Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I read on my turtle group that they love pumpkin. A keeper wrote that microwaved or boiled pumpkin really turns'em on ; ) esp. prep'n it this way makes it easier for lil'torts to enjoy. Like tomatoes, I would suppose as long as its not given too much- any one know?

Because of the high sugar and relatively low fiber of pumpkin, it is one of those foods to avoid, in general.

Pumpkin and some related squash, however, are believed to have anti-parasitic properties (for whatever it is worth).

I'd put it at the very top of the food pyramid, depending on the species. Most of my torts get fruit 5x/mo (this includes mostly squash), but I wouldn't feed pumpkin that often...

>>I read on my turtle group that they love pumpkin. A keeper wrote that microwaved or boiled pumpkin really turns'em on ; ) esp. prep'n it this way makes it easier for lil'torts to enjoy. Like tomatoes, I would suppose as long as its not given too much- any one know?

I like that anti-parasitic aspect- I'll give it for a treat then everyso often this month. Thanks

>>Pumpkin and some related squash, however, are believed to have anti-parasitic properties (for whatever it is worth).
>>

IMO not worth much. I read this often on lots of groups & if pumpkin helps to prevent parasites then great, good deal.
Why I find it not worth much though is because I worry that some people might get the idea that if their tort tests positive for parasites then all you have to do is feed it some pumpkin, problem solved. No.
If they actually are infected then they need real treatment.

It reminds me of my neighbors who believe every old wives tale in the book. They told me last week that they actually make their dog swallow a penny once a year, they think a penny will kill any & all internal parasites that might infect the dog.
NO!! If the dog gets worms then she's got worms AND money in her guts. pfffffffft.
They also believe if you feed them chewing tobacco that will kill worms.. yeah now you have a dog with worms and a bad habit. lol
You wouldn't even believe the things they've told me about various reptiles, it'd be funny if it weren't so pathetic.

My sulcata will pick at a piece of pumpkin but she doesn't particularly care for it. She'd rather have grass, mulberry leaves, and cactus any day rather than pumpkin.
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PHRatz

Plus, one has to question the wisdom of feeding such a poor quality food to an animal that is in questionable circumstances already, if the motivation for feeding pumpkin is its potential anti-parasitic properties.

My Russians HATE pumpkin. They react almost violently when it is offered. The first time I gave it to them, one took a bit and then went nuts trying to spit it back out. There was no other reason for him to do that other than the fact he didnt like it. Which Squash are you talking about not having any nutritional value?
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TurtsandTorts Discussion Group
2 Russians (Harley and Marley)
2 RES (Sunny and Fatty)
2 Gerbils (Sydney and Vienna)
1 Cat (Abby)

It is not the case that squash does not have any nutritional value. The moisture/fiber content of most squash makes it unattractive as a regular food for some torts (eg, leos, stars, egyptians). Overfeeding can lead to gut motility problems, and a behaviorial effect in many torts such that more proper foods (weeds/grasses) are avoided. The nutritional value of 1 cup of squash (all varieties share roughly the same values) is:

Summer squash, 1 cup (135g) (raw)
Calories: 25
Protein: 1.22g
Carbohydrate: 5.25g
Total Fat: 0.31g
Fiber: 2.47g
Vitamin C 10.9mg

I feed my animals squash, but seldomly (a few times/mo).

>>My Russians HATE pumpkin. They react almost violently when it is offered. The first time I gave it to them, one took a bit and then went nuts trying to spit it back out. There was no other reason for him to do that other than the fact he didnt like it. Which Squash are you talking about not having any nutritional value?
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>>TurtsandTorts Discussion Group
>>2 Russians (Harley and Marley)
>>2 RES (Sunny and Fatty)
>>2 Gerbils (Sydney and Vienna)
>>1 Cat (Abby)

Thanks. I had someone tell me that it was good for the Russian torts that I have. I dont feed it to them often though. Thanks agagin. Very helpful!
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TurtsandTorts Discussion Group
2 Russians (Harley and Marley)
2 RES (Sunny and Fatty)
2 Gerbils (Sydney and Vienna)
1 Cat (Abby)

>>Plus, one has to question the wisdom of feeding such a poor quality food to an animal that is in questionable circumstances already, if the motivation for feeding pumpkin is its potential anti-parasitic properties.

That's a really good point!
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PHRatz

jeez, you really have to wonder about what goes through some peoples' minds. if they feed pennies to their dog, i wonder what kind of wacky old wives' pseudo-remedies they do on themselves and their kids?

don't forget to make your tortoise wait 30 minutes after feeding to soak him/her!

>>jeez, you really have to wonder about what goes through some peoples' minds. if they feed pennies to their dog, i wonder what kind of wacky old wives' pseudo-remedies they do on themselves and their kids?
>>
>>don't forget to make your tortoise wait 30 minutes after feeding to soak him/her!

Oh I know it's appalling isn't it? The thing about it is I can't get a word in edge-wise to correct them. If I do try it they don't hear me, they actually believe that kingsnakes & rattlesnakes can & do breed with each other. How does an egg laying reptile breed with a live bearer? Especially when one of them is on the other one's dinner menu? ROFL!!!

These tidbits I've mentioned are just the tip of the iceberg & I have no idea what kind of idiotic things they might do to themselves. They don't have any kids at home, they're in their 60s now. Maybe being older has something to do with why they yak too much & don't listen.. but then again maybe they were always like this? They've only been our neighbors for about a year.

Oh geeze!! I've been a terrible tortoise mom.. I haven't been making her wait after eating for her soak! tsk tsk tsk
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PHRatz

and my redfoots will only pick at it. I haven't tried cooking it in any way but they seem to have no interest in it at all.
But I can feed my little Dachshund a dollar bill and he will poop four quarters!

>>>> But I can feed my little Dachshund a dollar bill and he will poop four quarters!

ROFL!!! Hey I can't get my dachshund to eat money but he loves to eat carrots!!
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PHRatz

can't figure it but they do. Weird.

My redfoots will eat a little cooked carrot but none that are raw unless mixed with other things BTW.

>>can't figure it but they do. Weird.
>>

ROFL!! Our little guy is a total weirdo! He won't eat anything unless he knows we're watching him. The carrots & dog cookies we give him, he throws them on us & that means hold this for me while I eat it. lol

>> My redfoots will eat a little cooked carrot but none that are raw unless mixed with other things BTW.

hmm I wonder if my box turtles would eat carrots if they were cooked? They won't eat them raw. I let the tortoise have one raw baby carrot once & she did eat it that way, but otherwise only the dog will eat them raw.
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PHRatz

... will eat bananas, cheese, and just about anything if you act like you want it back after you give it to her. she's not food aggressive at all (a big baby in all respects -- kudos to proper dog rearing), but, say, if i give her a salad leaf, she'll tote it off and spit it out in another room. then, if i go and act like "mmmm, YUM, look what i found here on the floor!" she'll rush to gobble it up.

as for more on-topic creatures, my redfoot will eat raw carrot if it's a sweet enough batch i buy. i just use the peeler to make little easy-to-eat strips for him!

hee hee hee!!
That's very funny & ya know it just goes to show you why dogs really aren't 100% carnivore as some believe them to be.

On topic. I did buy a small pumpkin this year for my sulcata. I thought that maybe now that she's so much larger at a little over 50lbs she'd have an easier time eating it. She did but still she's not impressed with it. She took 2 bites & then walked away.
If I give her napolitos (cut up cactus) she will not budge until she's eaten EVERY bite. No leftovers on that stuff ever.
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PHRatz

That's great to know about the sulcata's. I just adopted one and his first day at his new home is with timothy hay (in abundance) and his first greens where arugula, mustard greens, a whole carrot broken into bite size pieces, carrot tops, turnip greens and endive greens.

I also heard the story about pumpkins, but was told only small pieces and only as a treat, no seeds and it can be fed raw skin and all. Cut it up in small pieces and freeze the rest. I guess that's because like many fruits and veggies the essential vitamins are in the skin.

Bob