snacks and treats, or are they decent for staples?

I actually don't know what kind of seeds are in there but its the common wild bird mix. There is never enough for me to consider it a staple of the diet but I do know that they actively
search under the feeders for sprouting seeds. They also clip them right down to the ground. I have fed this 'mix' of greens to hatchlings from time to time and they seem to like them too.

They're probably scouting for bird droppings too, which are
under the feeders. With as many diseases as birds have, I
never let Teddy near the feeders when I had them up, and have
since stopped feeding birds completely.

I have considered that myself. But I really don't see them eating anything other than the 'weeds' and I never really see any droppings either. Of course, I realize that there must be some there somewhere, I just don't see it.

np

I have some doves in what was originally a walk-in cage for iguanas. I also have box turtles (almost tortoises) in there.
On more than one occasion I have found my box turtles eating the doves! No, they weren't doves that died of other causes; a few times the doves were still alive while being eaten.
Mother nature at work!

Just put him on your hip.

Also Hello MAX.

i rotate different things every week or so, occasionally getting the spring mix salad too. wish that stuff didn't wilt so quickly...

And you all are adding plenty of chopped grass or timothy hay to get the salad mix in order to get the fiber content over single digits right?