Reptile & Amphibian Forums

So after much waiting (it was worth it) my baby russian has finally come into my family. She's doing fantastic so far...she's even eating from my hand!

Anyway, my previous russian Yevgeni, loved red bell pepper (my vet suggested it). And I mean LOVED it. He'd come running whenever he saw one. He'd go nuts...

So the question is twofold:
1) While a bell pepper is considered a vegetable, they are pretty juicy and sweet. In the diet, should they be considered something closer to a fruit (i.e. 10% of the diet or less) and thus not fed often or at all?

2) Should they be given to hatchlings at all?

I read your post, don't know much about feeding red peppers, but I just wanted to say that my name in Russian is Evgeney, thought that its funny your tortoise was named after me, lol.

Unfortunately my shelled Son, Yevgeni is no longer with me. I was under the impression he was CB when I bought him and he wasn't...long story really. Suffice it to say I spent long hours, over $1000 dollars and shed many tears over my boy after he left me.

My new daughter is named Natalia.

isn't that supposed to be spelled Yevgeny?

Actually when I came to the states My name was spelled Evgeney, Thats how it's pronounced. I obviously don't go by that name so I do not know the correct spelling. It would be translated to Eugene in English. My American name is Dave and has no corellation to my Russian name.

Oh by the way Zhenya or Zhenka is short for Evegeney and thats how I got screen name to be zhenchok, its a pet name for Zhenya.

I've used it as an extremely small proportion of my russian's diet.

The USDA food database indicates raw green peppers have twice as much phosphorous as calcium. And not much fiber. I don't know if they have any "anti-nutrient" substances like calcium oxalates. I'd have to check my Tortoise Trust dietary guide at home.

All the same, I wouldn't make it, or any one item the major part of a tort's diet.

Variety, variety, variety. Plus heat, hydration and a roomy environment.