Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi

I would like to have a list of things that Star Tortoises Eat.
Thanks for any contributions.

1.)Endives

No problem adding endives to what you are going to feed the Star Tortoise.

I feed my Star Tortoises a salad of the following: almost 50% mixed grasses, with the remaining a mixture of Chinese morning glory (not available where you are- you could put the endives in their place which are not available to me), mustard greens, optunia cactus, water cress and with a little okra and Thai acorn squash (initiates strong feeding response) on the top. I feed them the salad in the early morning and in the afternoon Hibiscus is fed as it is available. Supplements of papaya are given a couple times a week. A calcium based multi-vitamin supplement is given every other day (lightly sprinkled on the top).

Cheers,

Michael

Hi Michael

mustard greens, optunia cactus, water cress,okra and Thai acorn squash are not available to me. How about carrots? cabbages and lettuce?

Thanks

Romaine lettuce is good. Occational carrots are OK. I've heard that cabbage is not very good for tortoises.

I currently feed mine:
1. Grass hay mixed with whatever else I feed
2. Fresh turnip greens from Aldi every other day, (high in calcium)
3. Other greens such at romaine, collards, dandilions, plantain
4. Mazuri tortoise chow twice a week
5. Cactus pads cut into french fry size pieces from one of the local Latino grocery stores
6. Microwaved sweet potato twice a month, (they go wild over this treat)

In the summer they eat a ton of grass in the yard but the list above works in the winter in Chicago!

If you provide info on the general area you live, someone on the list may be able to point you to a good store for food.

Good luck,

John

Hi Thanks,

how about Iceberg Lettuce?

Grass Hay, are they those sold in pet shops for Rabbits?

BTW, I'm from East Asia

I live in SE Asia. I have yet to see Romaine Lettuce available in Asia. Iceberg Lettuce and Loose Leaf Lettuce are no good (unless you want to use it to hydrate your tortoise). Most of the items that you said were not available to you should be (China/Japan) with the exception of cactus (I grow that myself). Water cress comes here from Eastern Asia. If you are in Korea, well, you have those crazy protectionist laws that do not allow anything in= sorry.

The good hay that is used by many tortoise keepers in the US is also not available in Asia (Timothy Hay). I cut wild grasses and mix them with my lawn grass. If what they give the rabbits is the only thing available, then you do not have too much of a choice.

If you can tell me exactly what country you are in, it may help more. I have traveled extensively in Asia, spending a great deal of time in many Eastern and Southeast Asian countries.

Cheers,

Michael

HI Michael

thanks for your help. I'm from Malaysia. What's available here are Endives, 'Xiao Bai Cai', Iceberg Lettuce, some other veggies from Thailand and China, papayas, carrots, grass hay for rabbits and chins.

So i guess i should go for 50% grass hay, the rest Endives, papaya(few times a week) right. I give calcium supplements everyday.

Thanks a lot

I am in Thailand. Most of my salad ingredients should be available to you in Malaysia also, with the exception of the water cress, which only grows well in temperate climates. Your wild grasses and my lawn grass (Malaysian Grass- also called Tropical Carpet Grass) should be the same species as the ones that I use. They will eat hay, but of course they will enjoy fresh grass much more.

The everyday calcium that I make available to all my turtles and tortoises is cuttlefish bone (the ones sold for birds). This not only gives them calcium, but allows them to wear down their "beak."

Cheers,

Michael

I think I will go for hay thats available from the pet shop, I dont dare to offer them anything taken from the wild =)

Anyway I dont see mustard greens, optunia cactus, water cress, okra and Thai acorn squash available here, or maybe they are given different name names here, I'll check again.

Thanks a lot Michael

do not use any cabbages at all. they contain calcium-binding oxylates which will hinder growth and proper shell development.

try using collard greens, mustard greens, dandelion greens, kale (to a lesser extent) and romaine lettuce.

good luck.