Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have some on order, but would like to know if anyone has had any experince with these two species and mazuori diets.

My reply would be, why would you, and here's whay I say that. It was designed for Galapagos tort's (and can be used with Red and Yellowfoot's as they are close relatives).

I would suggest you don't feed the Mazuri to your Russian's and Greek's as the protein content is too high for Russian's and Greek's. To offset the higher protein (which Redfoot's, Yellowfoot's, and Forest Hingeback's get being omniverous) a greater water intake is required to flush the nitrogent and purine build up. Tropical spieces live in a humid environment and take advantage of water of readily available (ever seen how much water a Redfoot drinks on a daily basis in comparison to a Russian?) Arid species (Russian's and Greek's) don't have access to the same amount of water as tropical spieces. As a once in a while treat you shouldn't have any problems, as a regular part of their diet I'd say you'll end up helping your vet add a new wing to their clinic and doing your tortoises a great deal of harm.

As a point of reference, I have a small breeding colony of long-term captive Russian's, two Graeca Terrestris (Greek's), and two juvenile Redfoot's. I feed the Russian's and Greek's a sald mix much like the one on Darrell Senneke's site (www.hatchlinghaven.com) with HerpNutritions Grassland Tortoise mix added. All are thriving and not one of my Russian's has every had any health issue, outside of the initial worming. The Redfoot's get the same mix with fruit added and HerpNutrition's Forest Tortoise mix.

Hope this helps without sounding too harsh.

I use it sparingly for my Russians, to fill in when I'm low on weeds and as a way to get more calcium into them.

I have plenty of weeds in my yard during spring and fall, but I run out during the heat of summer. I grow my own greens and lettuces, but they are low in fiber. I use the Mazuri to get more fiber into the diet, often mixed in with grass or timothy hay, and I also add in calcium powder.

There really isn't any compelling reason to use it. As I recall, it's made of things that aren't recommended tortoise foods: corn, wheat, soy, etc. I view it as a supplement to use maybe once every 10 days or so.

There's a very good reason to feed Mazuri tortoise diet... it is formulated as a complete balanced diet even though it is recomended that it be fed as a supplement. I've use this stuff on many species and the results are fantastic. I am presently using it on Russians, Golden greeks and Libyan graeca. As usual, I highly recomend it at this point.
Ed

I also use it with great result. I mix it in with other food sources after I've soaked it a few minutes. I understand once it has been soaked it loses some of the protein? Not sure why but that's what I was told.
cw

When you soak it, the percentage of protein by weight goes down by virtue of it being replaced by water. It really doesn't loose protein. It also looses protein by volume because it swells up when you soak it. But that's really not important because it is not high in protein until somebody can tell me what is too much protein and how did they came to that conclusion. Also, While typing this out I couldn't help but wonder what does protein have to do with bone development (pyramiding being the main concern). Aint it cool how urban legends get started?
Ed

Hooray! I thought I was the only one who questioned this whole protien= pyramiding thing.

there's quite a few normal people out there that realize or have realized that it is not excess protein but some kind of imbalance. Even the diehard 'protein causes pyramiding' freaks are starting to hedge their bets by admitting that it is an imbalance but always throw in tha the imbalance is excess protein. That's all well and good except for the $6,000,000.00 question... what is excessive protein?
Ed

I know I shouldn't question Ed too far since he has much more experience with different species of Torts than I do.

My point is this, here are the ingredients in Mazuri tortoise food. "Ground soybean hulls, ground corn, ground oats, dehulled soybean meal, wheat middlings, cane molasses, brewers dried yeast, soybean oil, wheat germ, dehydrated alfalfa meal." How much of this and how often does your Russian or Greek tortoise come across and eat these ingredients the wild?

I don't think it's a question of protein how much or how little, it's a question of trying to closely mimic what they eat in the wild. Any living creature is going to experience greater long-term health by eating natural foods as opposed packaged.

There your tortoises, feed them what you want. As for me, after 30 years or tort keeping I hate vet bills whether now or in the future.

I'm only pushing it because the results are what speaks for the product. As you say... down the road... it might lead to a problem but I look at it this way. The growth on the animals is as close to natural growth as I've ever seen. The person who developed the chow is a nutritionist who is well versed in what is required for normal development and in what proportions. A great deal of time and effort went into this particular product. As has been said before the body requires specific elements in very specific ratios. If that requirement is met does it really make a difference where it comes from. Then there is 'what it eats in the wild'. Unless you have an actual copy of a study that was done as to what a greek tortoise eats in the wild your guess is as good as anyones. The point is that you are guessing. With prepared diets (those that have been researched) there is no guessing.
Ed

I am glad to have gotten so much responce to my question. It is nice to see I've still got what it takes to shake things up(Ha!Ha!)

You will not be able to elicit a good conversation in the future.
Ed

Well I will do my best! I am glad to see someone else is an internet junky. It is midnight my time!
I know you are a tort guy but here is a photo of me with my dragon Puff.I hope it doesn't scare you to much. It was hoter the h@*l here today!

Soon as my first Leachies hatch... I'll post pictures. Both parents are WC.
Ed

http://forums.kingsnake.com/view.php?id=68511,68511

Great shots!! I would love to have seen the Gecko! Heince my call name.