Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My leopard won't eat it-I have been trying to put peices of lettuce in it so it will start eating it and he just pushes around it and if some does get into his mouth-he stops eating. I have a corner in his tank that has some so that it is available at all times. I really need to get more fiber into him-any suggestions?

Have you tried grass?

Yard grass often works. Some people grow special grasses to feed their torts. I think the tort will go for something green over something dried out almost every time.

PS Be sure the grass is chemical free.

Also, if you feed your torts any pelleted foods, you can mix moistened pellets with timothy hay into a mush. My leopards will go for that in a heartbeat.

Hi,

Have you tried orchard grass hay? I think I have read that it is a little softer. Oxbow (you can also get it from Turtle Cafe) sells a "salad style" grass hay blend, which is western timothy and orchard grass cut up small and blended. Mine aren't as big on the hay either unless it is mixed with something else. But they love regular grass from outside and graze on it most days.

T

I also have a leopard, he/she is about 19 months old. I have had him for 14 months. He loves timothy grass, orchard hay, whatever. Like the others who have replied I mix in other stuff but I try to make sure about 75% is the grass. Of course in the winter here (8 months of the year I cannot give yard grass). I do have potted plants like hibiscus, ficus, and a coule others that I forget the names of. I toss in a leaf or two from those and the most important part is that I soak the dried grass for 15 minutes or so and then chop it up real good. I never toss in letuce because I really know nothing about torts except what I read and all the "experts" seem to say no kitchen greens like lettuce for leopards. I also soak a couple mazuri every two to three days and chop that with the grass. His favorite is cactus pad (which has good fiber) that I just get from the local grocery store - and I chop that in as well.

My personal opinion is that soaking the grass and chopping it gives it a lot more flavor and smell. I cannot imagin that dry grass would be appealing to any tort unless they were nearly dead from starvation. When I first got him many times I gave him only soaked and chopped timothy/orchard grass. He didn't have any choice but to get to like it. Tough love!